screening
of ‘Friends with Benefits’ on Monday night at Manhattan’s Ziefeld Theatre, which was attended by a diverse number of celebrities.
The lead actors Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis looked happy and sweaty in grey three-piece suit and a bright red number by Lanvin while director of the film, Will Gluck, fielded question about the task of making two toothsome stars.Elsewhere on the red carpet, Swimsuit model Julie Henderson was thinking if she’d ever had a ‘friends with benefits’ style arrangement. While Emma Stone looked stunning in red and fuchsia vibrant dress
Emmanuelle Chriqui chatted about her collaboration with Kate Bosworth’s company, JewelMint. Proceeds from the sales of the collection she curates go toward the charity Raise Hope for Congo.
Emma Roberts, Patricia Clarkson, Rose Byrne, Michael Bolton and Jenna Elfman were all at the screening, and were later joined at the Top of the Standard for the after party by Courtney Love, Liv Tyler, Zoe Kravitz and Russell Simmons.
It was fitting that Axe, maker of men’s aerosol fragrances, was a sponsor of Monday night’s screening of “Friends With Benefits,” as the red carpet outside Manhattan’s Ziegfeld Theatre was one of the sweatiest in recent history. Sweltering heat and hordes of photographers provided a locker-room-style setting for press and attendees alike, most of whom would have probably benefited from some body spray after the two hours of arrivals ended. The film’s director, Will Gluck, fielded questions about the task of making two toothsome stars (Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake, who mugged for photographers behind him) sympathetic to regular moviegoers as unlucky in love.
“Just because you’re pretty doesn’t mean your life is awesome,” Gluck offered. “Also, there’s a difference between being able to get a date and being in love.”
Elsewhere on the carpet, swimsuit model Julie Henderson considered if she’d ever had a “friends with benefits”-style arrangement.
“I…in the sense of the film? I don’t think I should answer that,” the Cavalli-clad Henderson said with a smile. If she did, would she want it to be Timberlake? “Oh man, I don’t think so.…”
“It’s the worst place in the world to be a woman right now,” Chriqui said, as her voice dropped an octave from her previous chat about the upcoming “Entourage” premiere. “It’s really awful.” Switching gears a bit, WWD asked what she made of “friends with benefits”-style arrangements.
“Justin Timberlake’s a friend of mine,” Chriqui said, shrugging off the “benefits” part of the equation. “I mean, several people in this movie are my friends.”
“She doesn’t want to talk,” the guard explained, “to anybody. ”
“We wanted her to be a real flesh and blood…head case,” Keith Merryman, who wrote the film with David Newman, offered of Kunis role. “We wanted this to be the antiromantic movie, for Mila and Justin to embody this generation. Justin’s this huge superstar, but he’s like every guy.”
“Men want to be his friend and women want to be with him,” said Newman.
On Monday night, though, Timberlake didn’t particularly seem to want to be with anybody. Visibly pained, the singer-turned-actor had forced a mile-wide grin for the press on the red carpet.
