Friends with Benefits

Apparently the filmmakers behind the romantic comedy Friends with Benefits think that in an age of sky-high unemployment and a sagging economy, moviegoers really want to root for a couple of superficial young executives obsessed with material wealth.

But while Dylan (Justin Timberlake) and Jamie (Mila Kunis) live in pricey lofts, make daily trips to trendy restaurants and can jet across the country at a moment’s notice, they have emotional issues when it comes to relationships. That’s supposed to make audiences relate to them. It also makes them perfect for each other.

Just like the film itself, its characters seem oblivious to their complete disconnect from the real world. That, combined with a script that’s predictable where it should be edgy, helps to spoil a film that features some amusing one-liners and solid chemistry between its leads.

Both are coming off break-ups as the film opens, with Jamie as a corporate headhunter who targets California web designer Dylan for her latest opening, an visual editor job at a high-profile Manhattan magazine (product placement omitted).

As the duo grows closer, a plan is developed for a strictly physical relationship that everyone else can see is doomed for failure, especially when commitment and insecurity issues surface during an ill-fated trip to visit Dylan’s family. Next thing you know, calls are being forwarded and ring tones are being changed.  Audiences may feel like they’ve seen this before, and they’d be right. The same premise played out six months ago, when it was called No Strings Attached and it starred Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman. But no sense wasting time comparing one bad film to another.

Timberlake and Kunis have considerable charm and decent chemistry, but many of the best lines in Friends with Benefits go to the supporting characters, including Woody Harrelson as Dylan’s very openly gay colleague, and Patricia Clarkson as Jamie’s free-spirited mom.

Director Will Gluck (Easy A) takes a slick visual approach that includes shots of numerous Manhattan landmarks and sandy beaches. But it’s all style over substance with a predictable story that’s neither sexy nor edgy, and doesn’t contain much emotional truth.

Just because Dylan and Jamie poke fun at romantic-comedy cliches in their cutesy banter doesn’t make the film any more hip or clever, especially when it indulges in so many of those cliches itself.

Friends with Benefits
Rated R, 109 minutes
Opens on Friday, July 22