Just Friends DVD Review (Ryan Reynolds) Empire Movies

JUST FRIENDS DVD REVIEW

Just Friends
(New Line Home Entertainment)

The Movie

The Extras

Reviewed by

7/10

Liam

In Just Friends, Ryan Reynolds stars as Chris Brander, an overweight Jersey high school geek who has a crush on Jamie Palamino (Amy Smart) the cutest girl in school. Chris already has one foot in the door because he is Jamie's best friend. However, Chris is unfortunately stuck in the "Friend Zone" meaning that being Jamie's BFF is pretty much all the action he's ever gonna get. At a party on the last night of high school, Chris decides to profess his love to for Jamie and is ridiculed by pretty much everyone there. He storms off and vows to make something of his life. Flash forward 10 years and Chris is a successful music exec - and he's also lost all of his high school weight. He's scoring with chicks left and right and he pretty much has everything he could have ever wanted. Things get thrown for a loop though when Chris' Christmas flight to Paris must make an emergency landing - in Chris' hometown in Jersey. There, he must confront his high school demons and try to win Jamie's heart. The movie also stars Anna Faris and Chris Klein.

Although I wasn't overweight in high school, some people might've labeled me a "geek". I also knew a little too well what it was like to be in the "Friend Zone" and let me tell you that it wasn't fun. (Yes, I'm pathetic.) So, I guess I'm trying to say that I knew where this movie was coming from. The plot was a little outlandish and some of the scenarios were ridiculous but at the heart of it, there's a fun movie about a high school geek making good and that's worth a nod.

Special features on this DVD include a filmmaker commentary with director Roger Kumble, writer Adam "Tex" Davis and a few different producers, a gag reel, some deleted/alternate scenes (with optional commentary), a series of behind-the-scenes featurettes, a hilarious "Jamie Smiles" music video featuring the cast of the movie and finally some trailers. For me, the highlights here were the commentary and the behind-the-scenes featurettes where you'll hear from the filmmakers about their real-life "Friend Zone" problems. It made me feel less alone in the world.

Just Friends is pretty much exactly what you would expect it to be - a silly romantic comedy with some hot stars, some cheap laughs and a happily ever after ending. For the most part the movie works although I really found there were parts of the movie that dragged, especially between gags. Still, the memories of my own high school geek-ness and the charisma of Ryan Reynolds and Amy Smart are enough to give this movie a marginal recommendation.

Features
Blooper Reel, Deleted Scenes, Alternate Ending, 9 Behind-the-Scenes Featurettes, "Jamie Smiles" Music Video, Feature-Length Commentary with Filmmakers

Video
Widescreen (1.85:1)

Audio
English 5.1 Surround Sound, English Stereo Surround Sound

Subtitles
English, Spanish, Closed-Captioned

Release Date
March 7, 2006

Rating
PG-13

Length
94 mins.

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