franciscoraposo72

(2012-04-30 19:20:42)

Normal Movie

Normal chick flick with Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman. Boringmovie, with no funny scenes, definitely Ivan Reitman worst movie untilnow. A lot of the scenes are stupid, specially when Emma (NataliePortman) calls the two girls that were in Adam's (Ashton Kutcher) househas pumpkin, just make the two girls get out, but there's other stupidscenes. The only scenes that were truly funny were the scenes withVanessa (Ophelia Lovibond) and Alvin (Kevin Cline) specially thehospital scene. This movie has one or two funny scenes, there are goodactors and bad performances, the best characters are Lucy (Lake Bell),Patrice (Greta Gerwig), Eli (Jake M. Johnson) and Shira (MindyKelling). All I have to say is that this movie is boring, long andstupid, it's the new way to do romantic comedies, now they did the samewith Friends with Benefits.

TheHrunting

(2012-04-30 03:51:45)

Snuggles and pancakes not included

What if your friends step in and say you might be a hopeless fool topass up what you have despite how unconventional it appears? Yet, thosetingling little jitters aren't there, that is unless you're afraid toconfront them or are purposely pushing them away.Fifteen years ago Adam (Kutcher) tried to get a little somethin'somethin' at summer camp with an emotional ruse about his parentsgetting divorced but was deflected from the unaffectionate Emma(Portman). Adam and Emma by chance catch each other five years ago at afrat party and she invites him to her father's funeral as if it's justsome "stupid thing." He shares that he likes her but she's againupfront that they probably won't ever see each other. Now, one year agothey stumble into each other for the third time and he gets her phonenumber. From a drunken stupor about finding out that his dad is withsomeone he knows, he ends up at her place naked, thus starting theirphysical, get-in-get-out, wham-bam-thank-you-mam entanglement thatcomes with no strings attached, rules and boundaries included to makesure of it.This is a comedy first and foremost, though it begins a little tooheadstrong and in the audience's face as there's no build up to thepoint-blank jokes. It's incredibly self-aware of its own ridiculousnessand it becomes forced at times. Though after meeting more charactersand getting an outline, this handles the unabashed and crude humor alittle better as it turns over to the relationship angle. Despite the Rrating--which is more for drug use and cursing--this takes a PG-13-likeroute about the physical side and doesn't exploit the angle such asprovocative pictures like "9 1/2 Weeks" or the more extreme "9 Songs"as it's a little more fun and goofy than seductive. "No StringsAttached" also transitions between phases of growth as they continue tosee each other more frequently to the point of appreciating one anotherand liking the stability--yet still don't use those no, no words like"girlfriend" and "boyfriend." This starts wild and crazy and then lessens down to a mildly serioussimmer that leaves the characters both torn between regretful decisionsand emotional tangles. If it's not obvious enough this is going to geta little sappy for the hopefully romantic and everybody's going to endup some kind of winner no matter if it's how they planned it or even ifit is who they thought it would be with. But that should have beenexpected from the humorous angle, as there's nothing dark or racy aboutthis. Sometimes even coming with hip and trendy music and playing onthe immature angle despite everyone's age."No Strings Attached" on its surface is an easy movie that's made to bebriefly rewarding and give a momentary good feeling when the creditsroll. It comes with some challenges for the skeptics, such as how itdeals with that coincidental thing called "Fate" that relationshipmovies abuse too often with all too convenient scenarios. Yes, thisdefinitely has them--stumbling into each other at the coffee shop andall--but they're a little more buried than the normal formula as somecomplications arise and time is spread out. This borrows someconventions, as well as goes against a few, such as the guy being thefonder one despite growing up with an absent mother but instead aplayboy, celebrity dad who chases tail.The co-stars range from token black and gay guy, to socially awkwardfor the sake of quirkiness if we cinema goers haven't seen enough ofit. The sister adds the element of marriage and the alpha maleco-worker poses a threat by attempting to step in. Despite the clichГѓВ©s,some of the specific scenarios promote easy beguilement to thestoryline even if they don't tally up enough to make this a classicdown the road. Natalie Portman plays Emma by going through a fewdifferent phases from emotionless and direct to sentimental andconfused. Her character development feels a little up and down as sheattempts to transition back and forth till she's an adapted person,which makes the tone of the picture go from dealing with a risquГѓВ©subject, to a rom-com, to reevaluating herself by searching foranswers. There's not much to anticipate from Ashton Kutcher's role ashe plays Adam with a big heart, which makes him spontaneous, giving andsometimes a little slow on the upkeep and spaced out, which gives himthat teddy bear persona that he consistently carries from movie tomovie.

