Friends with Benefits
Rent & Buy
Dylan is done with relationships. Jamie decides to stop buying into the Hollywood clichés of true love. When the two become friends they decide to try something new and take advantage of their mutual attraction - but without any emotional attachment.
What critics thought
Most critics found Friends with Benefits a cut above the average rom-com thanks to the genuine spark between its two leads, even as they acknowledged it ultimately surrenders to the very formula it spends most of its runtime mocking. The sharpest disagreements fell on whether the witty dialogue and Timberlake-Kunis chemistry are enough to redeem a climax that several reviewers felt squanders the film's earlier self-awareness.
“Ironically, the problem is that Friends with Benefits doesn't go far enough when it comes to the substantial stuff.”
Betsey Sharkey·Los Angeles Times
“What not every rom-com has, however, is good dialogue, well-delivered at a fast clip.”
Roger Ebert·Chicago Sun-Times
“Kunis's easy authority grounds the movie, while Timberlake tapdances delightfully around the edges. His voice and his manner are light, there's barely a hair on the guy's chest, yet his confidence and wit are sexy in a way entirely befitting a smart urban romance.”
Ty Burr·Boston Globe
“While the film takes jabs at the Hollywood fairy tale, ... Gluck adheres to the formula.”
Melissa Leong·National Post
Genres
Comedy, Romance
Cast & Crew
Will GluckDirector
Justin TimberlakeDylan Harper
Mila KunisJamie Rellis
Jenna ElfmanAnnie Harper
Patricia ClarksonLorna
Woody HarrelsonTommy Bollinger
Richard JenkinsMr. Harper
Bryan GreenbergParker
Andy SambergQuincy
Nolan GouldSammy - Sam the Magnificent
Shaun WhiteHimself
Andrew FlemingDriver
Catherine ReitmanFemale Co-Worker
Harley PeytonWriterFriends with Benefits
Dylan is done with relationships. Jamie decides to stop buying into the Hollywood clichés of true love. When the two become friends they decide to try something new and take advantage of their mutual attraction - but without any emotional attachment.
What critics thought
Most critics found Friends with Benefits a cut above the average rom-com thanks to the genuine spark between its two leads, even as they acknowledged it ultimately surrenders to the very formula it spends most of its runtime mocking. The sharpest disagreements fell on whether the witty dialogue and Timberlake-Kunis chemistry are enough to redeem a climax that several reviewers felt squanders the film's earlier self-awareness.
“Ironically, the problem is that Friends with Benefits doesn't go far enough when it comes to the substantial stuff.”
Betsey Sharkey·Los Angeles Times
“What not every rom-com has, however, is good dialogue, well-delivered at a fast clip.”
Roger Ebert·Chicago Sun-Times
“Kunis's easy authority grounds the movie, while Timberlake tapdances delightfully around the edges. His voice and his manner are light, there's barely a hair on the guy's chest, yet his confidence and wit are sexy in a way entirely befitting a smart urban romance.”
Ty Burr·Boston Globe
“While the film takes jabs at the Hollywood fairy tale, ... Gluck adheres to the formula.”
Melissa Leong·National Post
Genres
Comedy, Romance
Cast & Crew
Will GluckDirectorJustin TimberlakeDylan HarperMila KunisJamie RellisJenna ElfmanAnnie HarperPatricia ClarksonLornaWoody HarrelsonTommy BollingerRichard JenkinsMr. HarperBryan GreenbergParkerAndy SambergQuincyNolan GouldSammy - Sam the MagnificentShaun WhiteHimselfAndrew FlemingDriverCatherine ReitmanFemale Co-WorkerHarley PeytonWriterRent & Buy