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ve heard rumors in the music industry of record labels dictating what can and can’t go on an artist’s album. Yet sometimes they let them put a song they really want on there as long as they agree to record a few that they aren’t too excited about. I wonder if that is what happens in Hollywood. Portman just won a much deserved Golden Globe for her role in Black Swan and yet we see her in this. 

Emma (Natalie Portman) and Adam (Ashton Kutcher) have known each other since they were teenagers. Off and on over the years they have bumped into one another but never had the chance to connect. Now they are older and Adam is coming off a horrible breakup and Emma is looking for a warm bed fellow. And so the journey begins. They agree to become friends with sexual benefits with the main rule being that all of that dating couple’s mumbo jumbo is tossed to the curb. Stay focused and don’t become attached. 

The controversy of whether it is possible for couples to remain simply friends when sex is added to the equation is a long standing one. It didn’t work for Jerry and Elaine on Seinfeld and it certainly doesn’t work here. Emma and Adam soon discover that emotional attachment is the one of the most powerful forces in nature. That foundation is a decent one for a romantic comedy and there are life lessons and funny scenarios that are good fodder for a strong script. Sadly the screenwriter takes the low road and the small taste of redemption at the end in no way makes up for the content you have to endure along the way. 

Natalie and Ashton are really cute together and this could have been a tamer, sweeter romantic comedy. They gel and both have a genuine spirit about them that is believable and worth rooting for. The subject matter could have been dealt with in subtle ways. We are all smart enough to know what is going on without having it described and flaunted. Many of the supporting characters are there only to spew streams of mindless, unrealistic humor. And I use the word lightly. Eighty five percent of this film should have been scrapped. 

No Strings Attached is rated R for sexual content, language and some drug material. The main thing most will find offensive is the crude dialogue. I can only give this 2 out of 5 creative mix tapes. Kutcher and Portman are wonderful and I would like to see them together again in a better, more appropriately scripted film; one that uses the romantic elements that this one should have focused on. Near the end there is one moving line that Adam says to Emma and I wish someone would take it and build an entire film around its beauty. Unfortunately, here it was like throwing a rose on a garbage heap. So says Matt Mungle. 

Matt Mungle

Review copyright 2011 Mungleshow Productions. Used by Permission.