(2012-04-30 01:04:32)

It was much better than I expected

This review is from: No Strings Attached (Amazon Instant Video) True, I'd just finished watching the terrible film, Life As We Know It, and so my expectations were in the Pits of Hell but still...this was much better than I expected. Natalie Portman and Ashton had very little credible chemistry but the film was still pretty good. I did smile a few times and they were both individually charming.

(2012-04-29 11:07:47)

Same movie as Friend with Benefits

You get one ex-That 70's Show cast member or the other, it's the same movie with different actors pretty much, c'mon can't someone come up with something original.

Vikas SS

(2012-04-29 05:55:05)

Same old formula with a different garnish!

'No Strings Attached' is a rehash of a concept beaten down to pulp azillion times in Hollywood. Countless movies have played upon the themeof a couple starting off on a strictly physical relationship but end upin love. Adam (Ashton Kutcher) and Emma (Natalie Portman) play old friends whobump into each other in Los Angeles and exchange numbers. While Adamworks on a TV show and is an aspiring screenwriter, Emma works as aresident in a local hospital. On a drunken night after having found that his ex-girlfriend has hookedup with his father, Adam calls up every girl on his phone seeking theobvious. The next morning, he finds himself at Emma's apartment. Emma,who doesn't believe in relationships, has a proposition for him: to useeach other as 'friends with benefits'.Interestingly, there is film titled 'Friends with Benefits' starringJustin Timberlake and Mila Kunis set to release this year. So much sofor rehashed concepts.While the arrangement works well in the beginning, Adam starts takingmore interest in Emma, especially getting jealous when he sees her witha fellow resident. Obviously, she doesn't like it. Nevertheless, theaudience is never told the reason for her aversion to relationships.Instead, it tries to thrive by bringing in some comedy.After things seem to start getting mushy, the couple part ways. But, itdoesn't take too long for Emma to feel for Adam either. Then, when Adamattempts to hang out with other girls, Emma barges in and drives thegirls away. While these flicks have worked in the past culminating in a romanticending, it gets too hackneyed. Just having different faces and adifferent location doesn't really work. Either they had to be tooemotional or plain funny; and this falls in between. You may not regret watching this on a lazy Sunday on TV when you areflipping through channels. But, taking pains to see it on big screen isa no-no.

Sherazade

(2012-04-28 14:17:56)

Maybe I've Seen Way Too Much of Natalie Portman Recently...

I could barely get into the movie, let alone sit through it because Ihad a hard time buying Natalie Portman as the character she wasplaying. She's such an annoying over-achiever (and people rag on KateWinslet for doing too much). Ashton Kutcher on his own was his usualself, not trying to out-act anyone or gun for an Oscar or anything.That coupled with the fact that this film seemed very similar toanother terrible film I saw recently 'The Ugly Truth' starringKatherine Heigl and Gerald Butler. It's like we've run out of ideas andwe're just coasting on the past ideas of others hoping something hitsand works for the next set of coasters to come along and rehash our owncopied ideas. The scary part is that this film was a hit people, so youcan expect more like it coming to a theater near you sooner than youthink. That said, I think Katherine Heigl should have played this roleinstead of Natalie Portman.

may sunny

(2012-04-28 07:06:18)

This is really cute!

