Anna Faris steals "Just Friends"

Anna Faris has developed into a modern version of classic 1930s screwball comedy actresses or perhaps the new Goldie Hawn. Faris has risen above being a hot looking ingenue to establishing herself as a deft comedienne. Charming and sometimes wacky is Faris and that is what makes her an excellent screen comic. Prior to her fabulous turn as "The House Bunny," Faris co-starred in 2005's "Just Friends" and steals every scene she appears in. The movie is another of Ryan Reynolds' box office duds yet it possesses a good premise and actually turned out quite amusing.

"Just Friends" are Chris Brander (Reynolds) and Jamie Palomino (Amy Smart). Flasback to 1995 high school graduation when Chris is an overweight dweeb and Jamie the hottest girl in school. She views Chris as her best BFF in the whole wide world while Chris is desperately in love with her and desires more than mere friendship. His declaration of love leads to great humiliation and he escapes Trenton, New Jersey vowing to show them all. A decade later, slim and slick ladies man Chris is a superficial record company executive ordered by his boss to sign up Samantha James (Faris) for her debut record because Chris dated her once.

Chris is horrified at having to do this at Christmas and for good reason. Samantha is a dumb spaced out Paris Hilton clone complete with blonde hair extensions and famous for being famous. Her only real claim to fame is a best selling hot poster. She has no talent whatsoever and boasts a horrendous singing voice. Obnoxious pain in the ass best describes Samantha who is selfish, bitchy, sexually agressive (she is a crotch grabber) and inanely stupid. After Samantha causes their private jet to make an emergency landing due to an onboard microwave mishap, Chris discovers they are in Trenton and makes the fateful decision to spend the night at his mother's.

Samantha in hick city is not a match made in heaven. Seeing Jamie again magnifies his becoming a superficial jerk and Chris slowly disintigrates back into his former humiliated self. There are some funny moments like a slapstick hockey game and destruction of Jamie's over the top Christmas decorated house. Faris has two priceless scenes. She is zonked on painkillers and eats toothepaste. Then she kisses Chris and gobs of toothepaste dribbles out. Upon being introduced to Chris' friend Darla, Samantha says "Darla" in a sexy voice and kisses her long and deep on the mouth.

Chris Klein is fine as fellow high school geek Dusty Dinkleman who has a surpise of his own. Reynolds performs well while Smart is dull in a thankless role. It is all about Faris. You know how the movie will turn out but "Just Friends" is pleasently diverting in its predictability.