No Strings Attached
Director: Ivan Reitman
2:2
What is there to say about No Strings Attached? The film follows a tried-and-tested formula: take two good-lucking stars and contrive to get them in a room together so they can take each other’s clothes off. It’s not going to set the world alight, but it’s perfectly enjoyable nevertheless.
Adam (Ashton Kutcher) is an aspiring writer trying to get out of the shadow of his pot-smoking father (the always brilliant Kevin Kline), a one-time TV star. Meanwhile, hot off the success of the Black Swan, Natalie Portman is excellent as Emma, a hard-working doctor with relationship issues. Initially just “friends with benefits”, No Strings Attached asks the question: can we choose when to fall in love?
While the story unfolds in a thoroughly predictable manner, Ivan Reitman (Ghostbusters; Kindergarten Cop) makes sure everything breezes by with the minimum of fuss. Inevitably, the laughs dry up towards the end, as the search for a happy resolution takes precedence, but the film isn’t without its charm, despite Ashton Kutcher playing “Ashton Kutcher” (always a stretch) for most of the time.
So if you’re looking for a date movie, look no further. For Him: Natalie Portman and some cheap laughs. For Her: Ashton Kutcher and a soppy ending. In short, something for everyone.
By Jack Mays
