“What I lack in experience I make up for in clichés”

Friends with Benefits: directed by Will Gluck; written by Keith Merryman, David A. Newman and Will Gluck
  
After seeing Friends with Benefits I came across some interviews that director/writer Will Gluck gave in relation to the film and my attention was immediately caught when I saw him compare it to a Tracy/Hepburn scenario. More arresting, though, was his concept of the characters’ mindfulness. A significant scene in the film sees the two, until then, sex starved protagonists Dylan (Justin Timberlake) and Jamie (Mila Kunis) watching a romantic couple on screen played to anachronistic perfection by Jason Segel and the lovely Rashida Jones. Because these characters are so wise they’re able to point out the silliness of the romantic genre and the ludicrousness that has all those platitudes culminate in a happy ever after ending. The scene is delivered with a level of snark I accept, because even if I do feel badly for the genre romantic comedies tend to be embellished as of late with little to redeem them. In theory, it seems Gluck flirts with the idea of creating a response to decade and more of tired clichés – but, not quite...

A week after the fact, the occasional insularity of the film’s world gives me pause. Dylan is a mere denizen in New York, so that would explain his apparent isolation, but it’s odd that Jamie (portrayed as the poster-girl for all things New York) would have not a single friend in the city other than a man she’s met mere weeks before. The conceit of the film rests on the concept that the two, islands in the proverbial stream, are both lonely and horny and deciding that sex should be as friendly and casual as a game tennis decide to begin a game – a sports’ metaphor that’s awfully trite*. I think I’m getting lost in mixed metaphors. Naturally, the situation will go awry when one – or god forbid, both – of them realises that the situation isn’t as foolproof as it seems. Even tennis has its causalities.

More than a number of persons have credited the “success” of the film to the charisma of the two leads and Timberlake and Kunis definitely do have searing chemistry. For all his recent ubiquity, I like Justin Timberlake (although that’s more than possibly just residual appreciation from his music career) and though I’ve not seen Kunis in enough for her to move me I’m still interested in when she steps up the base line to serve (another sports’ metaphor, whoa). Still, fairly good performances hardly make fine cinema and though nothing about the film screams abysmal, the film around them doesn’t suggest priority. Patricia Clarkson shows up, as is her wont, to inject even more enthusiasm to the situation as Jamie’s kooky and somewhat loose mother. There’s a scene in the film which seems intended to mirror a similar one in Gluck’s last feature Easy A, and it doesn’t roll over the net unimpeded (ahem). It’s because Friends with Benefits spends a curiously short amount of time examining the purported issues of the characters. The film opens with respective hook-ups of Jamie and Dylan telling them that they’re emotionally undeveloped and damaged, and it’s not until well into the second half that they make up on any indication these emotional issues. Otherwise, Timberlake and Kunis prance around like any normal, good-looking young adult.

The clichéd romantic comedy within a romantic comedy which Segel and Jones star in plays on a loop at occasional parts of the film and Gluck’s intent is as subtle as a hammer to the head. The insertion is too saccharine to be condescending; it borders more on being annoyingly expedient. This, he seems to say, is the clichéd way – we’re going to be more self-aware. But, imprudently Gluck seems to think that acknowledging that a mountain is huge is as good as moving it. So, he mires his film down with a slew of witty comments on the state of affairs in the genre while resorting to the same ones to keep the film afloat, which results in an experience where the occasional pleasures are subverted by a pervading sense of confusion. I think I’d have appreciated Friends with Benefits more if it didn’t try to land its serve with a backhanded (gah, that metaphor again). It delivers in a cutesy ways of the genre, but by destroying the naive geniality of the genre it leaves me with a bitter taste in my mouth. And, for all their clichés – the last thing you want is a romantic comedy which leaves you feeling uncomfortable. Gluck shows moments of perception, but they aren’t well imbued. Gluck takes the dive, but he doesn’t stick his landing.

(*I’m done with the sports’ metaphors, I promise. See how gauche that was, with the constant use of sports’ metaphors even as I said that they’re awkward? That’s sort of how Friends with Benefits comes off.)


