2. No Strings Attached (2011)
Traditional rom coms have a pretty basic premise, two people meet and eventually fall in love despite a tricky situation or obstacle or two being placed in their way. No Strings Attached is no different, its not trying to be anything new, its there to put bums on seats, to drag couples to the cinema and it did that, mission accomplished? Well sadly in a world of ever-decreasing artistic integrity and lack of a discerning target audience, yes. What matters in a good, traditional rom-com, and there are a few, is that the thing is well written and the leads have good chemistry, the fact that Ivan Reitman was hired to direct this movie is a sad state of affairs. In No Strings Attached Natalie Portmans Emma and Ashton Kutchers Adam incidentally bump into each other a number of times over a number of years (think When Harry Met Sallybut less funny) before eventually bumping into each other one last time before predictable modern day will-they-wont-they ensues. The supporting cast here actually does a pretty good job, Lake Bell and Mindy Kaling in particular, and Portman tries her best Despite not being particularly funny or well written, trying to irk a smidge of chemistry out of a relationship that involves Ashton Kutcher is a thankless task at the best of times and no different here, at least a few people like Zach Braff. So again, Portman doesnt do a lot wrong (except for taking the part, but after making Black Swan lets give her a break), the biggest crime, and not for the first time, is the filmmakers wasting another opportunity to utilise her considerable talents.