First Hit: Smart fun writing and great chemistry result in a totally wonderful, engaging and interesting film.
There is nothing like a smart script to make a film satisfying.
The dialogue here is clever, interesting, up-to-date, and downright spot on. The next step for a film is to have a clear idea of what the film wants to say, and here Will Gluck directed this with clear unfailing vision.
The coup de grace was the choice of actors. Here Justin Timberlake plays Dylan, a mathematically challenged designer, to the hilt. He is handsome, slightly “damaged” by his childhood, caring of people, wanting to do the right thing, but doesn’t have the chops to settle down with one woman.
In the other camp is Mila Kunis playing Jamie a high-level headhunter who wants her prince charming to sweep her off her feet and her damaged view of relationships keep men away after a few short go-a-rounds. She is whippet smart, outgoing, fun, and has a mom that cannot even tell her the ethnicity of her father.
Jamie contacts Dylan while searching for a head designer for GQ magazine. He comes to New York City to “check out his options” and go through the interview process. From the get go there is chemistry. It is fun, spontaneous, quick-witted and a delight to watch. She “sells” him that this is the right move for him and he takes the job.
Arriving in New York, knowing no one, he and Jamie become fast friends. And here is the kicker as to why this film works; you believe they are and can be friends. One evening while they are lamenting about past relationships, they decide they can have sex with each other without any emotion or feelings; “just like playing tennis”. Of course they do (hence the film title) and their sex is amazing for each of them.
The frank repartee in and out of the bed is out-loud funny and inwardly touching. Their family representatives as played by Richard Jenkins (Dylan’s dad) and Patricia Clarkson (Jamie’s mom) are amazingly great in their roles and only add to the intrigue. Woody Harrelson, playing Tommy GQ’s gay sportswriter is hilarious and perfectly cast.
Timberlake is downright perfect in this role and, in my mind, has shown he has wonderful acting chops. My personal favorite scene is in the bedroom when he starts to dance and rap to a Kris Kross song. It shows his musical talents, dancing ability, all while staying in character. Kunis is sublime. She is open, beautiful, sharp, and downright loveable. She carried her share of the load fantastically. Jenkins had me in tears when he talked about the “love of his life” while in his underwear at the airport. Clarkson was a perfect blend of part hippy, part fox, and part mother who could never really stay in one place or with one man. She is a hoot. Harrelson seems to know how to play so many different characters with belief. Here, as a gay man, he’s fun. Keith Merryman and David A. Newman get kudos for writing such a smart script. From the outset the words clearly define the times while engaging the audience. Gluck caught the mood, and dynamics in a perfect way – outstanding.
Overall: We all know the end of the film when it starts, but it makes no difference because the joy in this movie is in the ride so don’t miss it.