Review: Natalie Portman sparkles in ‘No Strings Attached’ romantic comedy

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IVAN REITMAN — whose directing job (“Ghostbusters”) can be so long into the enamel which he really features a son, Jason, directing Oscar-worthy comedies — has their outing that is best in decades with “No Strings connected,” an amusing flip associated with the “friends with benefits” sex-leads-to-love romantic comedy formula.

It’s a film taking advantage of another sparkling, 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 of Summer” gimmick, telling this couple’s tale in clumps more than a period that is 15-year. Super-smart Emma met hunky-needy Adam at summer time camp in the past whenever, and so they possessed a momentary fling. 10 years later on, they meet once again and pretty, flirty Emma (Portman) invites Adam to “this thing” she’s got to visit. It’s her dad’s funeral. But Adam that is dopey-handsome Kutcher, NOT 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 likely to see me personally once more.”

Another opportunity encounter years later results in a change of telephone numbers. After which, that magical when the boy drunk-dials the girl and something begins chaturbatewebcams.com/smoking/ night. But don’t call it a romance that is thoroughly modern. 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 usually have their romps, but snuggling and stuff like that — real intimacy — scares her down. So for Adam, the chase is on.

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

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

However the manager surrounds funny people to his leads saying witty things. Adam’s friend that is best (Jake M. Johnson) mocks him for offering his lady love a present of balloons — “Who do you consider you are, the old man from ‘Up’?” Kevin Kline plays Adam’s has-been television star dad, a lecher whom believes nothing of trying out with certainly one of Adam’s ex-girlfriends. Lake Bell may be the leggy but embarrassing, lovestruck co-worker at Adam’s task. (He’s a production 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 call that is mating “I’m so druuuuuunk.”

Whatever corners writer Meriwither paints herself into — and also this film appears stitched from a few current romances including “Rachel getting” that is marriedOlivia Thirlby is Emma’s younger, matrimony-minded sibling) — sweet 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 entire world on a String” and a lot more apparent Leona Lewis hit.

Additionally the sentiment — her passion for 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 may because of the 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 medication material)CAST: Natalie Portman, Ashton Kutcher, Greta Gerwig, Kevin Kline, Lake BellDIRECTOR: Ivan ReitmanRUNNING TIME: one hour, 36 moments