*warning, contains spoilers!

We saw Friends With Benefits over the weekend in an attempt to beat the heat and I thought I’d write an informal review.  I know, I know, you see the trailer and you already know how this one’s gonna end.  They’ll both give up their hard hearted cynicism and wind up all ooey, gooey in love with each other amid a parade of hearts and flowers, right?  So why do we bother to see these movies?  Didn’t they do this one last year with Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher?I admit I was about to give this one a pass until I saw the preview for it at another movie and the scene where her mother walks in on them in bed together made me crack up.  (I wish tv commercials for movies had half of the story the in theater previews have, I would see so many more movies!)  That and I like both Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis, so I was up for a bit of fun on a Saturday afternoon.

So this one is about NY Head Hunter Jamie who is courting Dylan, head of design for a little website in LA to take over a prestigious position at GQ magazine.  He flies out to check it out, and Jamie decides to sell him on New York instead of the position and takes him on a whirlwind walking tour of the city (in killer heels no less…)  He agrees and takes the position and a friendship montage begins. 

While hanging out and watching a sappy chick flick, they lament on how they miss sex because neither one of them is in a relationship at the moment.  The idea comes up that they should add some sexual benefits to their friendship and each agree to give it a go.  He’s emotionally unavailable and she’s emotionally damaged, sounds like a recipe for easy uncomplicated sex, right?  That might have worked for me, except for it was kinda unappealing, the way they talked through the sex, each giving critique and complaints.  It made it kinda technical and maybe that was the point, but it was a little awkward to watch. 

So is Friends With Benefits worth seeing?  I’d say yes if you’re a fan of either of the stars.  Jamie comes across as kinda hard most of the time, but I can see what they’re going for and Dylan a little silly from time to time, but both were enjoyable to watch.  Whenever her mother is in the scene she steals the show, those were the funniest moments and I did tear up a little near the end when he and his father have a heart to heart (minus pants in an airport restaurant no less).  I’d give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars, definitely worth the matinee price.