When I first saw previews for “No Strings Attached” I really wanted to see it. I like Ashton Kutcher. I like Natalie Portman. It looked like a fun, sexy comedy. Well, I was wrong.
Emma (Natalie Portman) and Adam (Ashton Kutcher) first met at summer camp during their awkward teenage years. They didn’t see each other again until years later, then a few other random times after that. They didn’t date; however, until “one fateful night” after Adam finds out that his father (Kevin Kline) is dating his ex-girlfriend. Yuck! After a drunken evening, Adam wakes up naked in Emma’s apartment. That morning, they end up having sex. Then they decide to use each other for sex, whenever, wherever. They even have rules, like “no cuddling”, “no breakfast”, “no lying”, “no jealousy”, etc. I don’t understand why someone would rather have a “No Strings Attached” agreement instead of a real relationship. But I guess Emma and Adam thought it would work. Of course, it didn’t. Someone always catches feelings.
I didn’t feel there was any chemistry between the main characters, which surprised me because usually they are both really good in their roles. Emma was stubborn and she really irritated me. She had this great guy but she was all “oh I’m not getting in a relationship with you because I’m scared”. Wah. Cry me a river. Adam tried but not hard enough in my opinion. He gave in to Emma’s retardery way too easily. Overall I was disappointed with “No Strings Attached”.
I did like Lake Bell as Lucy, Adam’s spastic co-worker. She was awkward and funny. Kevin Kline was also good as Adam’s father.
Bottom line: Natalie Portman should stick to dramas. She was great in “Black Swan” and, of course, the “Star Wars” prequels, among other more serious films. I would rather have waited for “Friends with Benefits”, set to be released in July. Also, they didn’t play *N SYNC’s song “No Strings Attached” ever in this movie, which would have fit perfectly!!
