Just Friends

PG-13

Released Nov 23, 2005

1 hr. 34 min.

Romance

Comedy

List

42%

109 Reviews

Tomatometer

71%

250,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

High school student Chris Brander (Ryan Reynolds) loves his best friend, Jamie Palamino (Amy Smart). He finally confesses his feelings, but she tells him that she just wants to be friends, and he leaves town in shame. Ten years later, Chris is a successful record executive and involved with self-absorbed pop star Samantha James (Anna Faris). He still pines for Jamie, though, and when his plans to go to Paris for the holidays fall through, he returns to his hometown to try and win her heart.

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Critics Consensus

There are moments of mirth in this overly broad comedy, but mostly, Just Friends is just not that funny.

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Cash S

Just Friends is a solid rom-com. Ryan Reynolds brings his signature charisma that I love, and everyone has great chemistry with one another. Anna Faris is absolutely brilliant as this unhinged pop star, and I could've seen her maybe even getting some Oscar consideration, because she plays the role that well. This movie is filled with some pretty big laughs throughout, and it's a very entertaining watch. They also do a good job at making you care about Ryan Reynolds character, even if he can be pretty unlikable at times. I really liked how the initial concept is very realistic and relatable, as most nice guys don't get the girl and are put in the friend zone, and I feel like it dives into this struggle in a realistic way, despite being surrounded by a lot of outlandish stuff happening. With that said, the film still doesn't break any new ground, and it is very predictable. Also, not all of jokes land. I do feel like some stuff in the third act could've been handled better. Overall this is a pretty funny and enjoyable rom-com.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/26/24

Full Review

Tongue L

Hilarious! I laughed throughout the entire movie. I thought Anna Faris' character made the show. She was incredibly funny! This movie has become a tradition to watch around the holidays. How can you not get into the holiday spirit with family & friends after watching this?

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/08/24

Full Review

Mitchell A. H

An absolute hilarious and sneaky Christmas film with an outstanding cast with great chemistry. Definitely one of my holiday favorites.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/22/23

Full Review

Gary K

This was the rare movie that the wife and I, with time to fill, and happy to be filling it together, agreed, barely a third of the way in, to abandon. To walk away. We had zero interest in the thinly drawn, over-the-top characters (characters is a bit optimistic). The fat-shaming was coarse and humorless. The overdrawn pop-rock star was inhuman. There was zero chemistry between the hoped-for real romance. The protagonist was wooden, unsympathetic. This was a comedy, and we could see that there were comic scenes, but they weren't funny. This was, overall, about as bad as it gets.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

12/05/23

Full Review

Kyle D

One of the funniest movies with an incredible cast.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/05/23

Full Review

Cfunk D

I always forget how funny this movie is until I watch again

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/04/23

Full Review

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Roger Kumble

Director

Ryan Reynolds

Chris Brander

Amy Smart

Jamie Palamino

Anna Faris

Samantha James

Chris Klein

Dusty Dinkleman

Chris Marquette

Mike Brander

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Nathan Rabin

AV Club

This movie had some good ideas, but never gelled.

Nov 6, 2019

Full Review

Tim Grierson

Screen International

Despite a rich premise, Just Friends ultimately fails to live up to its early potential, settling into broad comedy that shortchanges the romantic possibilities.

Jul 23, 2008

Full Review

Helen O'Hara

Empire Magazine

Funnier than it has any right to be, thanks to Reynolds’ charisma and Faris's bubbleheaded blonde.

Rated: 3/5

Apr 1, 2006

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

The appealing (albeit familiar) premise is employed to distressingly (and predominantly) lackluster effect by Kumble...

Rated: 1.5/4

Nov 18, 2020

Full Review

Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

An unexpectedly enjoyable film featuring fine performances from Amy Smart, Ryan Reynolds, Chris Klein, and Julie Hagerty.

Rated: 3.0/4.0

Sep 13, 2020

Full Review

Virginia Montes

Sensacine

Despite the best efforts from Reynolds and Faris, the film winds up being just as conventional as any of the genre. [Full Review in Spanish]

Rated: 2/5

Nov 6, 2019

Full Review

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Synopsis

High school student Chris Brander (Ryan Reynolds) loves his best friend, Jamie Palamino (Amy Smart). He finally confesses his feelings, but she tells him that she just wants to be friends, and he leaves town in shame. Ten years later, Chris is a successful record executive and involved with self-absorbed pop star Samantha James (Anna Faris). He still pines for Jamie, though, and when his plans to go to Paris for the holidays fall through, he returns to his hometown to try and win her heart.

Director: Roger Kumble
Executive Producer: Jim Seibel, Toby Emmerich, Cale Boyter, Richard Brener
Screenwriter: Adam "Tex" Davis
Distributor: New Line Cinema
Production Co: Just Friends Productions Inc., Cinerenta, Inferno Distribution, Benderspink
Rating: PG-13 (Sexual Content/Dialogue)
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 23, 2005, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 11, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $32.6M
Sound Mix: Surround
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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