5 out of 10
I did not want to like this movie even that much.
When I first saw the trailer I was really disappointed in Natalie Portman. Then to find out she produced it? I was ready to hate, hate , hate.
It's no secret that I've always been a fan of Ms. Portman. I probably should do something with this huge box of magazine articles about her. But lately, I wasn't being blown away by her acting. Even in Hotel Chevalier she didn't seem quite comfortable. But then came Black Swan.
And this movie. Now, the plot is contrived, the jokes do get pretty crude, Kutcher is bland, Lake Bell was amusing but the more I remember it the more annoying her performance becomes. Then there's Natalie. Maybe her coldness is some residual character stuff from Black Swan, but Portman's strongest roles have never been warm, soft, and fuzzy. But
tome, she has never looked better than in this movie. Or been this charming. Kudos to her for tackling something different. She acquites herself admirably with most of the comedic moments. And even where she didn't quite triumph I was amused by her attempt. I found myself actually enjoying her company. And strangely feeling like I knew her from somewhere in real life -friend? someone at work? until I realized that I was just falling in movie-love with her all over again.Welcome back. I've missed you.
*On a side note - can't we get some movies that acknowledge up front the values of fidelity, trust, respect, and depth in a relationship? We usually sort of end up realizing the emptiness of promiscuity but only after wallowing in libertinism for 80 minutes. Are there really no romantic conflicts that could occur if the characters actually had higher standards? When Kevin Kline's character says the cliched "you can't help who you fall in love with" can't someone just step up and say "but you can help who you have sex with!" I understand that sex in movies is usually a signifier/shortcut for "love" but does it have to be that way? Can't we maybe get a little more sophisticated?
The good: Natalie
The bad: mediocre plot, trying to out-Apatow Apatow, Kutcher, the further devalution of sex
No Strings Attached
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