He's Just Not That Into You is a 2009 American romantic comedy film, based on the self-help book of the same name by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo, which in turn was inspired by a line of dialogue in Sex and the City. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore, Scarlett Johansson, Justin Long, Jennifer Connelly, Ginnifer Goodwin, Kevin Connolly, and Bradley Cooper. He's Just Not That Into You was directed by Ken Kwapis, and produced by Drew Barrymore's production company, Flower Films, with Barrymore serving as an executive producer.
Plot
The plot chronicles the romantic misadventures of nine individuals in their twenties and thirties. Set in Baltimore, the common thread of the story is that one person in each relationship is more enamored of the other person than vice versa. At the core of these multiple stories is Gigi (Ginnifer Goodwin), a young woman who repeatedly misinterprets the signs that men give her about their level of interest in her.
Gigi and Alex
After a rejection from Conor (Kevin Connolly), Gigi begins getting dating advice from the romantic and promiscuous Alex (Justin Long), the owner of a hip bar and Conor's best friend. Alex tells Gigi that Conor simply wasn't interested in her since he hasn't called, otherwise he would have definitely made a move. He also tells her that she should stop thinking that she is an exception to this rule, and to stop obsessing over every "sign" that she might pick up on during a date. Gigi proceeds to go on several unsuccessful dates, often calling Alex during dates for advice. Gigi starts believing that Alex is interested in her because he is so willing to take a call from her (even when he's busy at work, or is with a girl), and because she thinks Alex intentionally botched a blind date he organized for Gigi and one of his friends. Alex then invites Gigi to a party he's having at his apartment. Interpreting this invitation as an opportunity to "co-host" the party, Gigi helps make food for guests, and stays behind to clean up. When all the guests are gone, Gigi kisses Alex. Alex, surprised and very frustrated, tells her he wasn't interested in her romantically, and if he were he would've pursued her. Gigi tells him that even though she obsesses over everything and has embarrassed herself many times, she is closer to finding love than he is and is at least happy that she isn't a bitter and cynical person like him. Gigi and Alex stop speaking to each other, but Alex feels continuously troubled at work. After being confronted by one of his employees he realizes he's obsessing and over-analyzing his situation with Gigi, in the same way Gigi was at the beginning. Meanwhile, Gigi goes on a date with Bill (Alex's friend who was meant to go on the blind date with her). After she returns home, Alex goes to see her at her apartment. He apologizes to Gigi and kisses her, telling her that she is his exception. Gigi kisses Alex back and the two are later seen in a serious relationship.
Janine, Ben, and Anna
Gigi's co-worker Janine (Jennifer Connelly) is starting to have difficulties in her marriage. Her husband, Ben (Bradley Cooper), begins cheating on her with Anna (Scarlett Johansson), a yoga instructor and aspiring singer. During his affair he reveals that he was never ready to marry Janine, and was forced between marrying her, or breaking up with her. Janine is unaware of this, and is focused on renovating their new home. On a particular day, she discovers a pack of cigarettes under some construction equipment. Concluding that it belongs to her husband since the renovators don't smoke, she gets upset because she had asked Ben to quit as her father had died of lung cancer. Janine confronts Ben, but he adamantly denies that they're his. Ben eventually tells Janine that he's been having an affair. Although initially upset, Janine attempts to salvage their marriage by surprising Ben at work; she proposes sex with him in his office to "bring back the fire". Ben starts it up, but realizes that he's left Anna in the closet, and ends what he's started. Anna is hiding in the closet of Ben's office as they were also about to have sex until Janine knocked on the door. Janine eventually leaves, and Anna runs out of Ben's office soon after, disgusted by his actions. When Janine arrives home she begins to clean the house but comes to realize that Ben has been detached and disinterested in her for some time, and upon finding a pack of cigarettes in Ben's clothing, she explodes with anger. When Ben arrives home he finds all his clothes neatly folded with a carton of cigarettes and a note from Janine telling him she wants a divorce. Janine moves into a new apartment by herself to start a new life. Anna herself enters the music business and is last seen serenading the customers of an upscale nightclub.
Conor, Anna, and Mary
While in her secret affair with Ben, Anna is also casually dating Conor, but she isn't as interested in him as he is in her; Anna treats Conor more as a very close friend, while Conor wants to pursue a relationship with her. Soon after the incident at Ben's office, Anna goes into Conor's apartment when he asks her to be his girlfriend. Anna agrees, but is still troubled by the end of her relationship with Ben. Anna and Conor continue their relationship but when Conor proposes buying a house and moving in together, Anna tells him honestly that she doesn't want to. Anna and Conor break up, but both are happy just to remain friends. Meanwhile, Anna's friend Mary (Drew Barrymore) is in ad sales for a local newspaper who also helps Conor promote his real-estate business. Like Gigi, she meets many men (mostly online) but all end unsuccessfully. After Anna and Conor end their relationship, Mary runs into Conor having coffee and introduces herself to him as he had only ever spoken to her over the phone and never seen her in person. They hit it off, and begin dating.
