No romance, comedy or even friendship - what kind of romantic comedy is that?

Rating: 3/10 (14 May 2011)

"No Strings Attached", friends with benefits, and as they described it to their friends and family, they're friends who have sex. First there are the obvious jokes, "Nope. That's not possible!" But my problem with that set-up is that these characters—if they are even characters—are definitely not friends. "Acquaintances who have sex." Really takes away some of the potential, doesn't it?
We're already told that they're taking the romance out of a romantic comedy, but minus the amiability that comes with friendship, then they're also taking the comedy out of a romantic comedy. So what are we left with? A juvenile story, best friends who have a meaningless sub-plot, and sex. That's it. I like romantic comedies but they took out everything that I like about them and left me with everything that I don't like about them.
It's vulgar as they promised but with no greater purpose and for no higher comedy. If you're going to give me sex humour, there has to be more to it. Not one-dimensional characters who have no resemblances to actual human beings. For as charming and attractive as Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman are, if there are no feelings attached, then why should I care? Paramount Pictures, this was just plain wrong.