Just friends, 2005

Just friends, 2005
Director: Roger Kumble
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Amy Smart, Anna Faris


Stage: Home theatre

Just friends in short: Chris Brander has always been friends with Jamie Palamino, but now decides it is time to take his relationship to the next step. The problem is, is that Jamie still wants to be 'Just Friends'. When he runs away and moves to L.A., he becomes a attractive music manager, who everyone wants. When his jet crashes, when flying to Paris with his newest singing sensation, Samantha James, he ends up back home. To his surprise, he encounters Jamie again, and sets out to be more than 'Just Friends' this time.


Preps: a strong recommendation makes me wonder what is behind the scenes of the piece


Reality: A good surprise. Normally, this type of the movie, turns out to be a lame comedy or a truly stupid piece. There are, however, some of the movies that derive from Hollywood and have surpassed my eye of criticism as fairly good or even very good. Dude where's my car, American pie, Roadtrip, etc. These are some of the better ones. And this piece turns out to be one of them, too. Amazingly enough, it drives you through high school dilemmas and wondering, what is the perfect love, how to gain it, what are the drama effects mocking can have on someone and how to tell your love that she/he is your love, if you are supposingly "just friends".

Now, turning to present time, the guy, that was mocked in high school, is a hot shot, good looking successful person, working with high recognizable people and movie/music stars. Going back to his family house, even though it's supposed to be for a day, gives him the opportunity to come clean with the trauma that has obviously caused him to turn out a jerk. Pushing love romance in one edge and indulging in the relationships (various, money-driven; passion-driven) on the other, it doesn't make him a better person. Just better perceived in his own idea what he's supposed to be. The story revolves around one simple question everyone has once in a while and some for their whole lives - who am I now, am I happy with myself and what is my perception of what should I be.

There isn't a brilliant formula to describe this, however, this piece implies that childhood traumas dramatically effect the way you act as an adult. I personally disagree up to some extent. In some way, we can be influenced a lot, on the other hand, surely you can acknowledge, whether you have become a mean version of yourself. And the trauma from childhood could here serve as an excuse - so they made me the way I am now. Philosophically put, you are the way you decide to be. You live the life you choose and not vice versa.

Philosophy aside, the movie is one of better Hw'd comedies in the last decade, bringing an enormous amount of sane humour and good scenes, where you should roll with laughter. And the ever popular chase for the girl. If nothing else, you will enjoy humorous chasings and rivalry between two guys to meet one girl's heart to claim forever.


My personal rating: 8,0 (a solid piece, worth seeing again. I can sense the director of American pie in this).

Just friends on IMDB