C

'People who say they can't lose weight are lying': Mila Kunis on how losing 20lb for Black Swan changed her views on body image

By Daily Mail Reporter





She shed an astonishing 20lb from her already slim frame to play a ballerina in Oscar-winning movie Black Swan.



And now Mila Kunis has admitted losing the weight has entirely changed her views on body image.



The 27-year-old actress, a self-confessed 'foodie', said she was stunned with how much her body was capable of changing.



To the point: Mila Kunis revealed her views on body image changed after she had to lose 20lb for Oscar-winning movie Black Swan





She told the new issue of Britain's Glamour magazine: 'I don’t think I ever fully realised what a human body is capable of doing. But I think I was also, in a beautiful way, incredibly naïve.



'I believed I could do anything. I never for one moment thought that I couldn’t do it. I believe in hard work. In self-drive and self-worth.



'I'm a huge foodie, I love food. But when people say, ‘I can’t lose weight’, no no no, you can. Your body can do everything and anything, you just have to want to do it.'



Slender: Mila had to put her body through a punishing regime to star in Black Swan





Mila, who was born in Chernivtsi in the Ukrainian SSR, also revealed she finds it difficult to accept that people find her attractive - despite the fact she won Spike TV’s Guys’ Choice award this summer for the Holy Grail of Hot.



Talking about the award, Mila laughed: 'It’s insane. Listen, I couldn’t be happier to get any of this, because I think it’s hysterical and it makes all my friends laugh.



'If somebody finds me attractive, God bless them, I think it’s fantastic.'



Mila added the reason she is able to stay so refreshingly grounded in the movie industry is because she stays positive.



Refreshingly honest: In a new interview with Glamour magazine, Mila says people who say they can't lose weight are just being naive





She said: 'I’m in an industry based on rejection. On negativity and let-downs.



'People are rejected every single day purely based on opinion, about who’s a good actress, who’s a bad actress, who’s pretty, who’s ugly, who’s fat, who’s skinny.



'So why go there? You have to have a positive outlook. Otherwise you’re in a very dark place.'



Mila can next be seen in this summer's hottest romcom, Friends With Benefits, alongside Justin Timberlake.



Slimming down: Mila looking curvier back in 2001, and showing off her figure in a tight red dress at a premiere last month





But despite reports the actors are more than friends, Mila was quick to scotch the rumours.



The pair raised eyebrows in June when she and Justin, 30, presented an award to Robert Pattinson by sending up rumours that they were a couple with Justin cupping Mila’s breasts as she gripped his crotch.



They then furthered relationship reports when they were spotted on an apparent date in London last week.



However, Mila insisted the claim was 'an unfortunate thing that comes with the circumstances, but there’s no truth to it whatsoever.'



Just friends, no benefits: Mila has denied rumours of a relationship with her Friends With Benefits co-star Justin Timberlake





She added: 'Being single, I find myself not being able to be in a room with a man without, the next day, I’m dating that man. That happened for a solid six months (after Black Swan) when maybe - maybe! - I’d been in the same room.'



But Mila did say of her co-star: 'He’s incredibly funny, we laughed a lot on set,' saying of the MTV skit: 'We thought it was hilarious and we were promoting an R-rated comedy.'



As for what she's looking for in a man - it's humour rather than looks.



They'd make a good-looking pair! Mila and Justin were seen promoting their movie in London last month





She said: 'Humour is an amazing quality to have. I like sarcasm, satire, self-deprecating humour. But I also think there’s something to be said for not looking for anything and being pleasantly surprised.'



And despite the fact that Mila was catapulted into super-stardom through her role in Black Swan, she remains logical about how much her profession affects the rest of the world.



She explained: 'No one’s curing cancer in this industry, remember? It’s not changing the world. It’s just entertainment, an art, a form of escapism. My friends and family are my number one thing in life, but you need a healthy balance.



'It’s not to say my goal in life is to have a family and kids, and let that be my number one priority either.



'This is a phenomenal job, but the most important lesson I’ve learnt is that you never want to let your only source of happiness come from something that’s so filled with uncertainty.'





source:dailymail

So they ARE more than friends! Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis cosy up together on London dinner date

By SARAH FITZMAURICE

All dressed up: Mila Kunis looked lovely as she arrived at Nobu last night. She and co-star Justin Timberlake were seen getting cosy together at the meal

Their chemistry on-screen is undeniable and rumours have been running rife that Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis are an item in real life.

