“Just Friends” just stupid
Even though this film is only an hour and a half long, I felt like I was sitting in the theater for about three days. In that kind of situation, the results can be either wonderful or horrible for film viewers. Can you guess what kind of result this film had?
We’re all tenderly aware of the term “just friends,” especially when we want to be more than friends with a special someone. This film is about one such man, Chris (Ryan Reynolds, “Waiting…”), who’s trapped in the “friend zone,” prohibited from expressing true love to his unassuming soul mate, Jamie (Amy Smart, “Starsky & Hutch”). Once you are deemed as a friend by someone, there is no hope of potentially becoming lovers with them. After this predicament has been established during the opening high school scene of the film, the rest of the storyline devotes itself to the thousands of attempts Chris makes to prove his love. These attempts involve athletic prowess on a children’s hockey team and watching “The Notebook” with teary eyes.
With the rising comic firecracker Reynolds as the leading man, this juvenile romantic comedy touches on such humorous subjects as high school crushes, bouncing breasts, wounded crotches and masturbation. For those of you who enjoy this type of humor, “Just Friends” will have you consistently bursting with laughter. Sadly, this film isn’t able to offer anything more than that. For so much time is spent on slapstick comedy that the scenes which are supposed to be realistic and serious are in fact jumbled and awkward. This imbalance of humor and drama is so painful that the actors look like they are trying to get homework done when it’s time for them to be serious.
Comedy films are a wonderful thing, but they aren’t very memorable – or well done – when they are just filled with comedy. “Just Friends” tries to make up for its lack of heart with a rushed ending and a few bits of romance which don’t even last long enough to be enjoyed by the audience. Reynolds does well, again, as a self-absorbed, sarcastic businessman and Smart clearly puts in the biggest effort with the emotional drama. The greatest source of comedy, however, actually comes from the two supporting characters who continually foil Chris’ romantic endeavors. Anna Faris (“Scary Movie”) as the naughty pop singer and Chris Klein (“American Pie”) as the sweetheart paramedic both contribute fun performances that help make this film a little bit better.
Directed by Roger Kumble (“The Sweetest Thing”), “Just Friends” is right up his alley. But this is definitely not his best work. Filled with predictable physical comedy and sexual humor, “Just Friends” doesn’t make you think very hard but could probably provide some laughs for anyone if you happen to be awake at 3:00 in the morning. Since the story gets carried away with a string of awkward situations, the plot (with characters included) doesn’t even go through that much development, making “Just Friends” just plain stupid.
Casey T. Allen is a film critic for the Utah
Statesman. Comments can be sent to
caseyal@cc.usu.edu.
Grade: D