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Just Friends is a 2005 Christmas-themed romantic comedy starring Ryan Reynolds and Amy Smart.

Synopsis[]

In 1995, Chris Brander is an overweight high school senior who secretly has a huge romantic crush on his classmate and best friend Jamie Palamino. After confessing his feelings by writing them in Jamie's yearbook, he attends their graduation party. As he returns Jamie's yearbook to her, it is secretly swapped by her despicable ex-boyfriend, Tim, who reads the declaration aloud to everyone and humiliates Chris. Jamie doesn't reciprocate his romantic feelings; after they share a brief kiss on the cheek. Chris tearfully leaves the party, announcing that he will never return and vows to be more successful than everyone else.

In 2005, Chris has lost weight, is handsome, lives in Los Angeles; and is a womanizer and a highly successful record producer. Prior to Christmas, Chris' employer; company CEO, KC, asks Chris to accompany an emerging self-obsessed pop singer named Samantha James, whom Chris once went out with and ended up in the hospital afterwards, to Paris to ensure she signs with their label, an order to which Chris reluctantly complies. During the trip to Paris, Samantha accidentally sets her private jet on fire resulting in an emergency landing in New Jersey, near Chris' hometown.

Chris takes Samantha to his mother's house to spend the night and re-engages with his teenage past, including his unresolved feelings for Jamie. Samantha meets Chris' mother and 18-year-old brother Mike Brander, who has an enormous crush on Samantha. At the local bar, Chris encounters some old classmates, including his other best friend Clark and his wife Darla; he also encounters Jamie, who is working as a bartender to support herself through graduate school to become a teacher. Chris plans to impress and seduce Jamie by having Mike keep Samantha busy during his date with Jamie, but the realization that Jamie's platonic friendship is important to him hampers Chris' plan. During a friendly ice skating "day date", Chris is taken away in an ambulance after injuring himself during a hockey game with Jamie and a trio of kids (who start to share a dislike on him for his inexperience). At the scene, Jamie is reunited with Dusty Dinkleman, a paramedic and former high school nerd who was also in love with her, while Chris is taunted by all of the kids in town for making them lose the game.

The next night, Chris goes to Jamie's for a Christmas party, planning to reveal his feelings for her, but he finds Dusty already there winning the guests over with his charm and musical talents. Back at Chris' place, Samantha ambushes Mike and demands to find out Chris' location, he tells her where he has gone after she kisses Mike. In a rage, she drives to Jamie's house and crashes through her fence, destroying her family's Christmas decorations. Chris returns home in embarrassment, and Jamie follows him; she tells him she is not mad and they end up spending the night together catching up and looking at photos. However, due to Chris' continuing lack of assertion, the two end up just sleeping and nothing happens that night.

The next day, Jamie speaks with Darla about the night before, while Chris goes to Clark's dental office for advice, her fear that Chris' lack of affection means that he doesn't like her. Jamie admits that while the two are "just friends", she tried to show Chris that she is interested in a relationship. Clark tells Chris that "the timing wasn't right" and Jamie and Chris' history hinders his willingness to have sex with her. Outside the office, they happen to catch Dusty singing to a sexy nurse and then kissing her. Dusty reveals to Chris and Clark that he only plans to have sex with Jamie, as he wants to humiliate her in the same way that he felt she used to humiliate him when he was a nerd and she was the object of his crush.

Chris tries to warn Jamie, but instead ends up attacking Dusty in front of her; Jamie refuses to listen when Chris tries to explain. Chris consequently gets drunk and goes to the bar where Jamie works, finding her there with Dusty. Jamie refuses to listen and Dusty tries to convince her to have sex with him. When Jamie gently turns him down, Dusty storms out of the bar. Chris and Jamie get into another fight, with him blaming her for keeping him in the "friend zone" and saying that she will never amount to anything. Jamie punches Chris and he is tossed out of the bar. Upon returning to Los Angeles and having a frightening reunion with Samantha, Chris realizes that Jamie is his one and only true love. He returns to New Jersey, where he declares his romantic love for Jamie to her and the two share a kiss, while the three kids (from the hockey game earlier) watch in disgust.

