BIG SCREEN: Friends with Benefits Revieux (Rated-R)

To me, Justin Timberlake is like frozen lemonade from a can. Is it enjoyable? Yeah, if you only take a tiny spoonful at a time. But, in larger doses, it certainly needs a whole lotta diluting to make it palatable.

JT’s skits on SNL? Great. Performances as a supporting actor in movies? Not too shabby. But, a leading man in a 94-minute romantic comedy? My brain puckered at the thought. (And Mila Kunis – forever the cloying Jackie from That 70s Show in my mind – wasn’t much more appetizing.) But, I’m a good sport. I was willing to give Friends with Benefits a shot.

Here’s the story… Dylan (Timberlake) and Jamie (Kunis) become platonic pals when she, an executive headhunter, recruits him to become GQ magazine’s new art director in New York. Fresh out of rotten relationships and unwilling to get entangled in new ones, they decide to attempt the impossible. (Normally, I would let the seemingly obvious title speak for itself. But, I’m going to assume not everyone knows what the phrase means, considering a pair of geniuses brought their 10-ish-year-old kid to the screening I attended. Let’s give ‘em the benefit of the doubt and assume they didn’t know it means, “people who have sex without romantic commitment.” Oy.)

Anyway, in an ironic little wink-wink, nudge-nudge to the audience, the two bond over their shared disdain for Hollywood romantic comedies. Aren’t they clever? But, as one would imagine, they soon discover that their seemingly simple relationship is fraught with complications all its own.

Feel like you’ve seen/heard this concept half-a-billion times? I thought the issue of can you/can’t you was settled by Jerry Seinfeld and Elaine Benes about 15 years ago. Early in the movie, I was not feeling confident they could pull this thing off – and a corny flash mob scene didn’t help. I think I actually groaned aloud. Uuuuuuuuuugh.

But, then came the first sex scene, and it was hy-ster-i-cal. Not an easy task. After a just-okay start, this sucker actually got a little traction and things really started rolling. Both actors not only prove they have solid comedic chops, but their chemistry (in both a comedic and romantic sense) is pretty powerful, too. Color me impressed, youngsters!

A couple of veteran actors up the ante even further. Patricia Clarkson (New Orleans girl!) plays Jamie’s free-spirited, free-love-advocating mom. Woody Harrelson plays Dylan’s highly gregarious gay coworker (a character that serves no real purpose in the plot, but is entertaining, nonetheless). Both turn in effervescent, scene-stealing performances that make you wish someone would cast them in bigger roles, for heaven’s sake. (Jenna Elfman and Richard Jenkins play Dylan’s sister and dad, and while they’re perfectly fine, they’re far less dynamic than the aforementioned.)

Is this movie groundbreaking territory? No way. Is it Woody-Allen-late-70s brilliant? Nope. But the dialogue is tight, the banter witty, the performances energetic. Despite my initial reservations, I actually found it kind of delightful. Like a refreshing glass of lemonade. Fresh squeezed. Minus the pucker.

BIG SCREEN: Bad Teacher Revieux (Rated R)

Cameron Diaz must have thought she’d died and gone to heaven when she read this script. I can’t imagine a more fun, liberating role to play than a really bad girl with few-to-no redeeming qualities. JACKPOT!

Her character, Elizabeth Halsey, is a trash-mouthed, hard-drinking, dope-smoking gold digger who got into teaching for all the wrong reasons, and is desperate to get right back out. When she gets dumped by her sugar daddy/fiancé, her priorities become: (a) lie, cheat and steal to raise money for breast implants (b) land the wealthy new substitute teacher (Justin Timberlake), and (c) make life miserable for her nemesis, an annoying, overly enthusiastic fellow teacher (Lucy Punch).

Notice that neither teach nor encourage her students appears on that list.

If you don’t like raunchy humor, you may as well just cut to my Cars 2 review right now. It’s alright, we won’t judge you for being tasteful!

Okay, for the rest of you, I can think of pretty much nothing I didn’t love about this movie. Yes, yes -- by day I’m a G-rated mommy who watches my language, minds my manners, and sets a good example for my little boy. But, man, there’s nothing like a good, uncensored hour-and-a-half of naughty humor to ease the tension. You remember movies like this from the 80s: Porky’s, Animal House, Fast Times at Ridgemont High (Bad Teacher's very cool 80s soundtrack underscores the similarities, by the way). But the difference is, the adult humor is perpetrated by the adults, not the teens, so we don’t have to feel like pervs watching it. And – most importantly – the leader of the raunchiness is a woman. I think it’s a first in this particular genre, and Diaz does us proud. She totally embraces the role and delivers, big time.

A major part of why this movie is so great is the amazing, amazing casting. All the supporting actors and actresses are as ideally suited to their roles as Diaz, and they totally commit to their characters. In addition to Timberlake, who’s not afraid to play a repressed little worm (did this add to the appeal for ex-girlfriend Cameron?!), and Punch, who goes delightfully over-the-top and borderline psychotic, Jason Segal adds a slightly Judge Reinhold/Brad Hamiltonesque quality to his portrayal of the lovable gym teacher who totally has Elizabeth’s number. But, next to Cameron Diaz, the star of the show has got to be Phyllis Smith, aka, Phyllis from The Office. She plays a self-conscious, nervous fellow teacher who inexplicably gravitates toward Elizabeth, takes on a sort of awkward sidekick role, and delivers some of the greatest lines in the movie.

Dudes will enjoy this movie, too, but, really, it’s let-your-hair-down, girls’-night-out perfection. On par with – and maybe even a shade funnier than -- Bridesmaids. Yeah, I said it!

Keep those funny-lady-driven comedies coming, Hollywood!

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