In the animal world, there are obvious signs and signals that members of certain species are ready to mate. While some of that results in lifelong pairings, that's more the exception to the rule where the number one motive is finding the would-be parent with the strongest traits that will give their offspring the best chance to survive.
Accordingly, Mother Nature has imbued most animals with the inherent know-how regarding how to both send and receive such signals, ultimately resulting in the continued propagation of their species. Considering that both people, their environs, and their cultural demands and idiosyncrasies have evolved from animal-like to, well, more human, it's no surprise that many such outward indicators of attraction have become less overt and thus more open to muddled interpretation.
Throw in the fact that furthering of the species isn't the main goal for most, not to mention a fairly new and increasingly dizzying array of ways to communicate with one another, and the situation is rife for misreading, misunderstandings, and all of the accompanying human emotions that go along with that.
Such is the setup for "He's Just Not That Into You," a film that initially gives off its own sort of signal -- that it's yet another romantic comedy complete with the usual array of clichés and conventions -- but, like the humans found within it, isn't exactly what it appears to be on the surface.
Reportedly based on and titled after a single line of dialogue from TV's "Sex and the City" -- and that served as the catalyst for the bestselling self-improvement book also of that same name penned by two of that show's writers, Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo -- the film takes a look at a number of relationships from a number of viewpoints and how those dating and mating signs and signals can get lost or at least mixed up in translation.
While it doesn't really explore anything not touched upon in numerous other films of its ilk nor provides any great insight into the differences between men, women and how they hook up, so to speak, it clearly possesses more depth and resonance than your standard rom-com and that genre's usual offering of faux relationship issues, "I miss you" musical montages and Pollyanna-type relationship conclusions.
It is too long overall (at 130-some minutes) yet too truncated for the number of characters and interwoven storylines that run through it. Thus, it obviously ends up feeling somewhat episodic and fractured as it bounces around from one such set to the next and so on. Yet, and in an overall sense, it's a fairly entertaining offering that takes fair, but not always equal aim at both sexes.
Working from an adapted screenplay by Abby Kohn & Marc Silverstein, director Ken Kwapis ("License to Wed," "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants") juggles nine main characters and their relationship woe storylines (although some get more screen time than others). He also throws in some fun little cameos (particularly Luis Guzmán as an articulate construction contractor taken aback by Jennifer Connolly's character's high-strung neurotic behavior), and mixes enough humor (mainly through some fun and funny dialogue) into the proceedings that many a guy won't mind being dragged along to see it, unlike most "chick flicks."
The story mainly revolves around the romantically desperate and thus neurotic but still cute character played by Ginnifer Goodwin. She's so confused about what her dates mean and why they never call that she eventually accepts advice and gender-specific teachings of how men operate from a self-admitted player (Justin Long in a fairly charming performance despite the brutal honesty his character dispenses).
While she's confused by such in-person signals, the similarly lovelorn ad sales rep played by Drew Barrymore is perplexed and frustrated by the increasing array of technological devices one must constantly check and/or update to see where they stand with a potential mate. Her point is valid, even if she's surrounded by one of the film's few genre conventions, the gay friend character (in this case there are a number always over her shoulder at the gay publication where she works).
A few of them also provide insight for the real estate agent played by Kevin Connolly who wants to be more than BFF with the overtly sexy yoga instructor embodied (and then some) by Scarlett Johansson. But she's interested in a married man (Bradley Cooper) who's torn between her and his wife (Connolly) who's friends and coworkers with both Goodwin's character and the one played by Jennifer Aniston. She's in a committed, long-term relationship with her boyfriend (Ben Affleck) who's friends with the guy considering cheating on his wife, a point that further strengthens his resolve against getting married.
All of that might make the film sound like a gussied-up soap opera with lots of name stars, and to a degree it is. Thankfully, however, it rarely dips into the melodrama pool. And while the various interlude interviews (featuring miscellaneous characters talking about particular aspects of relationships, complete with summary title cards) don't do much for the pic beyond reminding viewers of something similar that "When Harry Met Sally" utilized, the effort -- for the most part -- is a refreshing change of pace from the usual rom-com trappings.
While it's nothing great and offers no new insight into the perplexing state of verbal and physical indicators in the dating world, "He's Just Not That Into You" is entertaining enough to warrant a 5.5 out of 10 rating.
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