Review: 'No Strings Attached' lives up to title with Portman, Kutcher
Natalie Portman has been busy this year, starring in a ballet film, "Black Swan," where she was a neurotic ballet dancer in black face mask, and in the current "No Strings Attached."
"Strings" is about Emma (Portman), a doctor, and Adam, a TV writer, (Ashton Kutcher) who get together after a party and a funeral (there's twist for you) and when I say "get together" I'm being sly — she doesn't want any relationship other than sexual, but sexual she sure wants, and director Ivan Reitman shows a montage of scenes in which Emma is dragging Adam into handy closets or bedrooms.
The supporting cast is the usual suspects, with Emma's best friends becoming gay lovers. Quel twist!
Lots of simulated sex but no nudity, although it is an R rated film.
Portman is OK as a emergency room doctor fixated on sex, and Kucher is an agreeable hunk. And dependable Kevin Kline is Adam's lusty father, sleeping with Adam's former girl friend.
This is not a film that will win an Oscar, but Portman already has grabs on one for the ballet film, where she was good but not really ballerina level.
Yep, this is a film for the modern times, where the woman has the condom handy and the guy is a willing accessory. Naturally, this being Hollywood the two finally realize they're in love and ... well, you can guess the rest.
Actually, this film seems to be a mixing of a couple of movies, but don't worry about it. The seats at the Galaxy Fandango in Carson City are comfy and if you have a hearing problem the multiplex has aid on hand with amplified gear.
Just enjoy the pretty people, the lush surroundings, seeing people well off without seemingly working. Nice dream world; enjoy it.
— Sam Bauman
Directed by Ivan Reitman; written by Elizabeth Meriwether, based on a story by Mike Samonek and Ms. Meriwether; director of photography, Rogier Stoffers; edited by Dana E. Glauberman; music by John Debney; production design by Ida Random; costumes by Julie Weiss; produced by Reitman, Joe Medjuck and Jeffrey Clifford; released by Paramount Pictures. Running time: one hour, 50 minutes. Rated R.
WITH: Natalie Portman (Emma), Ashton Kutcher (Adam), Cary Elwes (Dr. Metzner), Kevin Kline (Alvin), Greta Gerwig (Patrice), Lake Bell (Lucy), Olivia Thirlby (Katie), Chris Bridges a k a Ludacris (Wallace), Jake Johnson (Eli), Mindy Kaling (Shira) and Ophelia Lovibond (Vanessa).