When Fiction Imitated Life
When Friends with Benefits delivered to audiences a sexy, heartfelt narrative on modern romance , it also delivered a cultural spark. The romantic comedy starred Timberlake and Kunis and offered a cheeky, heartfelt narrative, stripping the romcom clichés asking if two interpersonally closed people could ever keep it “casual.”
Beneath the comedic timing, the first decade of the 21st century was a defining Friends with Benefits, personal and professional, romantic comedy chapter for its cast and Timberlake and Kunis in particular, as it blurred the divide between on screen and real life.
With the release of Friends with Benefits, Timberlake entered a new chapter in his career. The transition from pop to cinema was anchored on his prior works. The romcom comedy marked a time in his career where films focused on showcasing his talent, opposed to the film which first showcased his talent, The Social Network. Timberlake was poised as a lead and required to display a new range of sex appeal in a modern romantic comedy in addition to his already established wit and charm. Friends with Benefits would also test new levels of risk for Timberlake and his career, showcasing a champion of the new relaxed sex com.
Filming had its share of challenges beyond playful pictu res. In later interviews, Timberlake discussed how uncomfortable the emotional scenes were, describing himself as ‘exposed.’ Considering his close-range emotional scene partner, he had every reason to feel vulnerable. Yet, Timberlake’s discomfort stemmed from more than physical proximity. It was the ‘on cue’ emotional performance that he had to deliver. Timberlake had to summon the emotional ache of those close, romantic scenes to match his deep, real-life, reluctance to ‘bring down the walls’ of emotional protection. Timberlake’s reluctance to ‘bring down the walls’ was part of the reason his performance as Dylan Harper resonated with audiences.
Timberlake was able to capitalize on the momentum from the film to illegitimately garner acclaim. His unprecedented ability to mainstream romantic cinema while being accused of ‘ex-boy boy bander’ was undesired. Timberlake never reached the same highs in his acting career, as the audiences became ambivalent to whether they wanted the smooth crooner or the serious actor. Dylan’s puzzlement on love was mirrored by Timberlake’s faltered concentration between deep-rooted artistry and surface-level fame.
Mila Kunis: Breaking the Girl-Next-Door Mold
Mila Kunis made the shift from ‘that girl next door’ to ‘that girl with no acquaintance’ in Friends With Benefits. The film had just come after an incredible transition period in her career, as audiences just became used to her as Jackie from That ‘70 s how and had only just stunned audiences with her Oscar-nominated turn in Black Swan. The shift from psychological horror to romantic comedy was more than just a genre shift. It was also a shift of audience perception.
Unlike Hollywood’s average rom-com heroines, Jamie was not written as cliché. She was confident, emotionally intelligent, and independent. Kunis stated in an interview with Elle that she had lived “through that same kind of guardedness” and deeply connected with Jamie’s commitment issues.
While filming in New York, Kunis experienced unrelenting paparazzi, and potential romance rumors circulations regarding her and co-star Timberlake. Kunis’s romance with co-star Ashton Kutcher, however, was and still is ironic. In “friends with benefits” arrangements, true romance would form.
Art does not just imitate life. Sometimes, it predicts it.
The Chemistry That Couldn’t Be Faked
The off-screen relationship of Kunis and Timberlake was part of what made the film feel authentic. Director Will Gluck encouraged improvisation and allowed the two to set the pace of the scene. Transitioning and culminating to the scene, playful teasing and deep conversations aligned to create the illusion of a relationship that had evolved organically. In many ways, it had.Kunis once remarked in an interview that they “clicked like college roommates,” and that feeling of ease helped to prevent the film from feeling formulaic. The two did grow mutual respect that Timberlake called Kunis “fearless” while she called him “refreshingly real.”
The marketing also used the chemistry. Sony leaned into their believable friendship and crafted marketing that blurred the line between fiction and reality. Viewers were not just seeing a love story; they were seeing a story that they could believe was real.
Friends with Benefits had an intense shoot despite its lighthearted feeling. Will Gluck’s directing style created an atmosphere of constant spontaneity which in turn created constant retakes, last minute rewrites, and switches in locations from New York to Los Angeles, and then back to Los Angeles.
The long hours created exhaustion in the characters which only deepened because both leads had intense and packed schedules. In between, while exhaustion settled, the actors spoke honestly about the rise and fall of relationships and fame, what “love” really is, and the world watches.
Timberlake spoke about the emotional impact, admitting that, at times, he wondered if the film’s humor and rawness encapsulated his fears about commitment. For Kunis, the role became a way to “unlearn” her emotional detachment.
Movie therapy will have to do.
Looking Back
Friends with Benefits was primarily criticized for being too similar to No Strings Attached, starring Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher. Ultimately, this film captured audience’s attention because of its self-awareness. It was able to critique the romantic comedy for being a romantic comedy, and still delivered an entertaining film.
Timberlake, for the first time, showcased his acting ability for a big audience. For Kunis, this film was a huge leap as well, proving her ability to lead big studio films. For Timberlake, this film captured the peak his acting career.
While their paths may have diverged, both carried pieces of Friends with Benefits forward. For Kunis, future roles captured the independence of Jamie. Timberlake’s music, especially songs like “Mirrors,” carried the introspective weight of lessons learned from Dylan.
A Friendship That Outlasted Fame
More than ten years later, Friends with Benefits continues to have relevance, not only as a film about contemporary romance but as a portrait of two performers embarking on a journey of self-discovery. The late-night shoots, the laughter, the emotional intimacy of the work, and the shifting boundaries between character and self all became integral to their artistic development.
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