Movie Review and Movie Summary by Michael The Moviegoer.
HE’S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU: “Written And Directed By Cupid”
Rating ****
It’s hard to imagine having a good time viewing a film adapted from a self help-style dating manual. But, then, you’re forgetting Woody Allen’s 1972 masterpiece “Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Sex But Were Afraid To Ask”.
“He’s Just Not That Into You” is similar to Woody Allen in that it has multiple characters discussing life, love and relationships with insightful wit and humor. There are also elements of Rob Reiner’s classic “When Harry Met Sally” in that the film separates its chapters with interview clips of people recalling their own romantic mistakes with hilarious results.
Boasting an all-star cast that could comfortably fill an Irwin Allen disaster movie, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Connelly, Scarlett Johansson and Kris Kristofferson are all enormously charming, but the real star of this film is newcomer Ginnifer Goodwin. Her character anchors the film with some juicy voiceover narration, while her heartbreaking smile and desperate attempts at finding romance are ultimately irresistible. Her constant failure to find a guy who’s “into her” says a lot about how unattractive desperation can be, no matter how pretty you are.
I don’t know why people refer to movies like this as “chick flicks”. Each chick is paired with a male character. Guys should be able to easily relate to the male characters, so why should they stay away in favor of the effects-driven brain-dead action flicks they are so stereotyped into loving? Probably because if you’re a guy who has been forced into seeing any of the truly awful romantic comedies of recent years (like “27 Dresses”) you begin to fear wasting your time. But a thoughtful and intelligent film about relationships should appeal to anybody who’s ever had one or is trying to have one. There’s no reason guys shouldn’t love this movie, and with Valentine’s Day just around the corner, “He’s Just Not That Into You” is the greatest “date” movie out there. It lacks every “chick flick” cliche you can think of. For proof of this, go to the film’s website www.hesjustnotthatintoyoumovie.com to view a hilarious special video in which the male stars perform all the “chick flick” cliches that are NOT in the movie!
DVD Watch: There’s a moment in “He’s Just Not That Into You” that honors and pays tribute to the John Hughes classic high-school romance drama “Some Kind Of Wonderful”. It’s a heartbreaking chronicle of the misread signals of love that teens, especially, are not experienced enough to pick up on. The 1987 film stars Eric Stoltz, Mary Stuart Masterson and Lea Thompson in roles that defined their early careers. It’s currently available on DVD.
Michael The Moviegoer
