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IMDbPro

Friends (with Benefits)

  • 2009
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
5.2/10
437
YOUR RATING
Friends (with Benefits) (2009)
ComedyRomance

Meet Chloe and Owen: best buds since their sandbox days. Now, in med school as they attempt to balance the weight of their studies, his job, her band, their parents, their friends (their san... Read allMeet Chloe and Owen: best buds since their sandbox days. Now, in med school as they attempt to balance the weight of their studies, his job, her band, their parents, their friends (their sanity), they find little time for relationships...but lots of time for the desire. One fatef... Read allMeet Chloe and Owen: best buds since their sandbox days. Now, in med school as they attempt to balance the weight of their studies, his job, her band, their parents, their friends (their sanity), they find little time for relationships...but lots of time for the desire. One fateful day, a brave Owen proposes the "perfect" solution: Friends (read: no messy relationship... Read all

  • Director
    • Gorman Bechard
  • Writers
    • Gorman Bechard
    • Ashley McGarry
  • Stars
    • Margaret Laney
    • Alex Brown
    • Anne Petersen
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.2/10
    437
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Gorman Bechard
    • Writers
      • Gorman Bechard
      • Ashley McGarry
    • Stars
      • Margaret Laney
      • Alex Brown
      • Anne Petersen
    • 20User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins total

    Videos3

    Friends (with benefits)
    Trailer 1:57
    Friends (with benefits)
    Friends (with benefits)
    Trailer 0:57
    Friends (with benefits)
    Friends (with benefits)
    Trailer 0:57
    Friends (with benefits)
    Friends (with benefits)
    Trailer 2:35
    Friends (with benefits)

    Photos45

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    Top cast33

    Edit
    Margaret Laney
    Margaret Laney
    • Chloe
    Alex Brown
    • Owen
    Anne Petersen
    • Alison
    Jake Alexander
    • Jeff
    Lynn Mancinelli
    Lynn Mancinelli
    • Shirley
    Brendan Bradley
    Brendan Bradley
    • Brad
    Marc Balfour
    Marc Balfour
    • Richard 'Dick' Weed
    Irene Longshore
    • Polly
    Stefanie Estes
    Stefanie Estes
    • Tatiana
    Rooney Mara
    Rooney Mara
    • Tara
    Bill Fairbairn
    • Owen's Father
    Lynn Laurence
    Lynn Laurence
    • Owen's Mom
    Ashley McGarry
    • Ashley
    Sam Dingman
    • Sam
    Jason Yachanin
    Jason Yachanin
    • Jason
    Tara Stiles
    Tara Stiles
    • Lilly
    Tracy Podell
    • Penelope
    Joseph D'Amico
    • Bartender
    • Director
      • Gorman Bechard
    • Writers
      • Gorman Bechard
      • Ashley McGarry
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews20

    5.2437
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    Featured reviews

    8jksalvo

    familiar but surprising, and very entertaining

    I was able to watch a copy of this movie the other night that a friend of Mr. Bechard let me borrow, and the first word that comes to mind is "surprising". Surprisingly funny, surprisingly touching, and just surprising in general.

    I have to admit to being a bit skeptical at first. The movie started off feeling a bit gimmicky (some scenes are split-screen, characters have interview-like discussions with a psychologist off camera, movie is divided into chapters like a book...) and cliché (both in characters and concept), and there were definitely moments early on when I felt like the movie was going to be painfully predictable. But then something changed; I'm not sure if it was the flow of the movie, or the way I was perceiving it, but what at first struck me as a set of cliché characters started feeling like a group of my old friends. The excellent dialogue, directing, and cast performances really flesh out these characters (ESPECIALLY the supporting cast), and in doing so lend the movie a certain familiarity and credibility. The two supporting male characters (Jeff and Brad), in particular, started to remind me so much of a couple friends of mine it was scary. I began caring about what happened to the people involved, and that to me is really the keystone of a good story.

    Then, just when I was getting comfortable with the plot and the group of friends, the movie started throwing curveballs... decidedly raunchy and often uncomfortable curveballs at that (in a good way, of course). This is where a lot of the surprise came from. Eventually I stopped thinking that I knew what was going to happen and just sat back and enjoyed the ride. The "gimmicks" actually turned out to be quite effective tools Mr. Bechard used to round out the characters and set up and deliver some really hilarious lines. The movie itself came away feeling well paced, well thought out, and the acting was at such a level I forgot I was watching an indie flick. The soundtrack was also very good and tied in perfectly with the rest of the story.

