Friends With Benefits Blu-ray Review

The Film

After failed relationships, two twentysomething friends decide they can handle sex without the strings of a relationship in Friends With Benefits. Dylan (Justin Timberlake), a magazine art director gets recruited from an LA-based blog to work at GQ in New York by Jamie (Mila Kunis). After a few plutonic “dates” they decide they’re mature enough to have sex like people “play tennis,” meaning it’s a workout activity. What they never expect (although the audience sure does) is that while they’re very open with each other in the bedroom, they develop a romantic relationship outside the boudoir.

A high-profile cast supports Timberlake and Kunis including Patricia Clarkson, Jenna Elfman, Richard Jenkins and Woody Harrelson. Andy Samberg, Shaun White, Masi Oka and Emma Stone also liven things up with cameos. Timberlake’s Dylan even gets to make a “Dharma & Greg” joke in a scene with Jenna Elfman.

Friends With Benefits is entertaining, but the best cast member just might be New York City. The metropolis is portrayed fairly accurately and beautifully. The setting looks inviting, interacting well with the characters and the story and supporting recurring plot events such as flash mobs.

For a more intimate look at Friends With Benefits, read the movie review by Mark Grady.

The Picture

The 1080p transfer contributes to the attractiveness of New York. The film shows off the New York City skyline, midtown and SoHo neighborhoods. The picture is crisp and every detail of architecture and other surroundings is visible. Indoors is another story. In some inside scenes the picture has warm, sometimes yellowish hues. This often washes out the actors and makes them appear pallid. While these scenes have warm tones that could turn black to brown, the black levels are gerally strong in Friends With Benefits.

The Sound

A fun soundtrack brings the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 sound to life. The dialog is what brings the movie down. Volume is not always consistent, and dialog is often overpowered by music. In other cases street noise and other environmental factors interfere with interaction between characters. Music and other sound elements can be distracting. In mastering for the Blu-ray, these elements should have been toned down to work better with the characters.

The Extras

A long list of extras including outtakes and deleted scenes plus commentary with Director Will Gluck and actors Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis fill in the offering. Additional Blu-ray exclusive bonus materials include a pop-up trivia track and two featurettes.

Friends With Benefits is available in several Blu-ray options including the basic disc or Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack.

Final Thoughts

Although Friends with Benefits is fun, it’s unlimately disposable it’s no future classic in the making. The coaching and frankness in the bedroom adds a refreshing element to the rom com genre. When it’s over, however, the romance is gone.

Product Details

• Actors: Justin Timberlake, Mila Kunis, Patricia Clarkson, Jenna Elfman, Richard Jenkins, Woody Harrelson
• Director: Will Gluck
• Audio Languages: English, French, Spanish 5.1 DTS-HD MA
• Subtitles: English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Korean
• Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
• Number of Discs: 1
• Rating: R
• Studio: Sony Pictures
• Release Date: December 2, 2011
• Run Time: 109 Minutes
• List Price: $35.99
• Extras:
  • Deleted Scenes
  • Outtakes
  • Commentary with Will Gluck, Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis
  • On Set with Friends with Benefits Featurette
  • In a Flash: Choreographing A Mob Featurette
  • Bonus Benefits: A Pop-Up Trivia Track
  • UltraViolet digital edition