No Strings Attached
Director: Ivan Reitman Writers: Elizabeth Meriwether (screenplay), Michael Samonek and Meriwether (story)
Adam (Ashton Kutcher) and Emma (Natalie Portman) met each other once at a school summer camp but never committed. Several years later and they meet again. Adam is now a writer and an assistant on a TV show and she's a nurse. When Adam discovers that his father Alvin (Kevin Kline), a washed-up actor, is having a relationship with his ex-girlfriend, he goes on an all-night bender. Waking up in Emma's house, he finds comfort in her and they have spontaneous sex too. They decide that they should limit their relationship keeping it on this level since she isn't comfortable with dating. She decides to keep it a secret from her roommates. Adam soon tries to develop the relationship into something more with the help of his friends
Friends With Benefits
Director: Will Gluck Writers Keith Merryman & David A. Newman and Gluck (Story) Harley Peyton Newman & Merryman
Jamie (Mila Kunis) is a New York head-hunter trying to sign Los Angeles-based Dylan (Justin Timberlake) for her client. When he takes the job and makes the move, they quickly become friends. Their friendship turns into a friendship with benefits, but with Jamie's emotionally damaged past and Dylan's history of being emotionally unavailable, they have to try to not fall for each other.
Let's stipulate that both films have their fair share of genre contrivances, gushiness and conventions--And that both lead couples are made up of very attractive people.
Rather than the typical review--instead I will use a few categories to compare the films--giving you an overview. By the end you will have enough to go on and a "winner" will be declared.
Chemisty: Dylan & Jamie have the edge here. JT and Mila seem more natural both as friends and as a "Couple". Ashton and Natalie have that too yes, but unfortunately it can seem stiff at times. Nat seemed to have more fun with Chris Hemsworth and her co-stars in "Thor"
Laughs/Script: FWB had more funny and fun moments than NSA By way of example Both films offer up a "Having Sex" Montage for the couples and the one in FWB made me laugh more.
Supporting Cast: Each cast has solid support but once again FWB wins out thanks to the likes of Emma Stone, (In a great cameo) Woody Harrelson and Patricia Clarkson, providing laughs and sage advice to the couple. While Richard Jenkins, and Jenna Elfman take on a serious-ish sub-plot for the leads to grapple with. NSA has Greta Gerwig, Ophelia Lovibond, Ben Lawson, Olivia Thirlby, Jake M. Johnson, Ludacris Lake Bell and Cary Elwes with Kline the only one really shining through...I just wish he had more screen time.
Director: Both Gluck and Reitman are good at what they do and It would be interesting to see what would have happened if they swapped pics.
Verdict: In my opinion, you will have a better time watching FWB over NSA with JT & MK sparkling on screen...While Ashton and Nat have their moments it's not sustained.--Neither are the laughs
No comments:
Post a Comment