Beth and Neil
Gigi's other co-worker, Beth (Jennifer Aniston), is living with her boyfriend Neil (Ben Affleck), who is also friends with Ben, and who she has been with for seven years. Although Beth wants to get married, Neil does not believe in signing a piece of paper to say you love someone. After listening to a rant about relationships from Gigi, Beth becomes upset and starts thinking about her relationship with Neil. When she arrives home after work she asks Neil if he'll ever marry her; when he doesn't respond, Beth breaks up with him. Neil moves out to live in his boat while Beth goes home to see her family and to be a bridesmaid at her younger sister's wedding. During the reception, Beth's father has a heart attack. Beth constantly looks after her father: she brings him food, keeps him company, and cleans the house. Meanwhile, all her sisters' husbands do is watch football, play videogames, make a mess, and do not act concerned at all about their father in-law. Beth is constantly frustrated and worried. Then she finds Neil in the kitchen washing the dishes after buying groceries, and they hug and kiss. Beth goes to see Neil on his boat and they get back together, telling him that he is more of a husband than her sisters' husbands will ever be to them. Back at their apartment, Beth jokingly scolds Neil for bringing back a pair of pants she told him to leave on the boat. Neil insists that if she's going to throw them out, then to check the pockets for any valuables. Beth complies and discovers a box with a diamond ring, and turns around to find Neil kneeling down behind her. Neil proposes to her, telling her that he needs to make her happy for him to "have a shot" at being happy. Beth accepts his proposal. They are later shown getting married on Neil's boat in an intimate ceremony.
The film ends with the end credits, switching back and forth with each character (Beth and Neil, Janine, Ben, Conor and Mary, Anna, Gigi and Alex) each saying something about what they'll do or how they feel it ended.
Cast
Production
Baltimore, Maryland, was selected for filming He's Just Not That Into You because the city had not been used as the setting for recent romantic comedies.[2] In addition, screenwriter Marc Silverstein had lived in the city for several years prior to attending college.[2]
The film's original release date was postponed, moving from October 24, 2008 to February 13, 2009 then to February 6, 2009.[3]
Critical reception
The film has received mixed reviews from critics.[4] As of July 9, Rotten Tomatoes reported that 43% of critics gave positive reviews based on 145 reviews.[5] Another review aggregator, Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 reviews from mainstream critics, gave the film a 48% approval rating based on 30 reviews.[4] While the film received mixed reviews, Ginnifer Goodwin, Jennifer Connelly, Jennifer Aniston and Ben Affleck are often praised by critics as being the stand-outs in the film[6][7] and Colm Andrew of the Manx Independent was very favourable, saying "the script is perfect and despite occasionally feeling like a very slick TV episode, the film bristles with energy".[8]
Box office
In its opening weekend, the movie made $27.8 million, topping the box office. Its total worldwide gross is $172,011,653, a success given its $25 million budget.[1]
Awards and Nominations
| Year |
Award |
Category |
Recipient |
Result |
| 2009 |
Teen Choice Award |
Choice Movie - Romance |
He's Just Not That into You |
Nominated |
| Choice Movie Actress - Comedy |
Jennifer Aniston |
Nominated |
Home media
The DVD and Blu-Ray disc was released on June 2, 2009. The Blu-Ray version of the DVD includes a Digital Copy.
Soundtrack
The soundtrack album was released by New Line Records.
- Corinne Bailey Rae - "I'd Like To"
- My Morning Jacket - "I'm Amazed"
- The Human League - "Don't You Want Me"
- R.E.M. - "Supernatural Superserious"
- Tristan Prettyman - "Madly"
- Talking Heads - "This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)"
- The Black Crowes - "By Your Side"
- Wilco - "I Must Be High"
- James Morrison - "You Make It Real"
- Maroon 5 - "If I Never See Your Face Again"
- The Replacements - "Can't Hardly Wait"
- The Ting Tings - "Fruit Machine"
- Lily Allen - "Smile"
- Keane - "Somewhere Only We Know"
- Erin McCarley - "Love, Save the Empty"
- The Cure - "Friday I'm In Love"
- Scarlett Johansson - "Last Goodbye"
- Cliff Eidelman - "He's Into Me" (download only)
Score
The score to He's Just Not That into You was composed by Cliff Eidelman, who recorded his score with an 80-piece ensemble of the Hollywood Studio Symphony at the Newman Scoring Stage.[9] New Line Records released a score album.
- Prologue/The Signs (2:39)
- Mixed Messages (:57)
- This Other Woman (1:19)
- Not To Be Trusted (1:55)
- No Exceptions (2:05)
- Sailing (1:27)
- The Love Of Your Life (1:16)
- Are You Going To Marry Me (1:32)
- Mary At The Blade (:42)
- The Pool (1:12)
- He's Into Me (2:24)
- You Don't Fall In Love That Way (2:07)
- Tables Turn On Alex (:56)
- Janine Revealed (2:43)
- Beth's New Day (1:38)
- Anna's Truth (:54)
- Will You Marry Me (3:07)
- End Credit Suite (3:03)
References
External links
