Just Friends (2005)

Tagline: “He loves her, she loves him not.” Chin up son. We've all been there. 

Premise: Stuck in the town he grew up in, a record executive (Reynolds) is forced to face the girl he was in love with (Smart) as an obese teenager. All the while he is pursued by a deranged, but famous, singer (Faris) who desires his affection.

Delivery: “See when a girl decides that you're her friend, you're no longer a dating option. You become this complete non-sexual entity in her eyes, like her brother, or a lamp.”

Just Friends continues my desperate attempt at not being Scrooge this Christmas. Also I wanted to give you lot a break from horror reviews, so I thought I'd rewatch this romantic comedy. 

There must be something seductive about the name Ryan for me. Ryan Reynolds, Ryan Gosling, Saving Private Ryan. Ryan goes full Reynolds here, he's the perfect concoction of self deprecating yet totally egocentric. It's a hard mix to nail, but he has become a master of it. I've loved Reynolds since Van Wilder came out, way back when. All you Deadpool noobs jumping on the RyRey bandwagon as he's never called, can do one. 

Also staring in Just Friends are Amy Smart and Anna Faris- who is utterly side splitting, She's a scene stealer as the completely off-her-rocker pop star Samantha James. However, Smart's character is a bit benign. In true Hollywood style she's cast as a girl next door type that any normal guy next door would crawl over broken glass just to be near. That is to say, obviously a movie star. Julie Hagerty Chris Klein, and Chris Marquette (in particular) are all superb in their supporting roles.

The set up is pretty bog standard rom-com, but the comic delivery and physical acting, along with some hilarious dialogue and set pieces make Just Friends a film worth the effort. A Christmas setting and a slightly off kilter, wacky sense of fun are a bonus. It is perfect viewing for this time of year.

Bedsit it? Yes it's a rom-com, and that's not normally for me; yeah it's a Christmas film, and neither are they. Well, not really. Just Friends is great fun. I'm not even ashamed to say that I very much like Just Friends. 8/10 (I did have to watch a war film after to clean my palate)

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