Happy Just Friendsgiving! With the holiday season just around the corner, Ryan Reynolds and Amy Smart are celebrating the 18th anniversary of the 2005 film Just Friends with a “self-funded” sequel.
The stars reunited for an Aviation American Gin commercial 18 years after the Roger Kumble-directed romantic comedy graced theaters. In the ad, Reynolds and Smart reprise their roles as Chris Brander and Jamie Palamino, with the former standing in a living room filled with Christmas decorations.
The green screen then appeared on the background, showing the two actors as themselves shooting a commercial. As soon as Smart realizes it wasn’t a “real Just Friends reunion,” Reynolds says: “Let’s not rush to judgment before all the facts are in. I mean, this is a self-funded sequel predicated on a loose interpretation of IP law so in effect — yes, it is an ad for my Aviation American Gin.”
The clip ended with Reynolds wrapping up the ad and Smart leaving the set quickly. You can watch the new ad below:
Just Friends remains one of the best Christmas comedies
Although the 2005 flick didn’t receive the sequel it certainly deserved, Just Friends has arguably aged well compared to other romantic comedies at the time of its release. While the movie gained mixed reactions, it stood out as one of the greatest and most rewatchable comedies in the early 2000s many years later.
Just Friends follows high school student Chris Brander as he confesses his feelings to his best friend, Jamie Palamino, who wants their relationship to stay only as friends. Ten years later, carrying the same feelings toward his friend, Chris returned to his hometown to once again try to win Jamie’s heart.
Smart went on to star in various films after the release of Just Friends, having appeared in Mirrors, Crank, 12 Dates of Christmas, and Tyson’s Run. On the other hand, Reynolds has established himself as a sought-after actor in his own right, with leading roles in Deadpool and Free Guy, among others.
Besides Reynolds and Smart, the romantic comedy also stars Anna Faris as Samantha James, Chris Klein as Dusty Dinkleman, Julie Hagerty as Carol Brander, Stephen Root as KC, Christopher Marquette as Mike Brander, and Fred Ewanuick as Clark.
