Review: Natalie Portman sparkles in ‘No Strings attached comedy that is’ romantic

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IVAN REITMAN — whose directing job (“Ghostbusters”) is really so long when you look at the enamel which he really includes a son, Jason, directing Oscar-worthy comedies — has their most readily useful outing in decades with “No Strings connected,” an amusing flip regarding the “friends with benefits” sex-leads-to-love romantic comedy formula.

It’s a film profiting from another gleaming, sexy and emotionally available performance by Natalie Portman, some clever turns in circumstances and witty banter that is not bashful about crossing over into “Hangover”-level raunchy.

Elizabeth Meriwether’s script has that “(500) times brunette woman nude of Summer” gimmick, telling this couple’s tale in clumps over a period that is 15-year. Super-smart Emma met hunky-needy Adam at summer time camp long ago whenever, in addition they had a fling that is momentary. A decade later on, they meet once again and pretty, flirty Emma (Portman) invites Adam to “this thing” she’s to visit. It’s her dad’s funeral. But Adam that is dopey-handsome Kutcher, never cast against type) does not hear the “She’s take off from her emotions” warning bells, even though she confesses, “If you’re lucky, you’re never ever planning to see me once more.”

Another possibility encounter years later results in an trade of telephone numbers. After which, that magical when the boy drunk-dials the girl and something begins night. But don’t call it a thoroughly contemporary love. Emma, now an MIT trained doctor, won’t have that. She’s busy. She’s guarded. And she’s interested in sex — somebody “in my sleep at 2 a.m.” — and absolutely nothing more.

They will have their romps, but snuggling and so on — real closeness — scares her down. Therefore for Adam, the chase is on.

Portman, most likely an Oscar nominee for “Black Swan,” carries this film together with her heat and her wicked means with a extremely crude come-on. Kutcher is way better at bringing the funny that in holding the psychological weight. Reitman didn’t instantly evolve into a warmer, much much deeper filmmaker, either.

Nevertheless the manager surrounds funny people to his leads saying witty things.

However the manager surrounds their leads with funny individuals saying witty things. Adam’s friend that is best (Jake M. Johnson) mocks him for providing their lady love a present of balloons — “Who you think you may be, the old man from ‘Up’?” Kevin Kline plays Adam’s has-been television star dad, a lecher whom believes absolutely nothing of trying out with certainly one of Adam’s ex-girlfriends. Lake Bell could be the leggy but embarrassing, lovestruck co-worker at Adam’s work. (He’s a manufacturing associate for a “Glee”-like senior school musical show.)

And wonderful Greta Gerwig (“Greenberg”) spices within the role of Emma’s university pal, the main one who scarcely outgrows that sorority girl’s mating call — “I’m so druuuuuunk.”

Whatever corners writer Meriwither paints herself into — and also this film appears stitched from several present romances including “Rachel engaged and getting married” (Olivia Thirlby is Emma’s more youthful, matrimony-minded sibling) — precious situations and cheeky discussion bail her down. You know it’s love once the man allows you to a mix that is menstruation — “Red Red Wine,” “I’ve Got the planet on a String” and a much more apparent Leona Lewis hit.

While the sentiment — her love of convenience, their passion for love — hasn’t grown old, through “(500) Days of summer time,” “Up in the Air” (by Reitman’s son) and “Love & Other Drugs,” although it could because of the full time a film really titled “Friends with Advantages” hits theaters come july 1st.

‘NO STRINGS ATTACHED’

LEVEL: BRATING: R (for intimate content, language plus some drug material)CAST: Natalie Portman, Ashton Kutcher, Greta Gerwig, Kevin Kline, Lake BellDIRECTOR: Ivan ReitmanRUNNING TIME: one hour, 36 mins