Friends with Benefits (film)
Friends with Benefits is a 2011 American romantic comedy film directed by Will Gluck and starring Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis. The film features Patricia Clarkson, Jenna Elfman, Bryan Greenberg, Nolan Gould, Richard Jenkins, and Woody Harrelson in supporting roles.[3] The plot revolves around Dylan Harper (Timberlake) and Jamie Rellis (Kunis), who meet in New York City, and naively believe adding sex to their friendship will not lead to complications. Over time, they begin to develop deep feelings for each other, only to deny it each time they are together.
Friends with Benefits
- Will Gluck
- Keith Merryman
- David A. Newman
- Keith Merryman
- David A. Newman
- Harley Peyton
- Liz Glotzer
- Will Gluck
- Martin Shafer
- Jerry Zucker
- Janet Zucker
Michael Grady
Tia Nolan
- Screen Gems
- Castle Rock Entertainment[a]
- Olive Bridge Entertainment
- Zucker Productions
- July 18, 2011 (New York City)
- July 22, 2011 (United States)
109 minutes[1]
United States
English
$35 million[2]
$149.5 million[2]
Principal casting for Friends with Benefits took place over a three-month period from April to July 2010. Gluck reworked the original script and plot shortly after casting Timberlake and Kunis. Filming began in New York City on July 20, 2010, and concluded in Los Angeles in September 2010. Screen Gems distributed the film, which was released in North America on July 22, 2011. Friends with Benefits was generally well received by film critics, most of whom praised the chemistry between the lead actors. The film became a commercial success at the box office, grossing $149.5 million worldwide, against a budget of $35 million. It was nominated for two People's Choice Awards—Favorite Comedy Movie, and Favorite Comedic Movie Actress (Kunis)—and two Teen Choice Awards for Timberlake and Kunis.
Plot[edit]
Jamie Rellis, an executive headhunter in NYC, recruits Dylan Francis Harper Jr., an LA art director, to interview for a position with GQ magazine. Initially skeptical, he accepts the job after a night exploring the city with her.
Dylan moves to New York, signing a one-year contract that earns Jamie a commission, and they become close platonic friends. One night, after agreeing that sex should not require emotional attachment, they have purely casual sex. After several trysts together, Jamie decides to start dating again, and she and Dylan return to simply being friends.
Jamie meets Parker, an oncologist for children. After five dates, they consummate their relationship as per her five-date rule, only for him to break up with her in the morning.
When Jamie's free-spirited mother, Lorna, abandons their Fourth of July weekend plans, Dylan persuades Jamie to travel with him to Los Angeles. There, she meets his sister Annie, nephew Sammy, and his father, who suffers from the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. Though Jamie and Dylan assure his family that they are merely friends, they spend an intimate night together, having sex again.
The next day, Jamie overhears Dylan tell Annie that she is too "damaged" for him to date. Hurt, she flies home and ignores Dylan's attempts to reach her. He finds her on the roof of a skyscraper – a place she showed him the day they met – where she reveals that she overheard everything he said, and ends their friendship.
Some time later, Jamie discovers that Dylan may be leaving GQ for another job before his contract ends, which would affect her commission. She confronts him, leading to another argument. Jamie spends time with her mother, while Dylan meets his father at Newark Liberty International Airport.
In a moment of Alzheimer's-induced confusion, his father mistakes a passer-by for a woman from his past. Regaining his lucidity, he explains that he met "the love of my life" before marrying Dylan's mother, but let her go. Dylan's father urges him not to do the same, and to therefore reconcile with Jamie.
Realizing his true feelings for Jamie, Dylan calls Lorna to set up an excuse for Jamie to go to Grand Central Station, where he surprises her with a flash mob dancing to "Jump" and "Closing Time". After confessing his feelings to her and sharing a passionate kiss, Dylan suggests they go on their first real date. They go across the street to the Pershing Square café, and are unable to keep their hands off each other.
In a post-credits scene, Dylan and Jamie watch outtakes from the fictional romantic comedy seen throughout the film.
Credits adapted from AllMovie and The Guardian.[4][5]