Firstly I thought this movie is gonna be all about sex but it rarelynot. It just showed in the first 40 minutes and afterward it wascontinue with their relationship or friendship between Adam and Emmathat was really cute! I kinda love the way that Natalie Portman showed, she's really pretty.Something like when she's assimilate drink with Adam, played the sportas same as golf (I've just forgotten what that called) that Emma has avery good skills, I mean the time that they spend dating together.Thankfully, this film is blessed with director Reitman and well-judgedperformances from Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher, who generatesmouldering on-screen chemistry. If Aston Kutcher and Natalie Portmanare real dating, I will truthfully cheering them to married! I'mkidding (sorry about Demi Moore fc).I'm truthfully in love with Aston Kutcher, he's so adorable! I thinkhe's really really funny person that good at comes movie I'm totally inlove this movie, too!

MYeah_Gorlomi

(2012-04-27 21:44:43)

It's cute, it's just not cute enough.

In the film, Ashton Kutcher plays Adam, a stand by assistant for a TVshow who, after finding out his dad is dating his ex-girlfriend, callsup all the women on his phone until someone agrees to sleep with him.The next day, he passes out naked on the couch in a home of his onceSummer camp friend Emma (Played by Natalie Portman). She's a medicalresident in L.A. who's overly frightened of the concept of a realrelationship. Together, the two of them create a system for themselvesto use each other for sex at any time, until one of them falls for eachother.I wanted to like No Strings Attached more than I actually did. It's notterrible, but I really think there was so much untapped potential.First problem with the film is the script and tone. The film can'tdecide whether it wants to be a serious romance, or a silly, sometimesraunchy Rom-Com. The serious bits are probably the more interesting,but the film just flip flops from charming to dull too often.The only real glimmer of hope is Natalie Portman. Emma is not that wellwritten a character, but someone as energetic and charismatic asPortman brings full enjoyability out of it. It's hard to keep your eyesoff of her in any scene she's in. However, despite moments ofsentimental chemistry between her and Kutcher, the romance feelscontrived, and not much of the other cast are that great. Even talentslike Kevin Kline and Olivia Thirlby can't bring much out of theirinconsistently written characters.Overall, No Strings Attached is not that great, but as a date nightpopcorn flick... you're still probably better off choosing somethingelse.I give it ** out of ****

(2012-04-26 17:37:34)

Great little love story! Made me smile, laugh, and cry.

This review is from: No Strings Attached (Amazon Instant Video) I thought this would be a cheesy movie with a few good moments and I was completely wrong. Typically, the man is a womanizer, a workaholic, etc. In this movie, the rolls are reversed. Natalie plays a doctor that is a workaholic who has a serious commitment phobia. She creates an odd friends with benefits relationship with Ashton, that backfires on her. Ashton plays a romantic who wants more out of the relationship and decides he doesn't want to play games anymore. The movie had a great flow. There were some funny moments, some sad moments, etc. I thought a couple of the kissing scenes were a little awkward/rushed, but other than that, the acting was great. When the credits start rolling, keep watching. There is still a little more to the story. Definitely a movie for adults. Lots of talk about guys' "d***s", sex, complicated relationships, one night stands, etc.

(2012-04-26 03:31:01)

It's Alright

It's A Movie Worth Seeing At Least Once. It Has Nice Humor And The Actors Do A Good Job Performing. I Got For Like $5 So I Say Buy It.

