If you only look at the bare bones, No Strings Attached and Friends With Benefits are essentially the same movie. Both films are about friends who decide to have pressure-free sex with each other, no relationship obligations allowed.
What does it mean when a friend has no strings attached?
Friends with benifits means you are having sex with a friend, nothing more. No strings attached means meaningless sex, your relationship or lack of it is a non-issue in your sexual thing.
Is ‘friends with benefits’ the new ‘No Strings Attached’?
Now that the Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis romantic comedy Friends With Benefits has finally hit theaters, we can legitimately compare its plot with that of the similarly-themed, hooking-up-with-an-otherwise-platonic-buddy Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman romantic comedy No Strings Attached.
Are “friends with benefits” as complicated as they appear in real life?
No strings attached: Are “friends with benefits” as complicated in real life as they are in the movies? Many people become “friends with benefits” to avoid drama and to have sex without getting tied up in emotions; however, the reality is that having a friend with benefits often becomes complicated.
Are Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis’s ‘friends with benefits’ similar to ‘No Strings’?
Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis star in Friends with Benefits, a romcom about two pals who also have sex sometimes. Sounds awfully similar to the Natalie Portman flick, No Strings Attached, no? We had No Strings star Guy Branum deliver the final verdict: Which sucked less?
Did No Strings Attached copy Friends With Benefits?
During a 2018 appearance on the podcast WTF with Marc Maron, Kunis said, "I did a movie called Friends With Benefits. He did a movie that was very similar called No Strings Attached. We lived our movies out. We were just like, let's just hook up.
What is a relationship called with No Strings Attached?
What Is a "No Strings Attached" Relationship? A "no strings attached" relationship is one in which there are no special conditions or restrictions for emotional or physical fidelity or support.
What is the difference between hookup and Friends With Benefits?
Usually, friends with benefits (a.k.a. FWB) means that people who know each other engage in intimate/sexual activity without really dating each other. It's different from hooking up, which tends to be a one-time thing with someone new.
What's the difference between FWB and NSA?
NSA (No Strings Attached) FWB (Friends with Benefits)
Can no strings attached turn into love?
It's absolutely possible—and not uncommon—for the relationship to become something more. Like all matters of the heart, starting a new relationship doesn't happen instantly. Thankfully, it's easier when you're already on close terms with the person occupying your thoughts.
Can a man love a woman without sleeping with her?
Even if we did have sex, I would feel guilty for making her do something she would be uncomfortable with. I guess to sum it up, a man can most defiantly love a woman without having sex with her, but lack of sex can seriously complicate the relationship.
What are the rules for a FWB relationship?
The general idea is that you are friends (or at least friendly) with the other person and have a sexual chemistry, but are not interested in pursuing a more serious, romantic, relationship. Successful FWB relationships are strictly sexual and avoid all of the romantic and physical intimacy of a true relationship.
What are the signs of a friend with benefits?
14 signs you and your friends with benefits should maybe just date alreadyYou really can't keep your hands off each other. ... You miss each other when you haven't hung out for a while. ... You travel together. ... You know everything about each other's romantic histories. ... You spend entire weekends together.More items...•
Can friends with benefits cuddle?
Nothing is no more of an obvious sign that you are crossing the line in a FWB relationship than cuddling after sex. This is a big no-no and you must know that you can't do this in an FWB relationship.
What does DDF mean on Grindr?
drug disease freeDDF is an acronym, used on dating websites or personal ads, that stands for drug disease free or drug and disease free.
What does GGG mean on tinder?
good, giving, and gameWhat Does "GGG" Mean on Tinder? Popularized on dating apps, "GGG" stands for "good, giving, and game." It was reportedly created by sex columnist Dan Savage as a way to parse out qualities that make a good sex partner.
What is LTR on Grindr?
abbreviation for. long-term relationship: used in online dating sites and personal advertisements.
Who is Mila in Friends with Benefits?
Friends With Benefits: Mila is a headhunter in New York, who meets Justin’s web designer from California at the airport while she’s chasing the makeshift sign with his name on it on the luggage conveyor belt to take him to his interview to become the new art director for GQ. She has to sell him on New York before midnight, when the job offer expires. She does. They become friends because he’s emotionally unavailable due to his ambition and fear of getting hurt, and she’s emotionally damaged juggling the lack of commitment her mother (Patricia Clarkson) practices and preaches and her own desire for her life to be like the romantic comedies this film claims to hate.
Why did the two girls become friends?
They become friends because he’s emotionally unavailable due to his ambition and fear of getting hurt, and she’s emotionally damaged juggling the lack of commitment her mother (Patricia Clarkson) practices and preaches and her own desire for her life to be like the romantic comedies this film claims to hate.
Who plays Adam's dad in No Strings Attached?
On the other hand, the supporting cast of No Strings Attached is unnecessarily stacked and curiously underutilized. Kevin Kline plays Adam’s aging sitcom star dad, who shacks up with his son’s ex-girlfriend.
