DVD Reviews

No Strings Attached – Blu-ray Review

By June L. May 25, 2011, 14:44 GMT

Academy Award(R) Winner Natalie Portman ("Black Swan") and Ashton Kutcher ("What Happens in Vegas...") star in the hilarious hit comedy that takes a modern look at what happens when friends-in-need do the deed. Emma is a busy doctor who sets up a seemingly perfect arrangement when she offers her best friend Adam a relationship with one rule: "No Strings Attached". But when a fling becomes a thing, can sex friends ...more

Relationships are scary and no one knows that better than Adam (Ashton Kutcher) and Emma (Natalie Portman), who meet as children and continue to run into each other throughout young adulthood. Always attracted to each other, when they meet again in present day, they decide to become what they call “sex friends,” with no strings attached.

In a cleverly written, funny and often touching film, viewers follow the lives of Adam and Emma as they try to avoid the pitfalls of modern day relationships, by simply choosing not to have a relationship. The only problem is that their connection is strong, they have fallen in love, the sex is fabulous and they ARE together, but neither one wants to acknowledge the situation.

Modern day romance seems to throw people into a panic, whether it is because of bad experiences, or the fact that it requires work, or the fear of failure, many would deny that a committed relationship is exactly what they want and need. This is where the fun comes in “No Strings Attached,” which means that each partner can do what they want to do, go wherever they please, not care about the other person, and more in a long list of things that Adam and Emma consistently do, but quickly deny to themselves and others.

The “others” in this film are a treat to watch. Kevin Kline has a wonderful supporting role as Adam’s perpetually young (immature and selfish) father Alvin, a television star of several years ago. The film is further enhanced by Lake Bell as a ditzy and well meaning television producer and Cary Elwes as Emma’s advisor at the hospital, who may or may not be interested in her.

Adam works on a television show about a fictional high school “Sassy High,” and has always been in the shadow of his famous television star father Alvin (Kevin Kline) who never misses an opportunity to spout his “tag line” from his series “Great Scott.” Emma is in her residency at a local hospital, and is a complicated personality with a mixture self assurance based on her high intelligence and emotions which seem to frighten her into being audacious rather than feeling.

No Strings Attached blu ray DVD and Digital combo pack is presented on two discs, with a collection of specials. There is a commentary with director Ivan Reitman, deleted scenes and alternate storylines.

Featurettes on “Sex Friends” and “The Secret Life of Sassy High” (the television program Adam works on are amusing additions to the film. The Blu Ray has a “Do’s and Don’ts of Modern Love.” The film is rated R.

Not a brainless or stereotypical film, talented screenwriter Elizabeth Meriwether captures the essence of real relationships and their problems, making them recognizable even when placed in a fantasy setting.

We know from the beginning that this crazy arrangement between Emma and Adam is doomed to fail, and that true love will win over, and it is such fun watching the main characters come to the same conclusion.