Review: He's Just Not That Into You (2009)

[Scott Mendelson]

He's Just Not That into You
2009
126 minutes
Rated PG-13

I've written at length in the recent past about so-called 'chick
flick's that play into what I call female escapist fantasy. It
differentiates from male fantasy in that it involves casting off
responsibility and living only for yourself (comparably, stereotypical
male fantasy movies involve immature boys who 'man up', take
responsibility for their actions and are able to live selflessly to
their betterment and reward). IE - Sex & The City: The Movie is a
female escapist fantasy, while Iron Man is a male escapist fantasy.

What's most intriguing about He's Just Not That Into You is how deftly
it avoids the female escapism template for much of its running time.
The narrative, as most of you know, involves the intertwining lives of
several adult professionals as they navigate the perils of romance and
finding or keeping that special someone. By the end of the film, some
of these couples will remain intact, some will break apart, and maybe
even a new couple or two will be formed. But pretty much every
relationship is rooted in a grounded maturity and responsibility. No
one casts off their responsibilities for the sake of their own
empowerment. Nor does anyone particularly feel the need to save the
proverbial day for the sake of their own manhood.

Also worth noting is that the film avoids painting its characters with
broad moral strokes. Likable, sympathetic characters do terrible
things while maintaining their humanity. This is not a story of good
and evil, but about the difficult choices that humans make on the
dating scene. Warts and all (and the film's arcs have a certainly
perfunctory feel throughout), the film is a worthwhile and semi-
realistic examination of how the real world of dating and romance
differs from the fairy-tale fantasies sold to men and women of all
ages.

He's Just Not That Into You is better than expected, as it's the rare
'chick flick' that doesn't sugarcoat the harsh realities of making
relationships work. Everyone in the star-studded cast takes the
material seriously (Ginnifer Goodwin fearlessly throws herself into a
genuinely obnoxious character), and Justin Long has never been better.
It's not a perfect film, but there's certainly more under and on the
surface than most large-scale romantic comedies. In fact, its strength
comes from its willingness to embrace the inherent drama in its story.

Grade: B