(2012-04-25 02:45:40)

No Strings Attached

I was actually quite surprised at how good `No Strings Attached' was. I was expecting it to be quite disappointing and a lack lustre affair, but it had some good laughs and a reasonably good plot too.Featuring Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher this follows two characters called Emma and Adam as they try to have a relationship where they have plenty of sex, but don't fall in love. Emma, who has intimacy problems, finds this concept easier than Adam and that is when the problems start.This has some decent jokes in it and it had me laughing out loud a few times. Both Portman and Kutcher play their roles well and you tend to feel their was genuine chemistry between them. Kevin Kline as Adams father also has some great lines and raises some laughs.I loved the soundtrack, which features one of my favourite bands (The Temper Trap) and the songs match the scenes very well. The story was also quite good, with some great dialogue and it didn't feel overlong or tedious at any point.All in all this made for just under two hours entertaining viewing and it is an easy going and reasonably funny film. It is well worth checking out and whilst you won't be rushing to watch it again straight afterwards, I didn't regret watching it at all.Feel free to check out my blog which can be found on my profile page.

Polaris_DiB

(2012-04-24 14:08:44)

Unsupported

Do you consider A Lot Like Love and Guess Who to be classics of rom-comcinema? We're in Ashton Kutcher as lead-man territory. The romanticsensibilities are the same in all of these movies, Kutcher's goofyexterior and sensible interior somehow hits a perfect note ofcompletely dull. He's at his best when put into awkward situations thathe tries to slip his way out of, but there is not a whole lot of thathere.Right then. So the story is about how nobody can be friends withbenefits, and comedy ensues. Except these two are jealous coy loversnearly from frame one (the first fifteen minutes or so goes throughtheir back history of meeting in which even just seeing each other withpotential relationships makes both of them look sad panda) and so whatit's really about is Portman's character Emma trying to get over acrippling and aggressive fear of commitment. The territory in which toexplore this is vast, and the scenes that actually do all work justfine. For some reason I have no real comprehension of, the movieengineers as many ways as possible of refusing to acknowledge its owncore dramatic element. Probably the most egregious deviation is thiscompletely random rival for Emma's affections, whose presence is soinsignificant to the plot that you're practically editing him onto thecutting room floor in your own brain while you're watching him do hisSnidely Whiplash thing. Homeboy's around for maybe three scenes and nota one of them is believable, the absolute worst being when hechallenges Adam and says that Emma will be all over him after leavingAdam, without enough provocation and any true indication of Emma'sinterest. This whole folderol set up was meant to put a jealousyelement into the movie that was already there and not in need ofelaboration from a completely unbelievable and unnecessary sidevillain, who gets dropped the second the camera looks away and onlyreturned back later to be literally left hanging, looking around,wondering what the heck to do and why he's in this movie.Then there's the subplot about Adam's relationship to his father whichworks to move forward some important plot points, but manages to donothing to develop Adam's character. The father is there to provide acouple reasons for getting closer to Emma so that their relationshipdoesn't stay static, but eventually the father gets regulated to "Wellif you love her fight for her" territory. Seriously this movie spentmore time ignoring its own actual premise than working through it.Also, this couple actually wants each other forever from nearly everyframe after the long expository flashbacks, so most of the movie is amatter of waiting around for Emma to come around. This could befrustrating but to be fair, so is being in that situation. To berealistic, the Emmas of our lives tend not to come around, and so thismovie ultimately ends up playing off like the protracted pre-sleep wishfulfillment fantasy of the recent relationship reject trying toconvince himself, "She'll come around eventually.... she'll come aroundeventually.... she'll come around eventually..." This is one of thosemovies that had just enough elements that it could have become about amillion other interestingly realized movies, but the actual movie itresulted in is hardly worth saving. There's even one of those rom-comfinal lines before the relationship is consummated that was engineeredfor some nonexistent much better other movie to become a classic ofheart-thumping cinema, but was unfortunately left in this movieinstead.--PolarisDiB

burningreview

(2012-04-24 03:41:28)

This is yet another romantic comedy with a cookie-cutter plot, but it will make you laugh!

