The Screen Scribe

2011 was arguably the last year of great cinematic romcoms, before they retreated to the obscure realms of online streaming, and invariably lost a great portion of their appeal, and inevitably, their quality. Before that exodus, they were confident, glossy, attracted big name stars, and were unapologetically sexy. Friends with Benefits is one such example. It’s playful, self-aware, and absolutely radiates charm. It’s aided of course by the likability and the effortless chemistry of its leads, Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake.

The premise is not groundbreaking. Girl headhunts boy. Girl and boy become friends. Both carry enough emotional baggage to load onto a carrier jet, and they declare traditional romantic relationships as outdated and emotionally unnecessary. Result? They engage in a strictly transactional physical relationship, no emotions, no strings, no attachments.

Set against the backdrop of New York, with a brief side trip to LA, Friends With Benefits is your typical friends become more story, and it works, majorly due to the effortless chemistry of its leads. Timberlake and Kunis have a natural banter that often feel spontaneous, chaotic and lived-in, adding a layer of believability to the later inevitable, emotional turn. The film also benefits from not taking itself too seriously, openly mocking romantic tropes, montages and musical cues while simultaneously indulging in them in a rather meta humour approach. It invites the audience to be in on the joke, and is never afraid to commit to the punchline. New York does a lot of heavy lifting as a setting, but never to the detriment of the film. It exudes that 2010s energy of career driven, fast paced and slightly cynical city life, but with a simmering undercurrent of seeking meaningful connection. It’s a contemporary romcom, not a rehash of 90s overdone templates.

It may not be as layered as Crazy, Stupid, Love or as emotionally resonant as About Time, but as pure romantic comedy entertainment, it delivers exactly what it promises. Smart, sexy, and surprisingly sweet. If you want modern romcom comfort food with real chemistry at its core, this is an easy recommendation.

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