Friends with Benefits

FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS (2011) - April 21, 2012
About two friends, a man and a woman, who decide to start doing it without worrying about being in an actual relationship, and the inevitable consequences that ensue.  The movie spends a lot of time commenting on the cliches and predictability of romantic comedies, but at the same time seems to want to have it both ways, both satirizing and ultimately wholeheartedly embracing romcom tropes.  For a movie that tries to act all hip and self-aware, it follows the Big Book of Romcom Cliches to a T (and it's much more egregious here than in your typical romcom, because at least your typical romantic comedy knows what it is and doesn't have any delusions of grandeur).  In particular, the prolonged third act melodrama stood out even more than it usually does.  But the movie was generally well made, both Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake were likeable and had good chemistry, and it was entertaining enough.  **1/2