Who plays the headhunter in Friends with Benefits?
Coming off the success of Easy A, writer/director Will Gluck casts Kunis as the brassy New York headhunter who lures Timberlake’s L.A.-based graphic designer to a job at GQ.
Is Dylan in Friends with Benefits?
As in No Stings Attached, the duo decides to strike up a platonic sexual arrangement. But Friends With Benefits has even more fun with that premise in an extended sequence depicting the business-like formality Jamie and Dylan adopt in bed.
Why do people become friends with benefits?
Many people become “friends with benefits” to avoid drama and to have sex without getting tied up in emotions; however, the reality is that having a friend with benefits often becomes complicated.
Do FWBs follow a script?
Research suggests that FWBs often follow a different script in the real world than they do in the movies. People can have very different motivations and expectations for their FWBs, which can lead these relationships down many possible paths.
What does "no strings attached" mean?
No strings attached means meaningless sex, your relationship or lack of it is a non-issue in your sexual thing. Both sexual things have intersections, but they are not the same. Friends with benifits is a hard one to do if either or both people attach the sex to romantic issues.
What does "friends with benifits" mean?
Friends with benifits means you are having sex with a friend, nothing more. No strings attached means meaningless sex, your relationship or lack of it is a non-issue in your sexual thing. Both sexual things have intersections, but they are not the same. Friends with benifits is a hard one to do if either or both people attach ...
What is the meaning of "friends with benefits"?
“Friends with benefits” is a phrase invented by entitled millennials to justify their shallow, shitty attitudes toward everything except their own entitlement. Fuck that selfish crap.
The Story
Two attractive young people meet, become vaguely friendly, and have some of the sex. Neither he nor she want anything to do with a relationship – too much hassle, too much risk of heartbreak – and instead they're struck with inspiration.
The Filmmakers
No Strings Attached had a comedy legend in the director's chair in the form of Jason Reitman's dad, Ivan Reitman. His directing credits are overflowing with big American comedy hits you might recognize, including Meatballs, Stripes, Ghostbusters, Twins, Kindergarten Cop, Dave, and more.
The Cast
No Strings Attached stars Academy Award-winner Natalie Portman and Punk'd creator Ashton Kutcher as bang buddies, and while it feels like a step down for the former, the pair manage a chemistry that works to land the film's playful moments and more serious beats. Their fun and emotional pairing is both convincing and entertaining.
Critical Reception
Neither film was necessarily beloved by critics upon release, but per Rotten Tomatoes, only one of them is considered "fresh." No Strings Attached is not that one as it currently sits at 49% on the aggregator site with an almost identical audience score of 51%.
Budget and Box-Office
Reitman and friends brought No Strings Attached in for $25 million plus marketing and collected $149m worldwide, and Friends With Benefits cost $10m more while earning nearly the same $150m around the world. The Portman/Kutcher pairing did noticeably better domestically, though, earning $71m to Kunis/Timberlake's $56m.
My Take
I watched both films upon release back in 2011 and re-watched them for the first time this week because I'm a damn professional. Neither is all that memorable, and two watches is probably two watches too many, but seeing them back-to-back makes their respective strengths and weaknesses far more visible.
Round 1: The Basics
Director: Ivan Reitman, of Ghostbusters and Meatballs fame. Not too shabby.
Round 2: Cast Hotness Levels
Natalie Portman is absolutely stunning. Her bone structure is gorgeous and she has the deepest, most beautiful eyes. Her bod’s pretty rockin’, too. Ashton Kutcher is pasty and lumpy and also he is a cheating perv.
Round 3: Cast Radness Levels
Natalie Portman is a legit genius, super liberal and she seems really sweet. (+3)
Round 4: Squee Scale
Wow. I cannot believe how emphatically I squeed at No Strings Attached. Despite the fact that I loathe Ashton Kutcher with every fiber of my soul, he had me convinced, for 108 minutes, that he’s a charming, good-hearted sweetie who is entirely deserving of Natalie Portman’s general awesomeness. I know! I know. But you guys–HE MADE HER A PERIOD MIX.
Round 5: Feminist Friendly?
This is where the fact that No Strings Attached is written by a woman really makes a difference. NSA is that rare film that is never frustrating or disheartening to watch as a feminist. First–and I must also give credit to FWB here–neither female protagonist works in media.
Round 6: Contributing Factors
No Strings Attached is so enchantingly unpredictable. It’s quirky in a grounded way that never annoys. Adam asks Emma out on Valentine’s Day, to which she understandably hesitates. She finally agrees, if he promises not to bring her flowers. He brings her carrots. If that sounds corny, it isn’t. It’s adorable.
Verdict
No Strings Attached is the clear winner here. I actually liked Friends With Benefits, but I’m really glad I watched it first. Should you decide to watch both movies back to back, I recommend doing the same. There’s no way FWB could fail to disappoint after the warm, honest, refreshingly original spirit of No Strings Attached.
