He's Just Not That Into You (C+ or 2/4 stars)
'He's Just Not That Into You', directed by Ken Kwapis, is an ensemble piece, not unlike 2003's Love Actually. Problem is, it is not nearly as effective. In this film, there are 4 main segments to cover. The major storyline involves Gigi (Ginnifer Goodwin) & bartender Alex (Justin Long). The 2 meet at his nightclub & he gives her advice on why men don't call back certain women. Throughout the film, she seeks him out whenever she has a question(s) about dating. A friendship begins, she misreads his intentions (as she does with all men), & drama ensues. The 2nd storyline involves Gigi's co-worker, Beth (Jennifer Aniston), who's been living with her boyfriend, Neil (Ben Affleck) for 7 years. She believes in marriage. He loves her, but doesn't believe in that union. Problems ensue.
The 3rd storyline involves Gigi's BFF, Janine (Jennifer Connelly), who is married to Ben (Bradley Cooper). They seem happily married; having just bought a new apartment together. But trouble lurks: they're not having sex, & Ben has recently struck up a risky 'friendship' with the voluptuous Anna (Scarlett Johannson). Anna is currently involved, however, with Connor (Kevin Connolly), Alex's best friend, but it's a relationship that she doesn't take too seriously. And the 4th storyline involves Mary (Drew Barrymore), an ad executive who manhunts exclusively through texting, email, MySpace-ing, & other various portals of communication. 'He's Just Not That Into You' aims to show the many challenges of understanding human behavior when it comes to love. But the movie's success rate varies.
The reason this movie is decent and not great is because the multi-arc story (where the characters cross each other's paths) shortchanges most of them. Because there are so many, none of them are well-developed; we're not as invested in them as we should be for the film to be a rousing success. The stories that work best include Anna/Connor/Janine/Ben. Why? Because they involve real depictions of human interaction without manipulative sentimentality. Scarlett Johansson continues to impress me in small, unexpected roles such as here. Jennifer Connelly does well to make Janine (an uptight, henpecky wife role) appear sympathetic. And Bradley Cooper is suitably loathsome. I also liked some quietly moving performances from Jennifer Aniston, Ben Affleck, & Drew Barrymore (who gives us a great monologue on the pains of communicating in the 21st century) ... but none of these actors are likeable enough or IN the movie long enough for us to savor.
The most annoying segment involves our main character, Gigi. I don't know whether to fault Ginnifer Goodwin or the writing. But her annoying, needy, wallflower-like portrayal just really got on my nerves. Her inability to interpret the signs given out by her dates in frustrating, and not endearing. And not only did I not enjoy Gigi, but the outcome of her storyline with Alex is both implausible & unsatisfying. You know, this is the type of film you watch on DVD or TV, & not in a theater. There's just nothing that memorable about any portion of it. But overall, while 'HJNTIY' has it's missteps, it does do a decent-enough job of examining sexual politics, and an even better job of showing the types of insecure, neurotic women who pine away for the wrong guys. God, help them.
The 3rd storyline involves Gigi's BFF, Janine (Jennifer Connelly), who is married to Ben (Bradley Cooper). They seem happily married; having just bought a new apartment together. But trouble lurks: they're not having sex, & Ben has recently struck up a risky 'friendship' with the voluptuous Anna (Scarlett Johannson). Anna is currently involved, however, with Connor (Kevin Connolly), Alex's best friend, but it's a relationship that she doesn't take too seriously. And the 4th storyline involves Mary (Drew Barrymore), an ad executive who manhunts exclusively through texting, email, MySpace-ing, & other various portals of communication. 'He's Just Not That Into You' aims to show the many challenges of understanding human behavior when it comes to love. But the movie's success rate varies.
The reason this movie is decent and not great is because the multi-arc story (where the characters cross each other's paths) shortchanges most of them. Because there are so many, none of them are well-developed; we're not as invested in them as we should be for the film to be a rousing success. The stories that work best include Anna/Connor/Janine/Ben. Why? Because they involve real depictions of human interaction without manipulative sentimentality. Scarlett Johansson continues to impress me in small, unexpected roles such as here. Jennifer Connelly does well to make Janine (an uptight, henpecky wife role) appear sympathetic. And Bradley Cooper is suitably loathsome. I also liked some quietly moving performances from Jennifer Aniston, Ben Affleck, & Drew Barrymore (who gives us a great monologue on the pains of communicating in the 21st century) ... but none of these actors are likeable enough or IN the movie long enough for us to savor.
The most annoying segment involves our main character, Gigi. I don't know whether to fault Ginnifer Goodwin or the writing. But her annoying, needy, wallflower-like portrayal just really got on my nerves. Her inability to interpret the signs given out by her dates in frustrating, and not endearing. And not only did I not enjoy Gigi, but the outcome of her storyline with Alex is both implausible & unsatisfying. You know, this is the type of film you watch on DVD or TV, & not in a theater. There's just nothing that memorable about any portion of it. But overall, while 'HJNTIY' has it's missteps, it does do a decent-enough job of examining sexual politics, and an even better job of showing the types of insecure, neurotic women who pine away for the wrong guys. God, help them.