No Strings Attached MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +2 Content: -4

Natalie Portman, Ashton Kutcher, Kevin Kline. Comedy. Writen by Liz Meriwether. Directed by Ivan Reitman.

FILM SYNOPSIS: A guy and a girl struggle to have an exclusively sexual relationship, but eventually realize they want much more.

PREVIEW REVIEW: Is there a message about casual sex being problematic? Well, sort of. But, casual sex isn’t condemned by some sort of moral stance in this rather limp-wristed attempt at bedroom farce. Indeed, any guidance that could be construed as biblical instruction is carefully avoided.

Can you have sex and just be friends, without an emotional tie developing? The characters Mr. Kutcher most often plays would indicate he doesn’t even consider the answer. On the other hand, it’s hard to believe that Ms. Portman, having generally played intuitive characters, wouldn’t already have the answer. (Wouldn’t it be interesting if in real life, Kutcher were the smart one and Portman the dim-witted hedonist?)

There are some funny lines and the actors are good looking, but it’s not provocative or profound, just predictable and crudely primitive.

DVD Alternative: Much Ado About Nothing.

Preview Reviewer: Phil Boatwright
Distributor: Paramount