Review: 'No Strings Attached' predictable, entertaining

If you're out looking for just another "chick flick," then producer and director Ivan Reitman's newest romantic comedy "No Strings Attached" may not be right for you. While it is a pretty entertaining movie to watch, "NSA" is, in many respects, NOT your typical "chick flick."

This film is set around two people – aspiring writer Adam (played by Ashton Kutcher) and overworked doctor Emma (Natalie Portman) – who eventually make an arrangement in which they will become on-call "sex friends."

One thing I really liked about this movie is the fact that, unlike most romantic comedies you will see, it is a little more focused on the guy in the film than on the girl. In the beginning of the film, Adam discovers that his most recent ex-girlfriend has been dating his father basically since she dumped him (or maybe longer). This revelation causes Adam to go on the drinking binge that eventually leads to him having sex with Emma for the first time the next day. His father's new relationship is something that crops up every so often throughout the movie and continues to be a source of anxiety for him.

Another element that most other movies miss out on is a realistic depiction of a relationship, but "NSA" did it pretty well. What I'm referring to is that in most relationships, one party is a little more invested than the other, and the relationship featured in this film is similar. From the get-go, Adam constantly tries to get more out of the relationship than just sex, but Emma does not. As the movie progresses, it becomes obvious where the story is going, and it comes as no surprise to the audience when Adam asks Emma to go on an actual date. What comes next is also not too shocking, but I won't spoil that for you.

Another strength of this film also happens to be one of its weaknesses. Kutcher and Portman have some really good chemistry in their scenes and it becomes very believable that they would be in a relationship together. However, their characters are not actually in a romantic committed relationship; they're just "sex buddies." The fact that they have such great chemistry makes it difficult to believe that they are not falling for each other from the first time they sleep together.

This is a pretty funny movie, but I think it could have been much more entertaining given a better writing team. Writers Elizabeth Meriwether and Michael Samonek do a decent job ,but after just a few minutes of dialogue, it becomes clear that they are out of their element. Much of the crude and awkward comedy of the film seemed very forced, with only about half of the jokes landing.

Something annoying about this film is that there are so many other things going on around Kutcher and Portman that it became difficult to focus on their relationship. You have the sub-plot of Adam's dad stealing his now ex-girlfriend from him, and add to that the fact that his dad is a celebrity in the movie. Then there is another emerging sub-plot in which Adam's best friend Eli and Emma's roommate Patrice start dating. Then you have this stuff with Emma's family, where her sister is getting married and her recently widowed mother is dating a shady character named Bones. The list goes on and on. The point is the movie is just so cluttered from all the extraneous stories, it makes it difficult to stay focused on Adam and Emma's stuff.

The only other thing I will say that I flat-out did NOT like was the ending. However, I will not say anymore about that so as not to spoil it.

Overall, "No Strings Attached" is a decently funny, entertaining deviation from your run-of-the-mill "chick flick" that both guys and gals can enjoy.