-
Sony Pictures' July comedy Friends With Benefits explores what happens when two attractive friends (Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis) decide to see if they can transfer their friendship into a physical relationship without the emotional burdens that come with it. If that sounds familiar to you, that's because it's the exact same plot as Paramount Pictures' romantic comedy No Strings Attached with Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman.
This wouldn't be the first time two seemingly identical movies were made by different studios, but, besides storyline, are the two movies that similar? The two movies are tested in a mash-up trailer by Blind Movie Critic (via Entertainment Weekly) that shows the similarities go beyond the plot, and include supporting characters, emotional arcs, jokes, and even camera angles.
watch the mash-up trailer >> Posted 07.02.11 by Ryan -
Today's Challenge: Blue Valentine and No Strings Attached are both released on DVD and Blu-ray for the first time today. Can you find a movie link to connect stars Michelle Williams and Ashton Kutcher?
Our first Facebook movie game, ClusterFlick, plays off that old "six degrees of separation" theory — you know, the one that has a certain Kevin at the center of the Hollywood universe. It's easy to play, but not so easy to win. The goal is to use the major cast of movies to get from Point A to Point B in the smallest number of moves.
Play ClusterFlick >>
Posted 05.10.11 by reelz -
In the latest featurette for the romantic comedy No Strings Attached, director Ivan Reitman (Ghostbusters, Stripes) admits that he worked with screenwriter Elizabeth Meriwether on the script "for three years." It must have been depressing, then, to find that there was another romantic comedy with the same plot called Friends with Benefits.
The movie stars Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman as two friends who decide to add physical intimacy to their friendship and avoid the pitfalls of a romantic relationship. The featurette discusses the script, casting, and working with Reitman, who has directed a comedy or two in his day.
watch the featurette >> Posted 01.21.11 by Ryan -
The best that can be said about No Strings Attached? It's unlikely to damage Natalie Portman's Oscar Best Actress chances.
"...a genial if overlong romantic comedy..."
— Justin Chang, Variety"It all adds up to standard-issue Ivan Reitman product, meaning that it'll make perfectly satisfactory basic-cable viewing in two or three years, so long as you never ask why you don't have any feelings of lust or sympathy toward the main couple."
— Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com"There are humorous moments, and it's a bit less bland than its contemporaries."
— Claudia Puig, USA Today"What's in this cliché grab bag for moviegoers? Well, Portman and Kutcher are a cute mismatch. She's short to his tall, sassy to his sweet, etc. I dried up here. So does the movie."
— Peter Travers, Rolling Stone"It has a handful of memorable comedic set pieces and more quotable one-liners than anticipated. It just needs a few more invisible strings to tie its disconnected scenes and crass observations together into a cohesive movie."
— Sean O'Connell, filmcritic.com -
The clip released in December for director Ivan Reitman's No Strings Attached was a little lackluster, which may be why Paramount has decided to release a raunchy, red band trailer for the romantic comedy, which sees Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman as two friends who decide to enter into a commitment-less, physical relationship with (hopefully) hilarious consequences (as anyone who has had such a relationship can relate). The trailer includes language, bare butts, and Kevin Kline (not necessarily in that order), so make sure you're in a safe place before watching.
watch the trailer >> Posted 01.04.11 by Ryan -
Moviefone has released a new clip from director Ivan Reitman's romantic comedy No Strings Attached, which follows two friends that embark on a commitment-less, physical relationship and stars Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis. No — wait, sorry — make that Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman. Timberlake and Kunis are starring in the other romantic comedy with the exact same plot — Friends With Benefits.
In the clip, Kutcher brings Portman a gift while she is at work, which doesn't exactly have the desired effect.
watch the clip >> Posted 12.17.10 by Ryan -
Earlier this week, the trailer for director Ivan Reitman's romantic comedy No Strings Attached debuted, revealing a story about two friends (Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman) who decide to embark on a commitment-less, physical relationship. Originally titled F**kbuddies, Paramount tried to change the title to Friends With Benefits until they realized that Sony Screen Gems had that title already for its romantic comedy about the same story, but starring Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis instead. Sony's Friends With Benefits is directed by Will Gluck (Easy A), who also co-wrote the screenplay, and, unlike No Strings Attached, features a naughtier, red band trailer with Timberlake singing songs during intimate moments. Let the competing romantic comedy games begin!
Watch the trailer >> Posted 11.07.10 by Ryan -
Natalie Portman's performance in the upcoming supernatural thriller Black Swan has generated some Oscar buzz. And following a month after Black Swan's release is the romantic comedy No Strings Attached, which will show a lighter, less-Oscar-contending side of Portman as she pairs with romantic comedy mainstay Ashton Kutcher. The actors play two friends who decide to enter a casual, physical relationship - No Strings Attached.
Paramount has released the first trailer for the movie, which was directed by Ivan Reitman, his first directorial effort since 2006's My Super Ex-Girlfriend.
watch the trailer >> Posted 11.05.10 by Ryan