Just Friends (2005)

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.

Director:

Roger Kumble

Writer:

Adam 'Tex' Davis (as Adam Davis)

Stars:

Ryan Reynolds, Amy Smart, Anna Faris

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ryan Reynolds	...	Chris Brander
Amy Smart	...	Jamie Palamino
Anna Faris	...	Samantha James
Chris Klein	...	Dusty Dinkleman
Chris Marquette	...	Mike Brander (as Christopher Marquette)
Giacomo Beltrami	...	Young Mike Brander
Fred Ewanuick	...	Clark
Amy Matysio	...	Darla
Julie Hagerty	...	Carol Brander
Wendy Anderson	...	Mrs. Palamino
Barry Flatman	...	Mr. Palamino
Devyn Burant	...	Brett
Jaden Ryan	...	Joey
Annie Brebner	...	Sarah
Mike O'Brien	...	Hockey Dad

Storyline

Chris Brander has always been friends with Jamie Palamino, but now decides it is time to take his relationship to the next step. The problem is that Jamie still wants to be 'Just Friends'. When he runs away and moves to L.A., he becomes an attractive music manager, whom everyone wants. When his jet catches fire and is forced to land, when flying to Paris with his newest singing sensation, Samantha James, he ends up back home. To his surprise, he encounters Jamie again, and sets out to be more than 'Just Friends' this time.

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Plot Keywords:

friend zone | high school | best friend | christmas | new jersey | 

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Taglines:

Some friends are just friends. Others you get to see naked.

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexual content including some dialogue

Details

Country:

Germany USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 November 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Apenas Amigos

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$9,191,331, 27 November 2005

Gross USA:

$32,619,671, 9 February 2006

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$50,817,508

Company Credits

Production Co:

Inferno Distribution, Cinerenta Medienbeteiligungs KG, BenderSpink

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the opening scene when Chris is leaving the party on his bike, he paraphrases a line from Bruce Springsteen's "Thunder Road": "It's a town full of losers, and I'm pulling out of here to win."

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Goofs

Chris's facial expressions between shots during his conversation about the ice skates with his mother.

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Quotes

Mike: Samantha James, it is an honor. I have your poster on my wall, but you are so much hotter in person.
Samantha James: [coyly] I know!

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Crazy Credits

Chris (Ryan Reynolds) lip-syncs "I Swear" during the end credits.

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Connections

Featured in The Rotten Tomatoes Show: Shrek Forever After/Survival of the Dead/Holy Rollers (2010)

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Soundtracks

Catch My Disease
Written by Ben Lee and McGowan Southworth
Performed by Ben Lee
Courtesy of New West Records
By Arrangement with Ocean Park Music Group

User Reviews

A silly holiday romp

I don't understand some of the brutal reviews that this movie has been getting. Ebert gave it a 'D'. He wanted to focus on Reynold's character losing the weight. Seeing as Roger's always been a chubby guy, that's important to him, but it would have made for more of a more expected plot line. My opinion is closer to Entertainment Weekly's 'B+'. Sure, it's a light romantic comedy, but the performances of Anna Faris and Ryan Reynolds alone are worth the price of admission. I thought the characters were all well-played and the dialog moved the movie along faster than its 96 minutes running time. An excellent date movie. Also, a good movie to see with that person that you're trying to get out of the "friend's zone" because you'll end up talking about the movie afterwords.