I'm watching the one movie I'd been hear about for ages and never had the time/patience/desire to see, and I am now regretting that decision. The cliched Let's-Flirt-And-Or-Have-Sex-and-Only-Be-Friends or, better, the We-Aren't-Supposed-to-End-Up-Together-But-You-Know-We-Will-Anyway themes have been done far too many times in the last five years, and yet we still end up watching them, enjoying them, and hoping to have the same serendipitous type of relationship. Leap Year, Just Go With It, No Strings Attached, A Walk to Remember, Princess Diaries 2, Bridget Jones, Ugly Truth..... The list could go on and on.
So, when I rented Friends with Benefits as a way to avoid studying for Microbiology, I wasn't expecting anything new or different. And, the truth is, at 56 minutes and 21 seconds, it isn't very new or different. It's the same cliched story. Enjoyable, funny, cute... I'd even call it hilarious at times, but there haven't been any twists or turns or anything that's really set it apart from the crowd.
Here is where the story grabs me. I haven't ever really been a fan of Mila Kunis. I haven't seen Black Swan, That 70s Show never did much for me, and I only knew her as a skinny, fashionable red carpet girl that every guy I knew wanted to bang. (Yes, I used bang. Thank you Emma Stone in Crazy, Stupid, Love for that one. Excellent film by the by.) In Friends with Benefits, she is a strong business woman, a head hunter for GQ magazine, who has been dumped recently by a guy that called her emotionally damaged and is now having casual sex with GQ's newest art director (Justin Timberlake) whom she recruited. Naturally, they cut it off after awhile, she tries to get back in the dating scene, and things go screwy. (Shocking, is it not?)
Long story short, she reminds me of myself. Granted, I'm currently in a new, budding relationship, so I should technically say she reminds me of my formerly single self, but you get the gist. She's spunky, after a break up she blocks off all emotional ties but still believes in true love and prince charmings (poor kid), and she just acts the way I act about certain things. Mila: (after catching a guy being a jerk) "I really hope we can still be friends." Idiot man: "Really?" Mila: "No. Go f*ck yourself." Sorry, but if you're going to act like an idiot/jerk/doosch/p.o.s then you deserve to be told as it is. If the girl does the dumping, then friendship is sometimes wanted (not always, and not always right away, just ask my ex) but usually I try to keep the friendship tie. (Yes, I realize that's a mean move since the guy will occasionally see that as hope and you really ought to try and stamp that out, but hey, we're nurturing. Usually.) If the guy does the dumping though? Oh no ma'am. That's just no bueno all around. We do have some pride. I would've thrown coffee on him, but that's just me.
Anywho, I should probably finish watching this movie since I have a ton of stuff to do (like a Microbio final in T-Minus 9 hours and 6 Oceanography quizzes due on Thursday) but I just wanted to stop by for the first time in ages to say hi, and Mila Kunis? I'm sorry I judged you so harshly. Please continue acting like me in this film. Also, thank you for not being scary skinny in this movie and actually looking healthy for someone your size. Well done.
Peace, Love & Starbucks
Sam
