He's Just Not That Into You

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

Ken Kwapis' adaptation of Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo's best-selling self-help book He's Just Not That Into You follows the love lives of a dozen or so characters. Ginnifer Goodwin stars as Gigi, a young woman attempting to understand the mixed signals she gets from the men she's dating. She gets advice from a bar owner (Justin Long) who prides himself on understanding the ins and outs of the dating scene. Gigi's co-worker Janine (Jennifer Connelly) finds herself involved in a major redecorating project with her husband, Ben (Bradley Cooper). Unbeknownst to Janine, Ben contemplates an affair with Anna (Scarlett Johansson), an attractive woman trying to make a career as a singer. Another of Gigi's friends at work, Beth (Jennifer Aniston), enjoys a successful, healthy relationship with Neil (Ben Affleck), but storm clouds hover over them as he has no interest in getting married. Kris Kristofferson co-stars as Beth's father. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

DVD FEATURES:

• Region: 1
• Number of Discs: 1
• Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
• Screen: Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV
• Features:
  • Additional scenes with optional commentary by director Ken Kwapis

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Cast:

  
       Ben Affleck - Neil
       Jennifer Aniston - Beth
       Drew Barrymore - Mary
       Jennifer Connelly - Janine
       Kevin Connolly - Conor
       Bradley Cooper - Ben
       Ginnifer Goodwin - Gigi
       Scarlett Johansson - Anna
       Justin Long - Alex
       Kris Kristofferson - Ken Murphy

• Director:

  Ken Kwapis

• Producer:

  Nancy Juvonen

• Screenwriter:

  Abby Kohn, Marc Silverstein

• Book Author:

  Liz Tuccillo, Greg Behrendt

• Cinematographer:

  John Bailey

• Musical Direction/Supervision:

  Danny Bramson

• Composer (Music Score):

  Cliff Eidelman

• Editor:

  Cara Silverman

• Production Designer:

  Gae S. Buckley

• Art Director:

  Andrew Cahn

• Co-producer:

  Michael Disco, Gwenn Stroman

• Executive Producer:

  Drew Barrymore, Michael Beugg, Toby Emmerich, Michele Weiss

• Costume Designer:

  Shay Cunliffe

• Casting:

  Justine Baddeley, Kimbery Davis-Wagner

REVIEW:

• You can reasonably expect that a romantic comedy based on a self-help book, which was itself based on a single line from an episode of Sex and the City, might not have anything new to say about the battle of the sexes -- especially when the title is as sickeningly hip as He's Just Not That Into You. And while Ken Kwapis' movie certainly comes weighed down with observations and insights recycled from thousands of other romantic comedies, he at least manages to shape them into something entertaining, if not in any way essential.
  
  If you know you're dealing with overly familiar dialogue, then you'd better put it in the mouths of actors who, through sheer personality, can do something unique with it, and hiring Ginnifer Goodwin as your ingenue starts you off on the right foot. As Gigi, a naive twentysomething single girl unable to read the signs that the men she's interested in just aren't interested in her, Goodwin exudes positivity without being cloying, and sadness without being pitiful. The scenes charting her slow courtship with emotionally detached bar manager Alex (Justin Long) are the best in the movie because the two have genuine chemistry -- they are easily the standouts of a large cast. That's not to say that any of the other actors embarrass themselves: Ben Affleck shows off his laid-back charm; Bradley Cooper impresses as a cheating husband who stays likable even when he knows he's screwing up; and Scarlett Johansson offers up another subtle variation on the carnal goddess archetype she's already perfected.
  
  Kwapis' skill as a television director serves him well with this material -- he knows how to keep the multiple storylines moving, without sacrificing quality screen time for any of the performers. The movie hums along like a solidly built clock, but there's just nothing surprising or new -- anybody who gets ill at the prospect of sitting through a chick flick should avoid it at all costs. That said, there is something so thoroughly adequate about the whole project, it's hard to deny that it "works." There's tons of professionalism in He's Just Not That Into You, but it lacks passion -- they should have called it "Like, Actually." ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi