Friends with Benefits

Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis make for a fun almost-couple in yet another movie about people committing to the art of rut without emotional attachment (Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman totally shat the bed earlier this year with No Strings Attached, a film with an almost identical plot). When the film is Timberlake and Kunis discussing relationships candidly and sexually misbehaving, it’s actually a lot of fun. It goes a few steps too far and packs a little too much in, especially with an Alzheimer’s patient subplot that feels like something for another movie. It also sort of becomes the kind of romantic kitsch movie it seems to be knocking for the majority of the film. Still, Timberlake is a naturally funny guy who elevates the material—and, for those interested, he shows his naked butt a lot—and Kunis is eternally charming. Some editing could have made this a better, slicker picture.