Timberlake just doesn't have the skills to hold his own with someone like Kunis!

Rating: 5/10 (3 March 2012)

'FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS': Two and a Half Stars (Out of Five)
Another movie about friends trying to stay friends while involving sex in their relationship and hoping not to complicate things. This one features yet another talented and high caliber actress (Mila Kunis) coming off a critically praised film ('BLACK SWAN'), in a critically acclaimed performance, and is paired in a lowbrow 'f--- buddy' film with a much less talented actor (Justin Timberlake). This one is slightly better than Kunis's 'BLACK SWAN' costar's ('NO STRINGS ATTACHED'), despite lacking the presence of the great Natalie Portman. Kunis is great in the film and does have a certain amount of chemistry with the lightweight Timberlake but the movie as a whole is still very predictable and extremely light on laughs.
Kunis and Timberlake play Jamie and Dylan, Jamie is an Executive Recruiter for a New York based job agency and Dylan is an art director for a company in Los Angeles. Both have had their fair share of failed relationships and are ready to give up on love all together. When Jamie tries to recruit Dylan for a GQ art directing job in New York City the two immediately hit it off. Dylan takes the job and the two quickly become best friends. One day while watching a romantic comedy together (starring Jason Segel and Rashida Jones) the two come up with the idea of adding sex to their relationship without any of it's romantic entanglements. This of course leads to many complications especially when they begin falling for each other.
The film is directed by Will Gluck (who also directed the critically acclaimed hit 'EASY A' in 2010, and it's star Emma Stone has a cameo in this film) and it was written by Gluck, Keith Merryman, David A. Newman and Harley Peyton. It's adequately directed and the relationship aspect of the film is believable. The problem with the film is it's just not funny. Kunis has by far the most laughs and brings a lot of energy to her performance but Timberlake almost sucks all the energy out of the film at the same time. His line delivery is pretty bad and he just doesn't make a good leading man. He's been fine is supporting comedic performances but when he has to play it straight he just doesn't have the skills to hold his own with someone like Kunis. Like I said the two do have some chemistry together but it's not enough to really make the film work.
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