I had very low expectations for No Strings Attached. The couple wouldmake the decision to use each, one would fall for the other, and in theend they would live happily ever after. I was correct about the overallstory line, but, impressively, the writers found a way the mix inenough comedy to keep you entertained for the full 110 minutes. On topof that, there is enough cutsie romance to make for the perfect datenight movie. Comedy to make you laugh and romance to cheer up anyromantic girl.... sounds like a romantic comedy to me!Natalie Portman shows her range of acting abilities by having twoextremely different films in theaters at the same time. I wasthoroughly impressed with her ability to drop the comedic one linersand portray a unaffectionate woman who's fallen in love realistically.Comparing this to her award-winning role in Black Swan made herabilities even more impressive. I cannot say the same for AshtonKutcher. He has a great face and is great at comedic acting. However,each serious, romantic scene he was in became unrealistic anduncomfortable. Overall, this is the perfect date night or girls night movie. It hassome great comedic moments and brings in the romance that most ladieslove to see. If you are looking for a light-hearted romantic comedy,this is a great choice.See more reviews at http://burningreview.blogspot.com/

smatysia

(2012-04-23 19:30:14)

Very cute if ultimately formulaic

I thought this was pretty good. Sure, the ending was formulaic. Whatdid you expect? The direction was unobtrusive, the photography good.Ashton Kutcher, who I had never seen in anything but a cameracommercial, was okay. Not a de Niro, but doesn't claim to be, anddidn't need to be. Some good good work from supporting cast membersLudicrous, Greta Gerwig, and Mindy Kaling. Lake Bell and Kevin Klinechewed just a bit too much scenery. I'm sure the director called forit, so it isn't a criticism of the acting. Natalie Portman was achinglypretty, and has decent comedic timing, something not all primarilydramatic actors have. A nice change for her after the swan thing.

jamievandingen

(2012-04-22 23:03:45)

it works!!

I loved it. The combination between Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portmanis full of chemistry! Put that in with a high tempo of funny events andoriginal jokes and you got yourself a winner! Right from the start itis funny as hell. The situation grabs you and won't let you go.Personally I found it refreshing that it is a comedy based on asituation many of us can relate to (speaking of a man his perspective).Everybody wants a Friend with benefits and everybody knows thecomplications that comes with it. Sooner ore later you got yourself asituation like Aston got.Now the funny parts works every time in this movie. Even the supportingacts are working like a charm. Kevin Kline puts up a good character asa Father you really don't want to have.At the end the drama begins and that works for me. Its makes it moreseriously at the end and wraps the movie up quite nicely

(2012-04-22 07:42:42)

Money Making Formula

Outside of a few funny lines and outside of a good money making day for all studio staff involved this flick is a two-weeks-from-now forgettable 90 minutes. It's actually a bit sad to see Kutcher's talent wasted on formula romantic comedies, but again it's good pay for a day's work which is about how long it takes to make these. The important criticism is that the storyline is a quilt of ideas borrowed (meaning: many times recycled) from other rom-com flicks e.g. detached, insecure chick, whose a bit smarter than the lowly gardener (usually a gardener or some manual trade that allows physiques to be shown); dumb romantic enticements such as fast food restaurants and veggies for flowers; friends to act as either rational or provocateur foils - all done before. Oh, and the usual (funny to film crew) same camera angled sex scenes seen in every similar movie.

(2012-04-22 13:15:13)

Horrible.

Such a shame that talented actors like these are wasted on movies like this one. I love both Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher in other roles. But this movie did not flow well at all. Very juvenile. There was really no substance to Portman and Kutcher's relationship, even after they decided to be exclusive, it was like, what did I miss?The scene with the 3 women moping around the house, pigging out on sweets, hanging around in pj's, and generally seeming miserable, only reinforces the stereotype that a woman's menstrual cycle is a time when she is non-functioning and feels miserable, which is far from the truth. Women can basically do anything we normally do during this week and be happy about it.Loved Kevin Kline (who, unfortunately, had only a few short scenes).It did give a fairly accurate portrait of the sad way that young ppl interact these days, thru texting and sexing. It is a good movie for cultural study, perhaps, but not definitely not for entertainment or to teach values. I can imagine young kids watching this and thinking it is ok to subsitute sex for real relationships.

