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Rating: 3 out of 5
Have you ever been in a friend-with-benefits or no strings attached agreement? It starts off great; you and the other person agree to have endless amounts of sex. You call each other up and just release so much sexual tension between the two of you. I had one in college with one of my teammates. She was cool and really fun to be around. She also had a nice, fat ass, spoke Spanish, and we had much in common. Like most of these relationships, feelings get caught, and all hell breaks loose with jealousy, anger, and hurt feelings. Depending on the feelings, you could really start missing the person in more ways than just having sex. I didn’t want a relationship since I was in college, and things got awkward most of the time. Life has a strange ass way of doing things.
Directed by Ivan Reitman and written by Elizabeth Meriwether and Mike Samonek, the film follows two friends who decide to have an all-sex relationship without catching feelings with each other. The film starts 15 years ago when Adam (Kutcher) and Emma (Portman) cross paths at summer camp but never start a relationship. The pair meet up throughout the years until they both settle in Los Angeles. Adam is an assistant and trying to be a writer on a hit TV show he is working on. Emma is working as a doctor in one of the hospitals. Adam’s world changes when he discovers that his father, Alvin (Kline), a washed-up actor, is having a relationship with his ex-girlfriend. Adam goes on a binge drinking fest and calls every woman in his phone. The next morning, he wakes up naked on Emma’s couch. The two make a pact and have sex. They decided to have nothing more than sex and catch no feelings. Emma states she isn’t comfortable with dating and doesn’t want a relationship. As the pair have endless amounts of sex, Adam starts catching feelings and wanting more of a relationship. As time passes, will feelings and love prevail, or will the pair split up from their agreement?
You know what, I’m not going to lie, but I enjoyed this film. Is it a world-class film that won many awards? Nope, not at all. It is a film with some funny moments and will make you think about some of your sexual relationships throughout your life. The story is a funny way of showing two people who, at first, have known each other for years and seemed to find a way to each other. Adam and Emma first appear at summer camp. Adam is crying because of his parents and then asks to finger Emma when they are no more than fifteen years old. They meet up again when they are both in college. They seem to hit it off, but Emma only invited Adam to a funeral. After that, they meet again years later when Emma moves to LA and Adam is in a relationship. After a year, Adam drunkenly calls Emma, and they bang. The story is about their agreement, but Adam wants a relationship, and Emma just wants sex because of her past.
The film tries to show Emma as an unloving person who doesn’t show Adam any affection. I have to side with Emma many times over in this film. She put up boundaries and explained her position very clearly, and Adam many times over violated those boundaries. Homeboy violated rule #1 and caught feelings. In the end, Emma also caught feelings, but it was being pushed and baited by Adam repeatedly. Emma had her own plans for being a doctor and tried her best to be strong after her pops died.
Here is where the film fell majorly short for me. There was a fine-ass girl in Lucy that would have done ANYTHING for Adam, but he was too caught up in Emma. Lucy was extremely beautiful, and I would date her in a heartbeat. She was funny, cooky, and entertaining, but also, homegirl was extremely loyal and waited on the sidelines for her chance with Adam. I think they would’ve had a great relationship, but Adam was too caught up in himself.
That brings me to another point. The relationship between Adam and his father, Alvin. Adam seemed to try his best not to be like his famous father. Alvin had been divorced twice and was dating Adam’s ex-girlfriend, which is straight-up trifling and nasty. Alvin was a little crazy, but he did love his son and supported him in any way, shape, and form.
As far as the acting goes, it was okay. Everyone did their job to tell a story. Natalie Portman as Dr. Emma K. Kurtzman was cool. I felt like she was the only one with her priorities together. She liked Adam, but homegirl just wanted to get laid and set ground rules. Emma went after what she wanted, and you have to respect that.
I’m not really a fan of Ashton Kutcher. Even though I liked this film, I am still not a fan of him. As Adam, he was a sensitive, boundaries-crossing person. I will say that Adam was extremely caring and really tried to be with Emma. He also tried and worried about being a writer for a show and showing his father that he could make it in Hollywood.
Kevin Kline as Alvin Franklin was pretty decent and funny. As Adam’s father, homeboy had a self-inflated ego about himself. He was a famous actor on a hit TV show and seemed to live off that. He did have a habit of thinking he was young and fooled around with what it seemed like all of Adam’s lady friends. When you date your son’s ex-girlfriend, you might have some issues.
I love Lake Bell as Lucy. I thought she was the best part of the whole movie, and I wanted to see more of her. She was the dimwitted friend who was extremely loyal and had the hots for Adam. She did her job well and tried to be there for Adam. I didn’t like her ending; she should’ve had a better outcome. I love seeing Lake Bell and would watch this film just for her. Straight up a beautiful smile and is a great actress.
No Strings Attached is one of these films that has its moments, but like its title, you don’t need to be attached to it. I enjoyed it and watched it a few times, but Adam does get on your nerves many times. If you are thinking about having this type of agreement, make sure you don’t catch feelings. Once that happens, it’s all downhill.
