Through the ages, the concept of casual sex went from taboo to accepted. With 40-hour work weeks plus everything else that goes on in life, who has time to deal with the emotional rollercoaster known as a relationship? Casual sex is the perfect solution; you get what you need minus all the complications. But most people, including director Ivan Reitman, know things are never that simple. Cue the cliché title ""No Strings Attached,"" cast Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher and you have a movie about two insanely gorgeous people having sex and keeping it simple until someone starts to feel something more than horniness.
Portman and Kutcher play Emma and Adam. Originally friends from summer camp, they run into each other randomly throughout the years, and finally end up living in the same city. Emma is a hard-working doctor, too busy for any emotional attachment. Adam works as an assistant on a TV sitcom and recently broke up with his girlfriend. He seems to be handling the split well, that is until he finds out that she is now sleeping with his father Alvin (Kevin Kline). In typical romantic comedy fashion, Adam attempts to drink his misery away and ends up naked in Emma's apartment. Playful banter ensues between the two, and they end up having sex.
While Adam sees Emma as someone he wants to have a relationship with, she makes it clear that she is no good at dating. Adam agrees to the friends-with-benefits arrangement, but it's clear he is looking for something more. Emma feels the need to lay down rules to make sure that neither of them starts to develop feelings for the other: no jealousy, no cuddling, no flowers, etc. Adam still tries to get Emma to go on a real date with him, and she continues to refuse.
Time passes, and both Adam and Emma move on with their lives, sexual and otherwise. When Emma's younger sister gets married she starts to reminisce about her time with Adam. She realizes that she really is in love with him and she hopes it isn't too late to let her feelings show.
""No Strings Attached"" lacks anything memorable. The story is one seen a million times before, but it should still do well at the box office. After all, sex sells. Portman seems to be resting her acting skills after her stellar performance in ""Black Swan."" She offers her good looks and charm, but her role as Emma is nowhere near award-worthy. Kutcher brings even less to the table; his acting is dull and he can't seem to break out of the romantic comedy genre. But the two combined create cute chemistry on the screen that leaves the audience with that warm, fuzzy feeling. The comedic contributions are actually very good, but they come more from Kline and other lesser-known actors instead of Portman and Kutcher. One particularly funny scene features Adam visiting his father, seeking comfort after his breakup. But instead of offering fatherly advice, Alvin rolls up a joint, offers some to Adam, and interrogates him about his sex life to make sure things aren't running dry.
Overall, ""No Strings Attached"" is a great movie for a date or a girl's night out. It has its ups and downs, but this film will succeed in making audiences laugh and feel good, just as a romantic comedy should.
