Like a friendlier version of "Love and Other Drugs," "No Strings Attached" introduces us to two pretty people looking for a no-emotions sexual relationship and — don't freak out here — discover that things don't often work that way.
It might be the best film Ivan Reitman has made in around 20 years, but let's remember there have been a lot of "Kindergarten Cop"s since the man made "Stripes" and "Ghost Busters."
It is not, however, a highlight on the résumé of Natalie Portman, who would probably prefer it remain invisible for a few months, until Oscar voters decided whether they want to anoint her for "Black Swan." The gifted actress is really slumming here, playing a doctor-in-training with "an emotional peanut allergy" causing her to recoil at the idea of ordinary romance. The screenplay tosses out some cheap armchair psychology near the end to explain her reticence, but the character never really works.
That's not a bad thing for Ashton Kutcher, who by comparison can look sympathetic just by not being a doofus. He plays along with Portman's sex-only, no-cuddling demands, enjoying what he gets and assuming she'll fall for him eventually. There's nothing to his character, but the actor hits the right innocuously affectionate note to allow us to root for him.
There's nothing to the movie, really, either, except a supporting cast that's good enough to make a so-so script enjoyable. Pleasant, little left-field touches keep popping up, like a hipster Brooklyn band on the soundtrack or indie fave Greta Gerwig as one of Portman's roommates. (But among all those welcome touches, did Reitman really need to put an incongruous poster for his own "Meatballs" on the wall of Kutcher's otherwise impeccable bachelor pad?)
It's a minor disappointment that, when the story gives Portman a chance to throw a drunken tantrum, she doesn't knock it out of the park the way she did on that faux rap video she made for "Saturday Night Live." Maybe teaming up with Danny McBride on the upcoming dragon-slaying stoner comedy (wha??) "Your Highness" will give her another chance.
What would happen if, just once, a big Hollywood rom-com like this allowed the good-hearted character to break up with the soulless one and then kept them broken up? Heaven knows, but it probably wouldn't be good for the career of anyone involved. At least "No Strings Attached" manages its predictability with good spirits and a minimum of annoyance. It's not like the movie is asking you to love it, after all.
“No Strings Attached”
Our grade: B-
Genre: Romance
Running Time: 108 min
MPAA rating: R
Release Date: Jan 21, 2011
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