Jack Goes Confidential: ‘FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS’ Cruises Predictable Territory

Ever heard, "Liking HARRY POTTER doesn’t make you gay." How about, "Do you know how hard it is to pee with a hard-on?"

Those are just two of the nuggets from the trying-too-hard-to-be-hip, romantic comedy FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS. It’s not as we haven’t seen it before.

Like earlier this year in NO STRINGS ATTACHED. Good looking young people just wanting casual sex without any commitments. (Arguably this one’s funnier.)

That’s the basis for FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS, as funky New York headhunter Mila Kunis convinces her latest recruit (single) Justin Timberlake to leave his job and family in L.A. and accept a new position at GQ magazine in the Big Apple.

Any attraction between these two? Maybe. But it’s everything they’ve been running from. Screw relationships. So they decide to just become friend with benefits.

Translation: No relationship. No emotion. Just sex.

It’s a perfect arrangement until they realize—you guessed it—there’s no such thing as no strings attached!
And it’s not who you spend Friday NIGHT with—it’s the one you spend ALL DAY SATURDAY with.

Another summer raunch fest?

You could say that. But in terms of storyline, acting and all-around enjoyment this one’s not even close to BRIDEMAIDS or HORRIBLE BOSSES. It’s maybe one step above BAD TEACHER.

What helps this 1:49 hour long romp along is its supporting cast.

There’s Patricia Clarkson as Kunis’ hippy mom with lines like, "My daughter’s just your slam piece."
And Woody Harrelson as the flamboyant gay sports editor offering, "I live in New Jersey but I don’t take a ferry—without dinner and a show."

Nicely rounding out things are Jenna Elfman playing Timberlake’s sister. Also Richard Jenkins as his Alzheimer’s inflicted dad who far too often forgets to put on his pants. And Jason Segel and Rashida Jones acting in a cheesy, cliche-ridden flick within this comedy.

Who laughed the most at our screening? Probably middle aged women sporting free passes for their sorely needed evenings out. And they got it ,complete with a couple of ‘Glee’ inspired flash-crowd dance sequences.

For them I reluctantly raise 3 out of 5 limp fingers. For everyone else go see HORRIBLE BOSSES or make a return trip to BRIDESMAIDS.

JACK GOES TO THE MOVIES—Friday’s on NewsRadio KMBZ Am & Fm / the new 99.7-THE POINT / and 1660 RADIO BACH. Also anytime on Time-Warner Cable’s K.C. ON DEMAND, Channel 411. And now also on NEBRASKA ON DEMAND.