Girls of Geek Movie Review: Just Friends

Written by: Scotty

Going back to your childhood home could be one of the hardest things for people to do, especially if it was a traumatic time in your life.  For some people, getting away and rebuilding one’s self is the only way to move on. Falling back into your old ways could be one of the most frightening things that could ever happen, but it could be something that is needed to help you move forward with your life, especially during the holidays.

Chris Brander is a high level music producer living his life to the fullest in Los Angeles.  With his new outlook on life, Chris is very happy with how his life has changed since high school when he was an overweight friend to one of the hottest girls in school.  Not having any plans for Christmas, Chris is given the assignment to sign the new hottest sensation, Samantha James.  Having dated the star once, Chris has the difficult task of making her happy on her trip to Paris. 

Samantha James is far from one of the smartest pop stars in the industry, putting aluminum foil into her private jets microwave and causing an emergency landing in New Jersey.  Chris Brander is home for the first time in ten years much to his dismay, but is looking to make the most of it by seeing his mother, brother and some old friends from high school.  Running into his old high school crush at the local bar, Chris desperately wants to try his new found skill set as a womanizer on her.  With having to be Samantha’s escort in his short stay in Jersey, he pawns her off on his little brother while trying to create new feelings with his old crush.

Just Friends follows Chris Brander as he is sent on assignment to keep top pop sensation Samantha James happy.  Arriving in his home town in New Jersey, Chris’s trip takes a turn for the worst.  Running into his best friend and crush from high school, Jamie Palamino, Chris finds himself being put back into what he calls the friend zone.  Trying to break out of this, Chris has to fight with his brother, the locals that know his history, old rival Dusty, along with himself.  Chris finds that his player tricks do not work in the small town with someone he really cares about.  When he tries to come clean to Jamie about his true feelings for her, he finds that Dusty is one step ahead and his game plan will have to change.

Just a hilarious ride with laughs around every corner as Chris Brander ties to make himself the most eligible bachelor in Jersey.  With all of the trials he has to run through when staying at his old house, trying to show he is a great skater, to almost destroying Jamie’s house on Christmas Eve.  With an all-star cast of Ryan Reynolds, Anna Faris, Amy Smart, Chris Klein and Julie Hagerty, Just Friends will not leave you with anything to be desired.  Just an all-around good time with everything going wrong for the one guy you might feel sorry for.  Having Christmas dates, along with a viewing of The Notebook will make you happy that you are not in the same shoes as Chris is on this wild adventure.  Happy Holidays!

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