TIMBERLAKE. Teams up with Mila Kunis in “Friends with Benefits.” RUBEN V. NEPALES
LOS ANGELES – As “Friends with Benefits,” Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis engage in several sex scenes in the movie, which opens in the Philippines on Wednesday. Playing friends who keep it strictly physical at first, the two attractive actors figure in clumsy, awkward bed scenes – just like in real life.
Justin told us in an interview, “Quite honestly, my friends who have seen the movie said, ‘I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been in that situation in bed, but nobody ever said anything.’ That’s what I feel good about. We’re taking these situations that are awkward and making them humorous. Life is funny and, sometimes, so is sex.”
“We weren’t required to be sexy in those scenes,” said Justin, who portrays a magazine art director recruited by Mila, a corporate head-hunter, for GQ. “We were required to be awkward. When you have a movie that has a subject like this, you use those scenes to create situational comedy – that’s the best type of humor.
“Before we even got on the set, we spent a month and a half ‘workshopping’ every scene, so we could get a good feel on who our characters were,” continued Mr. Sexyback, who was just as game in showing some flesh as Mila was. Will Gluck directs the movie, which also features Richard Jenkins, Woody Harrelson and Patricia Clarkson.
Fetish
Asked if he has any “habits” when he goes to bed, Justin laughed and answered, “I don’t keep my socks on. No, I don’t have a particular habit. I don’t sing nor sneeze. I don’t have a specific fetish.”
Of Mila, his leading lady with the smoky eyes, Justin raved, “The reason why any actor can do great work with Mila is because she’s so affable. There’s a charm to her that’s disarming. Females are comfortable around her, because they feel that she’s one of them. Obviously, she’s a guy’s girl, as well.”
Sex being the topic of the day, Justin claimed, in reply to a question, that it was not a taboo topic in his formative years. “I grew up in a great home,” he explained. “My parents were always pretty forthcoming. They were communicative about everything.”
Woven into the story are other themes, such as how Alzheimer’s disease affects the family of Justin’s character. Richard Jenkins’ dad character is suffering from the onset of the illness. This subplot resonates with Justin: “I do have a history of that in my family,” he volunteered. “I didn’t shy away from it. You see the poster for the movie, and it looks like a romantic comedy. But, we really wanted to make a film about our generation. In every generation, love, sex, relationships and life are topical, because everyone wants to talk about them.”
The versatile performer pointed out that “Friends” broke some stereotypes.
“Woody’s character is brilliant,” he remarked. “It was cool to show a straight male, my character, and a gay male, Woody’s character, having a great guy relationship, no matter what their differences are in sexual preference.”
Real moment
He added, “And, to have an actor like Richard Jenkins playing my father, especially with a debilitating disease like Alzheimer’s…that was my favorite day at work – the scene at the airport. You see my character tear up at that moment with his father. It was a very real moment. Richard inspired me.
“I’m proud of that moment, because it brings reality to what’s happening. It’s not all just fun. It’s about a young man and a woman becoming grownups, accepting things that are happening in their lives. Acceptance is the biggest part of becoming a true adult.”
The casual sex between the two friends in the movie develops into something more significant, of course. Queried on a cinematic love story that affected him, Justin cited an Ang Lee movie: “Recently, I saw again ‘Lust, Caution.’ I watched that movie and was heartbroken. It’s an incredible love story, Shakespearean in a way, but more modern.”
Creative life
Turning to other matters, Justin talked about another facet of his creative life: JT, the man who loves to renovate and furnish his digs. He dished about refurbishing his LA home for two years. “It’s contemporary,” he described the look. “I like furniture that when I look at it, I’d want to sit on it. I love decorating my home and putting it together. It depends on the room. You can go for something bold. For instance, my kitchen cabinets are all white lacquer. It’s stark, but you can offset it with dark wood and ground it.
“I also have a place in New York,” Justin disclosed. “It’s funny, because as soon as you finish the renovation, you go back. You never stop – but it’s a great creative outlet for me!”
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