No Strings Attached

There are some movies that defy ClearPlaying, and I suppose No Strings Attached would be one of those. ClearPlay can’t change the plot of a movie, and No Strings Attached is about a couple (Natalie Portman, Ashton Kutcher) who have developed a friendship over the years and decide to introduce a non-committal physical aspect to their relationship. They continue pursuing other partners, using each other for physical intimacy whenever the need arises. Friends tell them that being “friends with benefits” is impossible, that someone will get hurt. The friends end up being right.

ClearPlay In Action!

There are between 90 and 100 instances of language that ClearPlay edits from No Strings Attached, and a vast number of scenes involving frank sexual conversations, sex acts and partial nudity. It’s still not appropriate for most ClearPlay audiences because certain elements are left in to tell the story: “having sex” is referred to several times, including the song “Sex You Up”; women are seen in underwear; a man is seen naked except for a small towel covering his genitals; a father and son smoke marijuana together; even with filtering on most.

Will I become attached to Strings?…

At its heart, No Strings Attached is a sensitive movie about a couple of people hurt by previous relationships who have trouble committing. It also ultimately says that casual sexual relationships are empty. But it treads through a lot of casual sexual relationships to get to that point. Strings is perhaps best left untied.

Marty Nabhan— ClearPlay Reviewer with Benefits

Rated R for sexual content, language and some drug material.; 108 min; Directed by Ivan Reitman