No Strings Attached

Emma Kurtzman, a dedicated doctor in Los Angeles, and Adam Franklin, a production assistant for a musical television show, first cross paths as teenagers at a summer camp where their families were also present. Over the years they drift in and out of each other’s lives, sharing only brief glimpses of familiarity, until adulthood brings them back into context in surprising ways.

As adults, Emma’s world revolves around medicine and the frenetic energy of a big city, while Adam works behind the scenes in television, navigating long hours and unpredictable schedules. The two are shaken by a personal clash when Adam learns that his father, Alvin, a former television comedy star, is now dating Adam’s ex-girlfriend Vanessa. The news unsettles him, and in a moment of vulnerability he drowns his feelings in alcohol, reaching out to several women and waking up the next morning on Emma’s couch. Emma helps him gather his clothes, and the two end up sharing a night of intimacy, beginning a casual, no-strings-attached arrangement.

What starts as convenience slowly blossoms into something more complicated. Adam finds himself developing genuine feelings for Emma and grows protective, even jealous, of Emma’s coworker Sam. Emma, cautious about emotional entanglements, tries to keep things light. Yet she realizes she misses Adam and, after a night of drinking, returns to his apartment, and they sleep together again, the emotional undercurrents growing stronger beneath the surface of their casual agreement.

On Adam’s birthday, Alvin reveals plans to have children with Vanessa, a disclosure that unsettles him deeply. Emma stands by his side, offering support, and Adam asks her to go on a real date with him on Valentine’s Day. They share a lovely evening, but Emma makes it clear she is not ready for a serious commitment. Feeling a sense of pressure and uncertainty, Adam chooses to end the casual friendship rather than risk more heartache.

Six weeks later, at Emma’s sister’s wedding rehearsal dinner, Emma experiences a shift in her perspective and realizes she wants to be with Adam. She calls him, but he does not pick up. She drives to his apartment and sees him arriving with his coworker Lucy, whom she assumes is his new girlfriend, and she leaves without saying a word, heartbreak weighing on her.

That night, as Adam and Lucy begin to get intimate, Vanessa calls to report that Alvin is in the hospital. Adam rushes to the hospital and finds Emma there already, having been informed by a colleague. Emma finally confesses her true feelings, and Adam asks if they can try having a real relationship. She agrees, and the two set out to build something more meaningful together.

They attend Emma’s sister’s wedding as a couple, and Alvin recovers, ultimately breaking up with Vanessa when he realizes her commitment isn’t real. He later begins dating Lucy, while Adam and Emma embark on a committed romance of their own. The film closes with a quiet, content breakfast shared between the two, signaling a hopeful and lasting partnership grounded in honesty and mutual support.

Last Updated: October 14, 2025 at 04:07