Songs[]

Title Performed by
"I Swear" All-4-One
"Into Your Arms" The Lemonheads
"Hip Hop Hooray" Naughty by Nature
"...And the Radio's On" Daisyhaze
"Jamie Smiles" Chris Klein
"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"
"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"
"Extra Theme"
"Forgiveness" Anna Faris
"Love from Afar" Anna Faris and Renee Sandstrom
"Catch My Disease" Ben Lee
"When It Goes Around, It Comes Around" Reed Foehl
"Hackensack" Fountains of Wayne
"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"
"The Twelve Days of Christmas"
"Big Winter" Robbers on High Street
"Jingle Bells"
Rossini's "La Gazza Ladra" Zagreb Festival Orchestra
Michael Halász, conductor
"Our Love Can Do Miracles" from The Notebook Aaron Zigman (composer)
"Twilight Zone" 2 Unlimited
"Christmas, Christmas" The Just Friends Holiday Players
featuring Justine Rappaport and Josh Jacobson
"We Wish You a Merry Christmas"
"Greensleeves"
"Deck the Halls"
"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" Jonathan Palmer
"Eyes" Rogue Wave
"I've Been Working on the Railroad"
"Waiting on a Friend" The Sights

Cast[]

Actor/actress Character(s)
Ryan Reynolds Chris Brander
Amy Smart Jamie Palamino
Anna Faris Samantha James
Chris Klein Dusty Dinkleman
Chris Marquette Mike Brander
Giacomo Beltrami Mike Brander (young)
Fred Ewanuick Clark
Amy Matysio Darla
Julie Hagerty Carol Brander
Wendy Anderson Mrs. Palamino
Barry Flatman Mr. Palamino
Devyn Burant Brett
Jaden Ryan Joey
Annie Brebner Sarah
Mike O'Brien Hockey Dad
Ty Olsson Tim
Todd Lewis Kyle
Justin Kirby
Jackie Mitchell
Jocks
Stephen Root KC
Robin Dunne Ray
Trenna Keating Nancy
Sharon Bakker Rhonda
Maria Arce Athena
Jillian Walchuck Mandy
Steve Togerson Dental Patient
Cavan Cunningham Record Producer
Ashley Scott Janice
Jody Peters Pilot
Simon Chin Sound Engineer
Dayna Devon Self (Extra Host)
Michael Ansah Wafoofi
Skye Brandon Toady
Kelly McDonald Girl Skater
Sally Crooks Granny Palamino
Terri Ahl
Joan Speirs
Jeff Ruf
Larry McCormick
Carolers
James Bitonti Bouncer
Robert Painchaud
Maclean Nelson
Young Boys
Ian Williams Tough Kid Hockey Player
Amanda Park Dental Assistant
Mike Simpson Priest
Glen W. Thompson
Trace Fairgrieve
Movie Patrons
John Levin Fireman
Jason Bryant Customer
Lorelei Gibson Sheila
Grace Kumble Toddler with "Santa"

External links[]

