 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
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 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
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No Strings Attached
- Review Date: January 2, 2011
- R
- Genre: Comedy
- 2011
Common Sense Media says
Sexy romcom is cliched but surprisingly sweet.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this R-rated Ashton Kutcher/Natalie Portman romantic comedy is decidedly adult fare. It's a frank exploration of a modern-day relationship that's founded on a largely sexual basis, so you can expect plenty of unfiltered talk about sex, as well as characters shown in various states of undress and in compromising positions. There's also frequent swearing (including "f--k" and "s--t"), social drinking, and references to drugs. Despite the mature content (and plenty of romcom cliches), the movie is surprisingly sweet and does address questions about commitment.
What's the story?
Emma Kurtzman (Natalie Portman) and Adam Franklin (Ashton Kutcher) meet as 14-year-olds at Camp Weehawken, where Adam makes an awkward (and crass) pass that Emma turns down. Later, they run into each other at a frat party at Adam’s college, but even that moment slips away. It’s not until they get reacquainted again in Los Angeles, where Emma’s doing her residency at a hospital and Adam is working on a Glee-like TV show, that they finally become friends ... with benefits. Adam’s eager to date, but Emma’s not up for anything more than casual sex. Or is she?
Is it any good?
The set-up is standard issue and lacking in conflict, the dialogue hokey. Cliches are everywhere, including one particularly aggravating scene that has Portman’s character stuffing her face with donut holes after a romantic disappointment while listening to songs with Significance (with a capital S, naturally). Must every romcom include a scene in which women ease their heartache by overeating?
Yet NO STRINGS ATTACHED is surprisingly entertaining. Like the role or not, Portman commits to Emma, and we, in turn, commit to her. (Not so much with Kutcher’s Adam, though he’s not terrible.) The rest of the ensemble -- Mindy Kaling, Greta Gerwig, Kevin Kline, and Lake Bell -- is also impressive; they're a ridiculously talented bunch who make the usual supporting-cast peccadilloes amusing. It’s also refreshing to have the female character as the one who’s commitment-phobic, while the guy sits around waiting for his phone to ring (or ping with a text, as they do these days). All of these pluses distract from the film’s flaws, but you may still ultimately have trouble forgiving them.
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.
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
I admit I haven't seen it. I was absolutely appalled when the ads for this aired on TV. The commercials are completely inappropriate. You are watching something you've decided is acceptable for your family and WHAM! horrid commercials. :( I wouldn't go if you paid me.
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AGE
M1
the movie is ...well....a timepass....just watch it if you are extremely bored.
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Kid, 11 years old
March 8, 2011
AGE
COME ON
You know, I may be ten, but, my class understands sex.
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AGE
PERFECT FOR TWEENS AND UP
ilove it
I LOOVE IT SO DO MY RENTS<3
they actually got very moody like saxy mooody and went into the room
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AGE
lovable sweet rom com.
In this comedy, Emma (Natalie Portman) and Adam (Ashton Kutcher) are life-long friends who almost ruin everything by having sex one morning. In order to protect their friendship, they make a pact to keep their relationship strictly "no strings attached." "No strings" means no jealousy, no expectations, no fighting, no flowers, no baby voices. It means they can do whatever they want, whenever they want, in whatever public place they want, as long as they don't fall in love. The questions become - Can you have sex without love getting in the way? And can their friendship survive?
No strings attached was the kind of a movie i wasn't waiting for to watch that much, the only reason to watch this movie was the wonderful and talented and charming Natalie Portman and yes the director too. Natalie is now my most favorite actress of Hollywood now after her greatest performance ever in Black Swan. this movie is a romantic comedy, with less comedy, less silleness, balance romance and what the trailer showed us being a sex comedy, completely opposite of it, less sex. i liked it, i am not being stupid, i like it. its better than most of the romantic comedies that were out last year or last 2 years, not a good or excellent movie but still likeable, one time watch with very good charm to it. it has some faults and problems, but they don't effect the overall movie which is perfect. it had a predictable story and plot. talking about sex friends- lol, it was better than last year's Love and other drugs which just survived on the performances of the pair, the whole look and the fresh idea.
Direction of this movie is appreciative, i must say he handled this movie with care and depp thought. this movie could have become a silly rom com but he saved it, i liked it. but it needed slightly more effort. screenplay needed some touches, other wise perfect timings of everything. not good written but well written. but some minute problems with it otherwise it was ok. the movie takes a bit time to actually make you get into the movie's vein. but once it do you love it. it feels very empty in the beginning but than it is a likeable fare. plot was ok, good story. i would say one thing that they needed to have give some more attention to the characters. editing was pretty average.
talking about performances so about Ashton Kutcher, he was below average, this guy sems very cute and likable in the movie but he is just not a good actor, i didn't liked him in this movie either. but he looked very hot in that naked butt scene, lol. he looks good but doesn't act good. Natalie Portman, i haven't seen her in this kind movie ever. she needed a break from all the hard work she did in Black Swan but even in this silly rom com genre she found a likeable above average (if not good) movie, bravo. i liked her in this movie, she could have been better. she is so beautiful and lovable in this movie. she was good in this movie. the supporting cast was ok.
so i liked this movie, i know you will too. go watch it.
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AGE
Movie Review
I loved No Strings Attached, and I'm only thirteen and I know about all this stuff plus I love Ashton Kutcher. I highly recommend you to see it!!! :) :D ;) ;D
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AGE
Too much needless drug use/themes. One character was seen rolling pot. One scene showed two women making out. Partial nudity, including butts. Could have been worse- no full frontal, but a towel covering his privates. Lots of inappropriate sex scenes.
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| Studio: | Paramount Pictures |
| Director: | Ivan Reitman |
| Cast: | Ashton Kutcher, Kevin Kline, Natalie Portman |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Run time: | 110 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | January 21, 2011 |
| DVD release date: | May 10, 2011 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | sexual content, language and some drug material |
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