Apparently He’s Just Not That Into You is based on a self-help book inspired by a line from an episode of Sex and the City. This should clue you in to the realization that what transpires in the film is about as original as a facsimile of a copy. Crammed to the brim with interlocking stories revolving around the issues of dating the opposite sex, He’s Just Not That Into You devolves into a series of clichéd and petty contrivances meant to examine and explore relationships. What it doesn’t do is create any interesting or believable characters to tell its story.
The main character, or what resembles a main character, is the cute and bubbly Gigi, played by Ginnifer Goodwin, who fails to realize that when men don’t call her it’s because they don’t like her. She spends the rest of the film trying to find out these “secrets” of the male psyche in series of hackneyed conversations with her friends, played by Jennifer Aniston and Jennifer Connelly. She eventually begins a friendship with Alex (Justin Long), who interprets all the male signals Gigi is receiving. Right off the bat, we’re forced to identity and care about Gigi’s failed relationships. I guess we’re told to think that she represents women who are confused by the whole dating scene.
Unfortunately for the filmmakers, and for Gigi, all that happens is that we perceive Gigi as an idiotic woman desperate for male companionship. How hard is it, Gigi, to realize that when a guy doesn’t call, he doesn’t want to date you? Pretty straightforward if you ask me. Poor Gigi doesn’t get it until the end of the film. The film is populated with characters and not people. By that I mean all of them are not believable; they are merely ciphers. They exist only to serve a convoluted plot that would buckle and collapse if anyone of them did anything remotely interesting. There are some performances, especially from Justin Long, that stand out for their restraint but again, they aren’t that memorable once the end credits roll. Ben Affleck doesn’t have much to do other than grin and be an all-around great guy. As for the actresses, they all give serviceable performances, with Jennifer Connelly’s character doing much of the heavy lifting. The major complaint is with Scarlett Johansson, who continues to play a variation of the sexy flake she plays in all her other roles. Note to Woody Allen: Stop putting her in your movies! Other than the one time it worked (Match Point), Johansson’s performances are distracting and border on irritating. Those looking for some mild amusement may have a good time with He’s Just Not Into You, but for those looking for insight into the dating scene, read the book. Or, better yet, call all your friends together and watch Annie Hall.
Richard Saad
© Cinephile Magazine, 2009