Laura's screening with Laura Weaser

Friends With Benefits (Out now on DVD/Blu-ray). Directed by Will Gluck.

WARNING: potential spoilers if you couldn't predict how this movie would go by watching the trailer.
See here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJS-wWqVAyk

Rom-coms: the very mention of the genre brings tears to my eyes and a sickening feeling in my stomach. Thankfully, a new genre has been invented for people like me – sex-comedies. Not one of the best, but definitely one of the more realistic, Friends with Benefits is smutty, sexy and holds off from getting too romantic as long as it can.

Like one of the boys: Mila Kunis and JT are the best-friends that become sex-friends.

As per the title, this film revolves around two new found friends Jamie (Mila Kunis) and Dylan (Justin Timberlake or JT) who hit it off really well but are both missing something in their lives – sex. Embarking on a ‘friends with benefits' situation, things get complicated when feelings get in the way (predictable)

Sex-comedies are a huge hit for the ‘modern generation'. Gone are the days of Julia Roberts-Hugh Grant-Colin Frith type romantic comedies. Younger generations don't want mush; they want sex and hot Hollywood starlets.

But like an overbearing parent, Hollywood always finds a way to step in and put its hand over your eyes before they get to the good bit. And there is my one complaint with this movie.

You know from the start there is no way a Hollywood film could do an entire movie without ‘feelings' coming into it. It's just not how Hollywood works. Clinging to an ideal of how relationships should be, they want you to have fun while you are young, get it all out of your system, but ultimately find your one true love.

Look at all sex-comedies: Knocked Up, Bridesmaids, The Hangover. At the end of the day, someone is making a long-term commitment and saying the L word.

Yes, this is a bit of a spoiler (sorry), but in saying that you can't tell me you thought this movie wouldn't end up like every other rom-com?

BUT, unlike rom-coms and like other sex-comedies before, this is a genuinely funny film. Yes, I do have the normal rom-com issues as seen above (have I mentioned I hate rom-coms?) However, the friendly banter between JT and Mila Kunis is brilliant.

I, like Mila's character Jamie, know what it is like to have mostly close guy friends. Jamie and Dylan's blunt, open discussions about everything from relationships, checking out other girls to getting drunk and drawing on each other's faces is relatable. They are young professionals, having fun in New York, hanging out, and are very likeable characters. They could be anyone of your good guy/girl mates.

The other great things is no matter how predictable the story seems to get, I can push past that for the realistic, natural conversation that just flows between the two. As the two get to know each other, we (audience) get to know them better too, like a fly on the wall in a college dorm room. While other characters flank the two leads, it is really their friendship, their banter (and their stunning bodies) that carry the success of this film.

Reel moments:

The crowd pleaser:
The potentially gross but honest discussions during sex. They are friends after all; it doesn't need to be sexy, right?

The stage dive:
The clichéd ending. Unlike the title, the movie itself couldn't be the friend with benefits, it needed a relationship.

Final curtain call?
This film is (mostly) light-hearted and great for a laugh on a Sunday night. I have actually gone back for repeat sittings as it is really easy to watch and who wouldn't want to see JT naked for the majority of the film??