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IVAN REITMAN — whose directing job (“Ghostbusters”) can be so long within the enamel 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 for the “friends with benefits” sex-leads-to-love romantic comedy formula.

Some clever turns in situations and witty banter that isn’t shy about crossing over into “Hangover”-level raunchy it’s a movie benefiting from another sparkling, sexy and emotionally available performance by Natalie Portman.

Elizabeth Meriwether’s script has that “(500) times of Summer” gimmick, telling this couple’s tale in clumps over a 15-year duration. Super-smart Emma met hunky-needy Adam at summer time camp in the past whenever, plus they had a momentary fling. A decade later, they meet once more and pretty, flirty Emma (Portman) invites Adam to “this thing” she's got to attend. It’s her dad’s funeral. But dopey-handsome Adam (Ashton Kutcher, never 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 planning to see me personally once again.”

Another opportunity encounter years later contributes to a change of telephone numbers. After which, that magical night as soon as the kid drunk-dials your ex plus one starts. 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 will have their romps, but snuggling and so on — real closeness — scares her down. Therefore for Adam, the chase is on.

Portman, probably an Oscar nominee for “Black Swan,” carries this film together with her heat along with her wicked means with a come-on that is incredibly crude. Kutcher is much better at bringing the funny that in holding the weight that https://chaturbatewebcams.com/males/ is emotional. Reitman didn’t suddenly evolve right into a warmer, much much deeper filmmaker, either.

However the manager surrounds their leads with funny individuals saying witty things.

Nevertheless the manager surrounds their leads with funny individuals saying witty things. Adam’s friend that is best (Jake M. Johnson) mocks him for providing his lady love a present of balloons — “Who do you think you are, the old guy from ‘Up’?” Kevin Kline plays Adam’s has-been television celebrity dad, a lecher whom believes absolutely absolutely nothing of trying out with certainly one of Adam’s ex-girlfriends. Lake Bell could be the leggy but embarrassing, lovestruck co-worker at Adam’s work. (He’s a manufacturing associate for a “Glee”-like twelfth grade musical show.)

And wonderful Greta Gerwig (“Greenberg”) spices within the role of Emma’s college pal, usually the 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 present romances including “Rachel getting” that is marriedOlivia Thirlby is Emma’s more youthful, matrimony-minded sibling) — sweet situations and cheeky discussion bail her down. You know it’s love once the man enables you to a menstruation mix tape — “Red Red Wine,” “I’ve Got the whole world for a String” and an also more apparent Leona Lewis hit.

Plus 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 full 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: an hour, 36 moments