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Ryan Reynolds plays Chris Brander. A successful LA music exec who has it all together, especially when it comes to the ladies. This hot hunk of a guy has come a long way from the overweight, shy, out-crowd nerd he was in High School. When a chance meeting with his teen crush gives him a chance to finally be more than friends he goes over the top to break out of the Friend Zone. Reynolds is a mix of Jim Carry and Will Ferrell in a role that is a little different for him. Normally he is the guy who has no problem getting any girl he wants. Not the case here.

Amy Smart is Chris's love interest, Jamie, the High School cheerleader who was always his best friend but never let him out of the Friend Zone. Now that he is back to woo her she has to decide if their friendship from the past is worth salvaging. Smart portrays the small town Jersey girl nicely, playing off of Reynolds with a grounded performance. Though Jamie is a main character there is not much depth to her in the plot or writing. But Smart does what she can with the role and sets a foundation for the rest of them to build around. I am not sure I totally buy the chemistry between her and Ryan but at the same time they feed off each other when they have to for the sake of comedy.

Chris Klein is the "other guy" in the film who also is after Jamie. Like Chris, he was the nerdy pimple faced geek who never had a shot at the head cheerleader. Now he is cool musician/EMT who seems to be the one thing every girl would want. Klein also delivers a nice comedic performance. His character Dusty is that sickening sweet, romantic guy that no one can ever compete with. But is he really the guy he seems to be? He plays Chris' antagonist perfectly. This adds to the humoristic tension and gives the movie its romantic, comedy edge.  Most guys will find Dusty's character believable since most of us have had that one person in our growing up years we felt we had to compete with, causing us to chant "down with Dusty Dinkelman!"

Anna Faris steals this movie as the pop-rock diva, Samantha James. An old love interest of Chris' whose career he is now put in charge of. Over the top is an understatement when it comes to her character and performance but it has to be that to work. Faris plays it to the max as the Hollywood superstar spending the holidays in a small Jersey town. Each scene she is in will have you rolling as she makes fun of just about every real world pop star. Though this movie is well rounded and funny, it is Faris who puts it above level.

Reynolds, Amy Smart and Chris Klein work nicely together in this funny look at getting the girl. There are many hilarious situations that guys will totally relate to as every scheme he tries backfires. Just Friends is full of slapstick humor as well and the writers do a great job of keeping it surprising and funny. Rated PG-13 for sexual content and language

The Mungle  (11/22/05)

Matt hosts the weekly syndicated Indie Rock Radio Show Spin 180. Plus with his wife Cindy they do a weekly radio feature, The Mungles on Movies. For additional reviews and interview clips visit the website www.mungleshow.com