    I would definitely recommend this movie to my friends, although it might not be for everyone (especially for the summer Hollywood blockbuster types). Just be patient, give it a chance, and I know it will make you laugh (and probably cringe few times too).
    7Higgs1

    Decent film about a group of friends struggling with the decision to become "more"

    Just watched this film in a really cool little "hole in the wall" theater and it was an enjoyable time. The movie revolves around a tight group of 6 friends struggling trying to balance school studies, work, personal lives, and sex lives. It's a story I'm sure a lot of people can relate too, not enough time to build relationships with strangers and wanting something more out of friendships without making them awkward and undesirable. This film does a nice job of getting right to the point of the movie, however more character build up would have been nice to build a better back story. When the group starts engaging in casual sex with each other their true feelings start to show through and the drama ensues. The movie was a good time, but not something I would go back for second helpings. A solid rental or netflix, but nothing more. Would like to see the longer director's cut for some more of the back story, other than that I'm all set with seeing this again.
    10thinmanmusic

    all the components

    So we settle in for a romantic/comic/sex farce kinda film and going in I'm in the pocket and the wife is on the fence. But guess what? We laughed, we were touched by the sensitivity between the laughs and in the end-I got laid! It's the perfect date movie. The photography is surprisingly lush for an indie film. The use of split screens never gets confusing or trite. The dialog is fast paced but just fast enough- funny jokes within jokes-let's just say I'm enthused.I want to quit my job to follow that rock band on tour- but maybe bring them a couple of songs.Or maybe it's just that I want to follow Chloe wherever she goes. Bechard has hit his artistic stride with this film.I'm hoping his treatment of "2nd Greatest Story" will be up to these standards- he's set his bar very high.
    8Anne-Shulock-1

    Sex comedy with raunch and heart

    I recently saw this movie at the Sacramento Film and Music Festival, and thought it was great!

    The movie centers on a group of six friends in their early 20s, and the various sexual combinations you can get from three women and three men. (One kind of silly distraction: of the six main actors, all of whom were good, one looked like Melissa Joan Hart, one looked like Mark Paul Gosselaar, and one looked like Adrian Grenier.)

    I went back and forth on whether the touting of the movie as "A novel with moving pictures" and the use of chapter headings with cutesy titles was annoying or helpful, but I think I liked it, because the movie isn't a straightforward romantic comedy. It's composed of bits and pieces-- confessional-type scenes with a therapist ("Dick Weed"), split screens, music montages (the main character is in a band), flashbacks (the requisite senior prom), a fast scrolling of one character's rules for living. Plus plenty of talking about sex and then sex and then dealing with the aftermath.

    Sure, there were some clichés, but the movie felt surprisingly fresh. Plus, the two leads had great chemistry. One part I didn't feel was as successful was the treatment of parents--only one set of parents makes it on screen, and it's an overbearing father pressuring his son. That relationship didn't seem to have the nuance and creativity of the friends' relationships.

    For a low-budget movie, it looked and sounded lush (nice music, too).

    If you have the chance to see Friends (with Benefits), I'd highly recommend it. Just maybe go with someone who you'll be comfortable sharing a raunchy evening with.
    8acolumbia

    sexy funny great

    I've seen this film at least four times now and even started working with director Gorman Bechard because of it. I've enjoyed it each and every time, each in very different places and frames of mind. I've seen it in a bar, in a theater and in my home. I've seen it at a very high point in life and a very low point in my life. The story, acting and overall frame of mind the film evokes always makes me feel great and walk away impressed. The acting is for the most part excellent, the dialog is organic and flows between the very believable characters. Cinematography is quite lush and well though out, the colors and lighting always seem to pop and even in the much more difficult outdoor shots, it just works. The sound is totally solid throughout, always a killer on indie features. Everything is completely crisp and makes the piece work as a whole.

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      When Gorman Bechard wrote the first draft of the "Friends (with benefits)" script in 1999, he titled it "Fuck Buddies", but soon found that attracting a talented cast to a film of that name became rather difficult, thus forcing the name change. Though on his personal computer, anything related to the film is still kept in a folder named "Fuck Buddies".
    • Quotes

