On Screen Dating Guide Book

I first saw Greg Behrendt, the co-author of the self help book He’s Just Not That into You, about four years ago on the TV show Oprah. He was promoting the book of the same name and offering audience viewers and callers his expertise on the topic of male dating and relationship behaviors. It was very specific advice for example; ‘If a guy doesn’t call you by Thursday for a weekend date, then you are not first on his list,’ stated Behrendt very matter-of-factly. Behrendt laid it on the line for many women that day and would simply tell them, “Hey, he’s just not that into you.” Fast forward five years and now we have the movie. See if you can spot Behrendt as he has a cameo as a priest in the film.

Attempting to recreate a self help book on the big screen is not an easy task and frankly it didn’t work very well. The movie has a huge cast with confusing storylines lead by Ginnifer Goodwin as the central character who plays GiGi the desperate neurotic single gal. Goodwin is the shining star in this film as she reminded me of Cameron Diaz in her early days of acting; free, witty and charismatic. She has the presence to carry a film and we will no doubt see more of her in the future.

GiGi befriends bar manager Alex (Justin Long) after she isn’t given the attention she desires by Conor played by Kevin Connolly of HBO series Entourage fame. Conor likes both Mary (Drew Barrymore) and Anna (Scarlet Johanson), although Anna’s interested in Ben (Bradley Cooper), who is the husband of Janine (Jennifer Connelly). Janine works with Beth (Jennifer Aniston, whose boyfriend is Neil (Ben Affleck) who won’t commit to marriage.  Are you dazed and confused yet?

The beginning of the film starts out on a clever note in which several scenes are recreated to portray the excuses that women give each other for a man’s non attentive or strange behavior. A little girl is pushed down by a boy and mom tells her that happened because ‘he actually likes you.’ From the universal ‘why isn’t he calling,’ excuses scenes from around the world that end with African ladies proclaiming ‘He’s probably lost your hut number!’

The narration for the film is Drew Barrymore who is also the producer. The film is divided into various sections that are written across the screen to relay the message of the upcoming scenes.

Example “If he’s not calling you.” We are next shown all the ramifications involved.

Affleck and Aniston are fascinating to watch in the film and are enjoyable. They have chemistry and we are shown some fine performances. The problem with this type of story is the script– which is too fragmented and there are too many characters to develop. I didn’t care for the infidelity scenes played out by Connelly and Cooper as they were uncomfortable, sad and put a damper on this light rom-com film.

Enjoyable scenes were Barrymore’s scenes with her gay coworkers as they help her and the rest of us make sense of the computer technological dating game. Who knew that if you are MySpaced then that’s considered a ‘booty call’ or that video I-chatting while having coffee is considered a pre-date?

The last line of the film is meant as a message to all not just the girls, "Through all the pain, blunders and embarrassment, you never gave up hope."  

Who knew Hollywood could be so deep.

Sarah Adamson © 2009