Gigi (Ginnifer Goodwin), Beth (Jennifer Aniston), and Janine (Jennifer Connelly) work together and each have a different romantic woe. Gigi is constantly looking for The One, while Alex (Justin Long) gives her brutally honest insights into men; Beth has been with Neil (Ben Affleck) for 7 years and he has yet to put a ring on it; Janine has a husband (Bradley Cooper) who might be cheating with an aspiring singer (Scarlett Johannson). Meanwhile, Mary (Drew Barrymore) finds technology a roadblock to love. Who will get their happy ending?

CRITIQUE

It’s no secret how much I love romantic comedies, though the genre is rarely getting kudos from critics these days. Most of these films are fun little trifles at the very least, but there are some that excel at combining the necessary humor and chemistry among the actors. Unfortunately, this film does not fall into the latter category. He’s Just Not That Into You is hindered by a script that mostly lacks subtlety but the cast makes it intermittently enjoyable.

Though it may mostly be a product of the fact that this film has been awaiting release for a long time, the central problem is that the story does not have fresh ideas. The way technology has effected how people interact romantically was new two or three years ago, and, even worse, the basic statements made about men and women are trite.

In the world of this film, “man” equals commitment-phobic jerk, while “woman” equals marriage-hungry shrew. This is not only flawed writing, but is even more of a shame when the few, shining moments of humor and romance do happen. Like when Gigi, prompted by viewing the superior ‘80s John Hughes teen comedy Some Kind of Wonderful, realizes that Alex has feelings for her. The ensemble nature of the cast ends up being a detriment as well, making it hard to truly fasten onto one relatable character for very long.

Another imperfection here is the use of on-the-street interviews about dating and relationships. This device worked so well in When Harry Met Sally… that it’s replication here only serves to underline the fact that it’s been done better. (A couple of them are quite funny, though.) Director Kwapis also never truly draws exceptional production values out of his collaborators either, though his cast is full of talent. Goodwin is someone who deserves her own film to shine in, and she and Long work pretty well together. I like Aniston and Affleck together, too, and Cooper transcends his despicable character. Aside from the cast, few bright spots are to be found in He’s Just Not That Into You due to the mostly stale, heavy-handed script.

THE VIDEO

He’s Just Not That Into You is presented in both widescreen and full screen, with one format on each side. The picture transfer is of high quality in both versions, though my preference will always be widescreen for home viewing.

THE AUDIO

He’s Just Not That Into You is presented in English 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround and it is reliably solid. There are no other language tracks, though there are English and Spanish subtitles offered.

THE EXTRAS

Deleted Scenes: Five scenes are included here, with optional commentary from director Kwapis. Mercifully, most are parts of Scarlett Johannson’s performance as Anna; the scene where she sings is especially best left out. The commentary is always a nice feature speaks pretty well about the scenes and covers more than just why they were cut.

FINAL THOUGHTS

He’s Just Not That Into You needs a much fresher script to effectively say the things it wants to say about romance, though the acting is entertaining. The viewer might wish this was a stronger entry into the romantic comedy genre, and the fact that there is only one extra adds little value to the purchase of this DVD. Fans of this genre will find enough to be satisfied with a rental, but most will likely skip He’s Just Not That Into You.