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Wowed by Natalie Portman’s Oscar-bound turn in “Black Swan?” Witness a whole new dimension of the megastar’s ever-growing talent in “No Strings Attached,” the rote rom-com Portman not only produced, but hoists from the gutters of the January doldrums with a winning, sharply funny performance. If “Swan” showcased her riveting dramatic skills and physical dedication, then “Strings,” more than anything we’ve seen before, highlights Portman’s genuine gift for comedy. It suggests she can basically handle anything, and it promises a lengthy career packed with intriguing, entertaining and wide-ranging work.
Which isn’t to say “Strings” is something you should rush out to see. Rife with the same deadbeat tropes that have derailed far superior forerunners, it’s the sort of movie you watch in its edited form on a lazy Saturday on cable, where it’s sure to wind up. Advice-spouting buddies, convenient montages, mad dashes and unconvincing love are all accounted for in this semi-risqué sexcapade, which sees a doctor (Portman) and a TV producer (Ashton Kutcher) use each other for nookie then struggle with the consequence of romance rushing in. While you’re yawning, know also that the pair’s cool chemistry is often squashed by their underwritten, body-snatcher hollowness.
It’s the accessories that make the ensemble here, with chief credit going to Portman’s instincts and vital support coming from the killer line deliveries of co-stars like Mindy Kaling and Lake Bell. Screenwriter Elizabeth Meriwether has been criticized for the film’s abundant raunch, but it’s a lot less strained or gratuitous than the dirty bits of “Going the Distance,” just as the frank sexual comfort is much more comfortable than that of “Love & Other Drugs.” The dialogue’s got punch and the brazen rhythm, however uneven, yields a whole lot of laughs.
“Strings” is the best thing to come from director Ivan Reitman since 1993’s “Dave,” and that it’s still only worthy of half-hearted recommendation says a thing or two about his output. He owes a big debt of gratitude to Portman, who helps turn this mediocre movie into a mediocre movie with benefits.
No Strings Attached
R
Two-and-a-half reels out of four
Now playing in area theaters
Recommended Rental
Monsters
R
Available Tuesday
An inspiring example of artful, expensive-looking filmmaking on a budget, “Monsters” is the sci-fi feature debut of visual effects artist Gareth Edwards, whose subtle showmanship is matched by his aptitude for social allegory.
Scoot McNairy and Whitney Able star in this impressive tale of aliens, borders, fear and ignorance — one of the great, rare finds of 2010. SPR
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