 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Friends with Benefits
- Review Date: July 22, 2011
- R
- Genre: Comedy
- 2011
Common Sense Media says
Lots of sexual content in formulaic but sweet romcom.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this R-rated romcom stars Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis as adult friends who decide to make their relationship sexual with no commitments (hence the "benefits" of the title). Consequently, there's plenty of frank, direct sexual talk and content, with partial nudity, simulated sex acts, innuendoes, and free-wheeling discussions about sexual preferences and relationships. There's also social drinking and swearing (including "s--t" and "f--k"). It's adult fare, but it does ultimately have positive messages about true love.
What's the story?
Hard-driving executive recruiter Jamie (Mila Kunis) successfully persuades up-and-coming art director Dylan (Justin Timberlake) to take a job offer from GQ magazine and move to New York from California. Before long, they've become good friends, watching (and deriding) romantic comedies, exploring the city, and getting to know each other. They've each just extricated themselves from a hilariously dysfunctional relationship and aren't eager to jump into new ones. One problem: They miss sex. Hence the agreement to be each other's commitment-free "friend with benefits." The arrangement works like a charm ... until it doesn't. Can their friendship survive the complications that romantic feelings bring, or should they be friends no more?
Is it any good?
Can a movie be formulaic and still be pretty good? In the case of FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS, the answer is a resounding yes. Though it tries hard to rise above the romcom cliches -- even going so far as to mock the fantasies that the worst movies of the genre spin -- it inevitably follows the same trajectories, serving up a happily-ever-after ending that the audience spots from the moment the two leads meet.
Still, Friends with Benefits is surprisingly entertaining, thanks in part to Kunis -- who combines comedic chops with gorgeous-but-approachable looks and a winning personality -- and a parade of gifted supporting actors (Jenna Elfman, Woody Harrelson, and the always tip-top Patricia Clarkson and Richard Jenkins) who can do no wrong. Timberlake manages to stay above water; sometimes, he's even persuasively charming. Yet you have to wonder what this movie could have been had it not given into the expected outcome, coming up instead with an ending that would still be satisfying but bold and -- dare we say it -- more realistic. No such luck.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the idea of a "friends with benefits" relationship. What messages does that kind of arrangement convey about love and commitment? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values when it comes to dating and relationships.
The movie suggests that romantic comedies create unrealistic expectations in both men and (especially) women about relationships. Does this movie attempt to change these expectations or foster them?
Ultimately, what's the appeal of romantic comedies? Although they tend to follow the same predictable formula, they remain popular. Why do you think that is?
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AGE
When I See It,I Think It Would Be Pretty Good
This Movie Will Be Pretty Good When I See It In Theaters
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AGE
nasty
it is nasty not for kids so don't put in on there
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AGE
best most appropriate movie ever!!
I think that this was a great movie. good for almost all ages. as a 48-year-old woman with three kids that are 8, 11, and 15 years old, I think it is a good movie for kids.
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AGE
Friends with Benefits not beneficial for kids of any age.
Very sexual. NOT AT ALL FOR KIDS.
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AGE
Horrible movie - avoid like the plague!
I'm 48 and walked out of the movie 45 minutes into it running because of the raunchiness and constant gay sex comments. I was VERY disappointed.
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AGE
enough already, hollywood
When will enough be enough?
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Kid, 12 years old
August 16, 2011
AGE
Awesome
Great movie.
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Older teens
I liked it. not MUCH sex compared to most R-rated movies i've seen.
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AGE
16 and up.
Friends with Benefits is an average movie about adult friends who make their relationship sexual with no commitments and all though this movie does work like a charm this movie has a lot of sexual content that maybe too much for your young kids this movie is better fit for your older teens and parents you need to know that Friends with Benefits has a lot of sex, sex talk, and some partial nudity shown there's also some constant strong language used and some social drinking used despite the sexual content in this movie the movie does have a positive message it's about that true love wins out, and that's always heartwarming and uplifting the role model is that Jamie's mother isn't always mindful of her daughter's needs, but there's no malice, and Jamie is forgiving to her and Dylan, though pained by his father's Alzheimer's, is kind and solicitous.
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| Studio: | Screen Gems |
| Director: | Will Gluck |
| Cast: | Emma Stone, Justin Timberlake, Mila Kunis |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Run time: | 104 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | July 22, 2011 |
| DVD release date: | December 2, 2011 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | sexual content and language |
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