But despite their camp insisting they are just friends, it seems something more is going on, judging by their behaviour last night as they dined out with friends.


All dressed up: Mila Kunis looked lovely as she arrived at Nobu last night. She and co-star Justin Timberlake were seen getting cosy together at the meal


Mila and Justin, who are in London for the European leg of their promotional tour for Friends With Benefits were spied acting extremely loved up as they ate at the upmarket eatery Nobu.

An onlooker dining at the Japanese restaurant in Berkley Square told MailOnline that the pair were sat next to each other, despite being with a large group of friends and were seen acting really ‘cute together.’


Friends with benefit: Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis grope each other on stage during the MTV Movie Awards last night in Los Angeles


A source told MailOnline: ‘They were cosying up to each other and she barked at him “Jay” to follow her. It was like a real girlfriend bark.’

And another diner agreed saying: ‘She yelled at Justin across the restaurant in a way that can only mean one thing.’

And the group certainly made the most of the evening with Justin and Mila drinking shots with their party.


Style swap: Mila Kunis arrived at the Radio 1 studios in London in a pretty blue polka dot dress but was later seen wearing a short seductive Cacherel dress


Justin Timberlake finds Mila Kunis unattractive



source: dailymail

Mila Kunis and Sgt. Moore's date may not be possible, hectic sched for Kunis

Mila Kunis "Yes" to Sgt. Moore may be just a word Yes.

"Friends With Benefits" star agreed to Sgt. Scott Moore of the U.S. Marines who invited her via Youtube video to be his date for their Marine ball.

Posted by Fox411.com, Sgt. Moore seems to be excited when he said

"It's going to be a great experience to meet her, and it's going to make the ball more special for everyone.”

Unfortunately it has bee reported that Mila Kunis will be in production in late November but she'll try to meet Sgt. Moore in yet undisclose venue for private get-together.

Meanwhile, in an E! online report, although they confirmed that Mila Kunis schedule is very conflict, but the date is still possible as her posse are doing their best to organize Kunis production schedule and make the date of the two possible.

Mila Kunis, GQ cover

Earlier, I posted about Mila Kunis answered Yes to Sgt. Moore for the soldier's invitation to be his date on November 18 for their Marine Corps Ball.

Just an hour ago, Mila Kunis photo for GQ magazine cover shows her hotness while proudly showing her black panty.

Mila Kunis was asked what's her idea regarding her recent movie with Justin Timberlake, "Friends with Benefits", well,

“It’s like communism—good in theory, in execution it fails. Friends of mine have done it, and it never ends well. Why do people put themselves through that torture?”

She also added,

“But friends with benefits isn’t a purely sexual relationship — it’s two people who like each other having sex, not a random hookup. And when two people who like each other have sex, eventually someone catches feelings and everything is [expletive]. You might be able to treat our relationship as killing time. I might not. I may be in love with you.”

Mila Kunis answered YES to Sgt. Scott Moore

Mila Kunis, star of "Friends with Benefits" received an big offer few days ago from Sgt. Scott Moore, well it’s not for a movie role.

Sgt. Scott Moore of the U.S. Marines invited Mila Kunis to be his date for the Marine Corps Ball in Greenville, North Carolina on November 18.

Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis
during 2011 MTV Awards

Moore is currently assigned in Afghanistan, send his invitation for Mila Kunis via Youtube video embeded below.

Visitor of GossipCop alias golddigger99 commented 3 days ago says,

Aww....this is so cute! I hope she says yes....troops deserve all of the support they can get!!! He's served our country, Mila should do her part too!!! ;)

Well, it seems golddigger99's request has been heard by Mila Kunis or probably Mila liked the idea of Moore or perhaps through Justin Timberlake's insists to, since he said to Kunis after watching the clip on Fox411 Kunis:

"Have you seen this? Have you heard about this? You need to do it for your country.

"I'm going to work on this man. This needs to go down."

The Ukranian-born Kunis, accepted the marine's offer and said: "I'll go. I'll do it for you."

Mirror Image

Above, Sarah Hyland and Mila Kunis. The resemblance is uncanny, no?