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Warner Bros.
Movies
Warner Bros. Pictures Christmas in ConnecticutGremlinsLethal WeaponNational Lampoon's Christmas VacationBatman ReturnsJack FrostThe Polar ExpressKiss Kiss Bang BangFred Claus
New Line Cinema The Long Kiss GoodnightElfThe Nativity StoryFour ChristmasesA Very Harold & Kumar 3D ChristmasThe Conjuring 2Collateral BeautyShazam!8-Bit Christmas
Blue Ribbon Content A Christmas Story 2A Cinderella Story: Christmas Wish
Warner Bros. Television National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island AdventureThe Year Without a Santa ClausChristmas on the Square
Live-action television episodes
Friends and Joey "The One With the Monkey" • "The One With Phoebe's Dad" • "The One Where Rachel Quits" • "The One With the Girl from Poughkeepsie" • "The One With the Inappropriate Sister" • "The One With the Routine" • "The One With All the Candy" • "The One With the Holiday Armadillo" • "The One With Monica's Boots" • "The One with Ross's Step Forward" • "The One With the Creepy Holiday Card" • "The One With Christmas in Tulsa" • "Joey and the Plot Twist" • "Joey and the Christmas Party"
DC Comics "Season's Greedings" • "Home is Where the Hurt Is" • "Twas the Night Before Mxymas" • "Lexmas" • "Gemini" • "Year's End" • "Three Ghosts"
Other shows "A Semi-Merry Christmas" • "Mel, the Magi" • "Mel's Christmas Carol" • "'Tis the Season to Be Jealous" • "A Christmas Story" (Growing Pains) • "The Kid" • "It's Not Easy Being Green" • "A Christmas Story" (Just the Ten of Us) • "Santa Goes Downtown" • "Let It Snow" • "The Night Court Before Christmas" • "Santa on the Lam" • "Have Yourself a Merry Winslow Christmas" • "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Urkel" • "Christmas is Where the Heart is" • "Miracle on Elm Street" • "Fa La La La Laagghh!" • "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" • "Deck the Malls" • "The Christmas Show" • "The Man Who Canceled Christmas" • "Christmas Day-Ja Vu" • "A Country Christmas" • "The Gift" • "A Miracle Happens Here" • "Homeless for the Holidays" • "Do You See What I See" • "The Miracle Worker" • "How the Finch Stole Christmas" • "The Greatest of Gifts" • "I'll Be Home For Christmas" • "Hindsight" • "Twas the Night" • "All About Christmas Eve" • "City of Mercy" • "Meet the Cuban Parents" • "Christmas Punch" • "A Clear and Presentless Danger" • "George is Being Elfish and Christ-Misses His Family" • "Santa's Secret Stuff" • "A Very Supernatural Christmas" • "The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis" • "The Maternal Congruence" • "The Santa Simulation" • "The Cooper Extraction" • "The Clean Room Infiltration" • "Christmas" (The Middle) • "A Simple Christmas" • "A Christmas Gift" • "Christmas Help" • "The Christmas Tree" • "The Christmas Wall" • "Not So Silent Night" • "A Very Marry Christmas" • "The Christmas Miracle" • "It's Beginning to Stink a Lot Like Christmas" • "Jolly Red Elf" • "The World Ain't Over 'Till It's Over" • "Santa's Village of the Damned" • "Walnuts and Demerol" • "Warning, It's Dirty" • "One False Move, Zimbabwe!" • "Give Santa a Tail-Hole" • "On Vodka, On Soda, On Blender, On Mixer" • "Family, Bublé, Deep-Fried Turkey" • "Home for Christmas" • "Jingle Bell Glock" • "The Walk-Out" • "Yule Never Know" • "Merry Ex-Mas" • "A Very Carrie Christmas" • "Veronica's Christmas Song" • "Veronica's Secret Santa" • "An Echolls Family Christmas" • "One Angry Veronica"
Animated productions
Looney Tunes and related shows The Shanty Where Santy Claus LivesBedtime for SnifflesGift WrappedBugs Bunny's Looney Christmas Tales • "It's a Wonderful Tiny Toons Christmas Special" • "'Twas the Day Before Christmas" • "Jingle Boo" • "The Great Wakkorotti: The Holiday Concert" • "A Christmas Plotz" • "Little Drummer Warners" • "No Time for Christmas" • "A Pinky and the Brain Christmas" • "It Happened One Night Before Christmas" • "In Arms Way" • "The Twelve Days of Christmas" • Christmas Eve with Yakko, Wakko & Dot • "Noel" • "The Christmas Tree" • "The Banks of the Delaware River" • "Feather Christmas" • "Yule Be Sorry" • "Christmas in July" • Bah, Humduck! A Looney Tunes Christmas • "A Christmas Carol" • "Tis the Seasoning" • "Winter Blunderland" • "The Legend of Burrito Monday" • Bugs Bunny's 24-Carrot Holiday Special • "Looneyburg Lights" • "How the Brain Thieved Christmas" • "Santamaniacs"
DC Comics "Christmas With the Joker" • "Holiday Knights" • "Frozen Out" • "Comfort and Joy" • "Storybook Holiday" • "Invasion of the Secret Santas!" • "Second Christmas" • "The True Meaning of Christmas" • "Halloween v Christmas" • "Teen Titans Save Christmas" • "Party Animal" • "Beast Boy on a Shelf" / "Christmas Crusaders" • "A Holiday Story"
Hanna-Barbera co-productions "A Dickens of a Christmas" • A Scooby-Doo! Christmas • "Ho Ho Horrors" • Tom and Jerry: A Nutcracker TaleScooby-Doo! Haunted HolidaysTom and Jerry: Santa's Little Helpers • "The Plight Before Christmas" • "Scary Christmas" • "Scroogey Doo" • "It's a Wacky Life" • "Dashing Thru the Snow" • "Signed, Sealed and Wacky" • "The Spirit of Frostnos" • Tom and Jerry: Snowman's Land
Other cartoons "Yuletide and Redtide" • A Cool Like That Christmas • "Santa Mask" • The Polar Express • "The Match Before Xmas" • A Miser Brothers' Christmas • "Da Grinchy Code / Duck" • "FROST / Undercover Claus" • "Fantastic Four Christmases / Red and White Collar" • Elf: Buddy's Musical Christmas • "Christmas in Oz" • "Top of the Naughty List" • "Mandora Saves Christmas" • Beebo Saves Christmas
Albums
Have Yourself a Looney Tunes ChristmasA Hip-Hopera ChristmasMerry Christmas: Animaniacs & Looney TunesThe Looney Tunes Kwazy ChristmasA Looney Tunes Sing-A-Long Christmas
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