Just Friends (2005)
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A successful record producer returns to his hometown for Christmas and attempts to finally escape the 'friend zone' of his high school crush.
The story
In 1995, obese high school senior Chris Brander is secretly in love with his classmate and best friend Jamie Palamino. After a humiliating public rejection at graduation, Chris vows to become successful. Ten years later, Chris is a successful record producer in Los Angeles. While traveling to Paris with an emerging singer, Samantha James, his private jet makes an emergency landing near his hometown. Chris takes Samantha to his childhood home, where he re-engages with his past and reconnects with Jamie, who is now working as a bartender. Chris struggles to balance his platonic friendship with Jamie against his desire for more.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1995, obese high school senior Chris Brander is secretly in love with his classmate and best friend Jamie Palamino. After a humiliating public rejection at graduation, Chris vows to become successful. Ten years later, Chris is a successful record producer in Los Angeles. While traveling to Paris with an emerging singer, Samantha James, his private jet makes an emergency landing near his hometown. Chris takes Samantha to his childhood home, where he re-engages with his past and reconnects with Jamie, who is now working as a bartender. Chris asks his brother Mike to keep Samantha busy during his date with Jamie, but his platonic bond with her hampers his plans for sex. During a date, Chris is injured in a hockey game and taken to the hospital, where Jamie meets Dusty Dinkleman, a paramedic who also loves her. Realizing Dusty wants revenge sex, Chris attacks him, but Jamie refuses to listen. After a heated fight where Chris insults Jamie for 'peaking in high school,' he returns to Los Angeles. Realizing Jamie is his true love, he returns to New Jersey, apologizes, declares his love, and they kiss.
- First release year
- 2005
- Runtime (minutes)
- 94
- Production countries
- United States; Canada; Germany
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Roger Kumble
- Writers
- Adam 'Tex' Davis · writer
- Cast and characters
- Ryan Reynolds · Chris Brander; Amy Smart · Jamie Palamino; Anna Faris · Samantha James; Chris Klein · Dusty Dinkelman; Christopher Marquette
- Genres
- romantic comedy; black comedy; Christmas film
- Themes
- friendship; coming-of-age; reconciliation
- Tone and mood
- black comedy; humorous; sentimental
- Premise and plot tags
- friend zone; Christmas; record producer
- Source material / true-story basis
- Adam 'Tex' Davis's own life experiences
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics but has developed a cult following. It was noted for its crude humor and lack of sentimentality, though some praised the performances of Reynolds and Faris.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 47 · scale: 100 · review count: 28
- Production trivia
- Jimmy Fallon and Bradley Cooper were considered for the role of Chris Brander.; Hilton herself had auditioned for the role of James at one point.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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