ROMANTIC COMEDY; 1hr 49min
STARRING: Justin Timberlake, Mila Kunis
Sitting pretty: Kunis and Timberlake
Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher gave it a whirl in No Strings Attached; now Timberlake and Kunis are at it in director Will Gluck’s similarly streamlined number. As GQ magazine art director Dylan and headhunter Jamie, the two swear on an iPad Bible to stay tongue-and-groove friends after having strictly business sex. How misguided can two really great-looking, enviably articulate and on top-of-their-game people be? Of course they’re going to fall for each other with all the Drama that entails. Now all we in the not-so-cheap seats need to do is ride the bubbly rapids.
The well-oiled dialogue, easy-chic locations and neatly fitting co-stars — Jenna Elfman, Richard Jenkins and Patricia Clarkson clock on as rellies; Woody Harrelson is a gay sports journalist — make for a great date movie, which is not such an easy breed to finesse. Mixing business with pleasure is a matter of degree: too light and it’s all puff; too heavy and you have a drag to deal with. But balance it just right and all the balls fall into place. Click click! Ching ching! We’re in business!
