Fs with Bs seems to take a different stylistic approach to the exact same movie. Strings was more of a drama with jokes in it, and it’s actually shockingly good at that. So if Friends delivered a snappy, quirky farce it would distinguish itself. Ultimately, it becomes the typical Hollywood comedy that tries to get serious in the end, but that’s not heart. That’s cheap.

'Friends With Benefits' Red Band: More Casual F***ing

Mila Kunis seems like the coolest girl ever and that goes a long way. Jamie (Kunis) is a headhunter who woos Dylan (Justin Timberlake) to a New York job at GQ. The material lets her change character on a dime as she adjusts her sales pitch and messes with Ryan. Once he moves to New York, they hang out and Jamie continues to push his buttons.

Personally, I wouldn’t like a friend to be that inconsistent. Dylan just messes with her right back. I personally prefer to be nice to my friends in real life. For a movie though, it provides lots of snappy banter. When Dylan and Jamie try the casual sex arrangement, the montage (sextage?) plays it as a joke. The ticklish chin, the socks staying on, the oral errors, it’s all having fun, not taking the endeavor or its ramifications seriously.

7 photosMila Kunis

That dynamic remains strong when Dylan and Jamie actually start dating other people in front of each other. You think you’re cool with it? We’ll see how cool with it you are. Timberlake is as likeable as he is on SNL, self-deprecating his singing and math skills.

Then they introduce Dylan’s family and it’s “insert drama here.” His father (Richard Jenkins) has Alzheimer’s. Now Jamie’s mom (Patricia Clarkson) has already been introduced as a wacky irresponsible drunk. It’s not cute but at least it’s consistent with the tone. Playing the Alzheimer’s card, and Jenkins acting the hell out of it, is just frankly a dick move. Yeah, we get that Dylan and Jamie have family issues. You can’t be the heartwarming Alzheimer’s movie after the abrasive humor of the first half.

Also Dylan’s nephew is the precocious kid from Modern Family (Nolan Gould) who does botched magic tricks. Then there’s a part where Jamie overhears Dylan saying something about her. No Strings actually had smart characters protecting themselves and speaking up. When that couple split up, it was because Ashton Kutcher’s character knew Natalie Portman’s was going to hurt him. Yeah, it was about 20 minutes before the finale, but I was proud of the character for making the tough choice.

Friends promises to be smart about romantic comedies by making fun of their clichés, even having a fake rom-com within the rom-com. Yet this has just as much pop music as Dylan makes fun of, and ends with a romantic stunt cleverly foreshadowed in the first act. I guess you can’t just have a casually funny movie without it bringing up all sorts of issues. Come on, don’t be this obvious!

Anyway, here’s our first look at the movie. It’s not known whether this is a set photo or an “official” still, but to me it definitely looks a lot more polished and cinematic than your average set photo. You can see the larger version below and see if you agree. (The Playlist)

“‘The Rum Diary’ tells the increasingly unhinged story of itinerant journalist Paul Kemp (Depp). Tired of the noise and madness of New York and the crushing conventions of late Eisenhower-era America, Kemp travels to the pristine island of Puerto Rico to write for a local San Juan newspaper run by the downtrodden editor Lotterman (Jenkins). Adopting the rum-soaked lifestyle of the late ‘50s version of Hemingway’s ‘The Lost Generation, Paul soon becomes entangled with a very attractive American woman, Chenault (Heard) and her fiancée Sanderson (Eckhart), a businessman involved in shady property development deals. It is within this world that Kemp ultimately discovers his true voice as a writer and integrity as a man.”

So it’s not a sequel or anything, but Depp is playing ANOTHER character based on Hunter S. Thompson. No matter what, it’s probably better than The Tourist. (via Deadline)

The whole card game is being helmed by Andrew Dominik, who also directed (deep breath) The Assassination of Jesse James By the Coward Robert Ford, which means it will probably be a totally underrated classic for years to come (seriously, Jesse James is better than No Country for Old Men). (Variety)

Believe it or not, he’s not playing every role in the film. He’s reached out to Richard Jenkins, Michael Shannon, Joaquin Phoenix, and Paul Dano to fill out the potential cast. I say potential because if someone shows his Eddie Murphy’s work in the Nutty Professor films between now and then, plans will probably change.

At this rate, the poor thing is going to suffer dehydration before he gets the chance to present himself the Oscar for Best Actor at the ceremony that he is also hosting. Somebody please make sure this guy gets a CapriSun. (MTV)

Hall Pass checks into theaters February 25, 2011.

I’m not big fan of ruining movies for myself by watching clips, but I’m glad I sucked it up and hit play on this new one for Let Me In. Now I for seriously can’t wait to check out this film at Fantastic Fest. I know a few of you out there are pissed that they remade the Swedish version, but c’mon, it’s got Richard Jenkins in it. The man can do no wrong. Except for Say It Isn’t So, and even in that film he’s covered in bees WAY better than Nic Cage ever was.

Take a look at the clip after the jump and see if it changes your skeptical mind…

(/Film)