No Strings Attached

Emma and Adam’s relationship in No Strings Attached starts with sex and then moves on from there. Sound familiar? Perhaps from last semester? This film knows exactly where you’ve been.

The movie strives to be the romantic comedy for Generation Y. Emma Kurtzman (Natalie Portman) and Adam Franklin (Ashton Kutcher), acquaintances since the two were 14-years-old at Camp Weehawken, keep running into each other. Emma, an MIT grad, moves to Los Angeles to complete her medical residency, the same city in which Adam is pursuing his career as an aspiring writer.

After a drunken night of trying to have sex with anyone he possibly can, Adam ends up naked on Emma’s couch with no recollection of the night before. After realizing he failed in his mission, Emma explains Adam’s drunken escapades and hands back his pants. But Adam can’t keep them on for more than a few minutes: The two end up having fantastic sex soon after. It’s so good that the pair decides to keep it up whenever and wherever possible. However, feelings ultimately get in the way, and the two go through a tumultuous battle to fulfill their diverging needs.

The film is modern in more than just its story; it incorporates all of the instant technological connectivity of contemporary romances: iPhones, texting, Facebook, emoticons. No Strings Attached is indicative of younger generations’ penchant for instant gratification, which extends beyond fast food and on-demand media to relationships and sexuality. Despite the somewhat contrived beginning, the narrative of Emma and Adam’s hook-ups will resonate with young adults. Spot-on performances from Portman and Kutcher and by the supporting cast, notably Lake Bell’s hilarious portrayal of Lucy, enhance the film. Director Ivan Reitman clearly hasn’t lost his comedic charm; the acting feels very honest and organic, making the humor that much more funny and engaging.

No Strings Attached is part of a new era of romantic comedies, one that has been tremendously overdue. Although it won’t go down in history as a turning point in the genre, the film is certainly an enjoyable, clever step in its evolution.