If you found this year’s earlier sex-buddy romantic comedy ‘No Strings Attached’ a pleasant surprise, expect to be won over by ‘Friends with Benefits’ too. While both movies revolve around the same premise – two friends decide to give non-committal casual sex a shot – ‘Friends with Benefits’ scores extra points for being as funny as this summer’s previous four R-rated comedies.

Jamie (Mila Kunis) is a privately-contracted headhunter for major New York City publications. Dylan (Justin Timberlake) is a highly sought-after online graphic designer. Both are recently-dumped damaged goods. So, when Jamie recruits Dylan for a prestigious position at GQ, the two naturally hit it off and become best friends.

One drunken night, they make a pact to become sex buddies. Just like lots of friends get together to play tennis a few times a week, they plan to get together for sex. From there begin numerous montages of the two sexing it up. While ‘No Strings Attached‘ went for cutesy and playful sex, ‘Friends with Benefits’ goes for raunchy, beneath-the-sheets sex, and draws a lot of humor from its uncomfortably awkward (no-nudity) soft-core scenes. (Sorry, pervs. The two quick shots of Jamie’s nudity are really a body double, not Mila Kunis.)

As you would expect, emotions start getting involved between the two, which causes drama. Yet the way that ‘Friends with Benefits’ puts love between the two is unexpected and refreshing, but I’m not going to spoil that for you.

Not only is ‘Friends with Benefits’ exceptionally funny, it quickly charms you with its genuine heart. It’s one of those rare movies that, although 109 minutes long, never makes you want to check your watch. It’s so entertaining that you’ll forget that you’re watching a movie and will be willing to go with it wherever it takes you.

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