      Brad: You wouldn't have these problems if you would just follow my rules: 100. Friends don't let friends fuck ugly people 99. Try everything twice, the first time you might have been doing it wrong 98. Fat girls give the best head because they're always hungry 97. Cologne: overrated... Deodorant: a must 96. Blondes are usually too dumb to realize they're having more fun 95. After puberty, that's not "baby fat" 94. ATM = the Holy Grail 93. All hippie chicks deep throat, but few vegans swallow 92. Women like shoes. They will look at yours; purchase accordingly 91. BBBJ or why bother? 90. Women cannot parallel park 89. If you wanna fuck it, you've got to be willing to lick it. 88. Ass, stomach, legs, boobs - in that order 87. If it's not dirty, you're doing something wrong 86. If a friend's apartment is running low on toilet paper, you're required to use it all 85. Cheerleaders are overrated 84. Under no circumstance may two men share an umbrella 83. Never allow a conversation with a woman to go on longer than you are able to have sex with her 82. Other than in February, the 14th of every month is Pizza and Blowjob Night 81. Dogs are better than cats... period 80. Bigger is never better when they're fake 79. Don't leave the house until you're camera ready 78. A period does not equal a week off from sex 77. Mustaches and hunting = gay 76. Sucking your best friend's dick = priceless 75. You are not accountable if you bring ugly people home, unless you fuck them again in the morning 74. If her mom isn't a MILF, chances are she won't be one either 73. Fake orgasms count, as long as they're not yours 72. The G-spot does not exist 71. There is NOTHING sexy about pregnant women 70. Persistence gets you laid 69. Never give yourself a haircut while drunk 68. No panties = a good night 67. Drinks hard liquor = a great night 66. Tongue piercing = God loves you! 65. Saliva isn't always the best lubricant, just the most fun to apply 64. White cotton panties and knee socks. Enough said! 63. Never lend money to friends 62. Never lend books, CDs, or DVDs to anyone 61. The month you finish paying for your car, it will break down 60. Elvis is not dead 59. Lee Harvey Oswald did not act alone 58. What's good for you usually won't taste better. Example: processed peanut butter vs. the all-natural kind 57. People who don't use turn signals deserve mandatory prison sentences 56. Never let a girl shave your balls 55. Porn saves lives 54. Republicans are better at... well... nothing 53. If you've never had New Haven brick oven pizza, you've never had pizza. There is no pizza in New York or Chicago. Don't argue, you'll just sound foolish 52. Old country = cool Alt-country = really cool New country = sucks 51. Condition your hair once a day 50. Masturbate twice a day 49. Eat three square meals every day 48. Women should never cut their hair, unless they're going to play for the other team 47. Crying is blackmail 46. Your choice: spay or neuter your pet... or yourself 45. If she sleeps in your bed, sex is a given 44. If a girl leaves her dirty panties lying around, she wants you to sniff them 43. There's no such thing as "giving 110%" 42. Halloween is the only holiday that matters 41. Sympathy sex trumps make-up sex 40. Body hair just gets in the way 39. Rip bread, don't slice it 38. Every man should learn how to dance, but no other man should know he can 37. Men have no right to speak on the subject of abortion 36. Every decade gives us only one great double album: The White Album, Exile On Main Street, London Calling, Being There, and Cold Roses. 35. Chivalry is not dead, but she has to earn it 34. Watch Carnival Of Souls at least once in your lifetime 33. If your pubic hair is blonde or red, shaving is optional 32. You can cheat on girls with hairy legs 31. If they don't answer, it means yes 30. Never turn down a chance to sleep with a celebrity 29. Sex is better in warmer climates 28. Emo guys = gay; emo gals = easy marks 27. Never trust people who don't drink coffee 26. Springsteen really is The Boss 25. If there's a problem, talk it out 24. If you can't talk it out: fuck, then try again 23. Never lease what you can buy 22. Never break up using a post-it note, her biker friends will hurt you for it 21. Never say "no" to a green-eyed girl 20. Live life as if The Catcher In The Rye were your bible 19. Don't lie, you will get caught 18. Admit that the 1986 Mets were the greatest baseball team of all time and life will be easier 17. Know the legal age of consent in every place you visit 16. Wild animals belong in the wild, not in zoos, fairs, or roadside attractions 15. Pussy farts are charming 14. Only wear a bra if you're going to offend me 13. Beauty is in the eye of the beer-holder 12. It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye 11. Never underestimate the power of stupid peoplein large groups 10. When in doubt, mumble 9. Masturbation is overrated 8. Small boobs are misunderstood 7. Better to be feared than loved, but even better to have your love feared 6. Handcuffs are the ultimate sex toy 5. If you can't convince them, confuse them 4. Quiet girls are the most likely to toss your salad 3. Women do not understand remote controls, there is no exception to this rule 2. Never overthink... And the most important rule of all: Friends don't fuck.

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    FAQ

    • How long is Friends (with Benefits)?Powered by Alexa

    Details

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    • Release date
      • July 5, 2010 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • MySpace page
      • Official Facebook
    • Languages
      • English
      • Arabic
    • Filming locations
      • New Haven, Connecticut, USA
    • Production company
      • What Were We Thinking Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 34 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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