Michael_Elliott

(2012-04-22 03:48:55)

Bland Screenplay but Good Lead Performances

No Strings Attached (2011) ** 1/2 (out of 4) Friends Emma (Natalie Portman) and Adam (Ashton Kutcher) decide to tryto be lovers with no emotional connection and while the non-stop sexworks at first soon Adam begins to have feelings, which pushes Emmaaway. NO STRING ATTACHED isn't going to be mistaken for a Bergman filmnor is it going to win any awards at the Oscars but considering whatthe film is it works fairly well even though you know where it's goingand what route it's going to take to get there. It was kind ofrefreshing seeing an R-rated romantic comedy again since the majorityof them over the past twenty-years have been aimed at the PG-13 market.You know, those romantic comedies where even the adults act like dumbteenagers. Either way, this film here isn't perfect and has a lot ofissues but on the whole it was a pretty fun film. It should go withoutsaying but what will make or break a film like this are the two leadsbecause if there's not any chemistry then there's no where for thestory to go. Portman and Kutcher really do seem like they'd be an oddpair to put together in a film like this but it actually makes thestory work. You really can look at these two characters, see howdifferent they are and believe that they'd be in a sex onlyrelationship. Kutcher is basically playing himself but there's noquestion that he can have a charming side and it's on full displayhere. He can deliver the sly lines without any problem and he comesacross as a good-hearted guy, which is exactly what his character is.Portman delivers a fine performance as well as she has no problemplaying this workaholic character with a few personal issues of herown. I'm sure many people might feel that a role like this is below herbut she turns in a memorable performance and handles the raunchy humorquite well. Portman and Kutcher have no problems coming off like a realcouple as they work well off one another and that's pretty much all youcan ask. Kevin Kline gets a few good spots as Kutcher's famous fatherwho has a few drug problems of his own. It was really fun seeing Klineagain and he delivers a fun performance. An almost unrecognizable CaryElwes is in good form as are Greta Gerwig, Lake Bell and Ludicrous whoplay the friends. The biggest problem with the film is the screenplay,which is your typical romantic comedy stuff meaning you know where thefilm is going to go and there aren't any surprises along the way. Evenbefore the movie starts you know how it's going to end and sadly thefinal twenty-minutes really go out of control because what you know isgoing to happen just keeps getting pushed back to the point where themovie overstays its welcome. The start of the picture also suffers fromsome pacing problems but the middle section contains some good raunchyhumor, funny sex scenes and the two stars certainly make it cute andcharming.

Shawn Brar

(2012-04-21 09:45:54)

This movie infuriated me.....I wanted to blow my brains out

What a dreadful movie to have to sit through on my day off. I watchedthis movie looking for something light and happy. Instead I was treatedto tale of guy that takes an emotional beat-down from a girl with someserious (non-rom-com) commitment issues. There was nothing romanticabout the relationship between these two and this movie and if anythingjust serves to reinforce some of the double standards that exist insociety. Ashton Kutcher's character taking her back at the end was notromantic, it was ridiculous and in real life relationships like thisfail! I'm not a macho guy myself, but anyone that has that difficult ofa time to commit is not worth the trouble. I felt sadness for Ashton'scharacter if anything. Two thumbs down! I would suggest a better use ofyour time!

(2012-04-21 02:17:07)

Ehhh. (*shrugging shoulders impartially*)

This review is from: No Strings Attached (Amazon Instant Video) I consider myself to be a solid judge of a movie based on the previews, and this movie's previews definitely piqued my interest. As a single woman, begrudgingly falling into the stereotype, I'm always seeking a good love story that I can relate to. Unfortunately, I felt that this one fell flat. A decent overall movie to watch on a rainy day, but a uninspiring storyline.