Just Friends

Chris Brander returns to his New Jersey hometown for the holidays as a self-assured music executive, though his bubbly public persona masks old embarrassment from a high school rejection by Jamie Palamino. Seeing Jamie again, who now hosts a radio show, wakes up feelings he thought he'd buried and prompts him to attempt a romantic reintroduction. He leans on over-the-top schemes, lies about his life and a dramatic makeover, which lead to a string of awkward, physical-comedy set pieces. Along the way he deals with his awkward brother, persistent former friend Dusty, and a pushy coworker whose own ambitions complicate matters, and faces lingering personal insecurities.

Directed by Roger Kumble and written by Adam 'Tex' Davis, Just Friends opened in 2005. The ensemble cast is led by Ryan Reynolds and Amy Smart, with Anna Faris, Chris Klein and Christopher Marquette in supporting roles for the holidays.

It performed modestly commercially after its November release, drawing steady holiday audiences and returning a reasonable box office presence, then expanded its following through home video, cable broadcasts and later streaming, where it became more widely watched among romcom fans.

Reynolds' comic timing in the role helped shape his early romantic-comedy persona, and several slapstick sequences are often excerpted in holiday movie lineups. The film reinforced the 'just friends' anti-romantic trope in pop culture, and over time it developed a reputation as a goofy, rewatchable seasonal comedy, and late-night clips.

Reviews were mixed, with many critics pointing to uneven tone and crude humor even as they praised performances, particularly Reynolds and Faris. The movie clocks in around a 6.2/10 audience score, and it centers on missed chances, personal insecurity, friendship, and the awkward work of honestly pursuing love, as well.