Synopsis
While visiting his hometown during Christmas, a man comes face-to-face with his old high school crush whom he was best friends with – a woman whose rejection of him turned him into a ferocious womanizer.
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Cast
- Ryan ReynoldsChris Brander
- Amy SmartJamie Palamino
- Anna FarisSamantha James
- Chris KleinDusty Dinkleman
- Christopher MarquetteMike Brander
- Julie HagertyCarol Brander
- Amy MatysioDarla
- Giacomo BeltramiYoung Mike Brander
- Fred EwanuickClark
- Wendy AndersonMrs. Palamino
Recommendations
- 83
Entertainment Weekly
Argues on behalf of the Darwinian theory that all of life imitates high school...But the argument is only halfhearted. Just Friends is much more interested in - and hilarious about - the small nostalgias of suburbia. - 70
Variety
A surprisingly shrewd and energetic romantic comedy. - 70
Village Voice
A refreshingly mean-spirited breeze through both the holiday movie and romantic-comedy checklists. - 63
USA Today
Still, there are some funny surprises, from skewering overdone Christmas decorations to casting Chris Klein as a creep. - 50
Washington Post
In all, it's not too bad and it's not too long. - 50
Chicago Tribune
But alas, even with young talent, director Roger Kumble and writer Adam Davis rely way too heavily (no pun intended) on the fat-suit joke and titular impasse. - 42
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Although set 10 years after high school graduation, Just Friends is a dumb teen comedy. - 40
The A.V. Club
The tantalizing promise of 90 heavenly minutes of Ryan Reynolds in a roly-poly fatsuit and unconvincing tubby make-up (which make him look like a younger version of Martin Short's Jiminy Glick) proves a case of the old bait-and-switch.
