She’s just not that into you either

He’s Just Not That Into You: The concept that won’t quit

By Alysse Dalessandro
Published: February 11th, 2009 | 9:20am

The concept of He’s Just Not That Into You is simple: if he doesn’t call, he doesn’t like you. Seems easy to understand; yet this concept is earning Greg Behrendt big bucks. As a consultant for Sex and the City, he introduced his concept for an episode in 2003. It went on to become a self-help book that Behrendt authored with Liz Tucillo, a story editor for the show. Now, this idea is hitting the silver screen with a big hype and a cast full of A-listers.

The neurotic, yet endearing Gigi (Ginnifer Goodwin of Big Love) serves as narrator. After an unreturned phone call from Conor (Kevin Connley of Entourage), she befriends Alex (Justin Long of Accepted), who offers some harsh yet honest advice. Conor has his sights set on Anna (Scarlett Johansson). Gigi works with Beth (Jennifer Aniston) and Janine (Jennifer Conelly) who are dating and married to Neil (Ben Affleck) and Ben (Bradley Cooper), respectively. Drew Barrymore plays Mary, a friend of Anna’s and serves as an Executive Producer for the flick. Complicated? Perhaps, but eventually the connections all unfold.

A self-help book turned romantic comedy seemed like a stretch that even this star-studded cast could not save. It is cliché, but it somewhat redeems itself with witty quips and well-developed characters. The movie brings in chapter titles from the book such as “He’s just not that into you if he won’t marry you.” The film takes the concept one step further. The book is geared towards helping women, but the movie shows that these are also signs that “she’s just not that into you” too. In the film, both the female and male characters are shown blowing off the opposite sex and desperate for a returned call. Finally, a movie that shows that being neurotic and being a jerk are not gender specific traits.

Aniston, Affleck, and Johansson may be the most recognizable among the cast, but Long and Goodwin’s characters are the scene-stealers. Gigi’s persistence in finding love makes for humorous awkward moments, while Alex’s brutally honest advice hits home when everyone else makes a number of ridiculous excuses for men they don’t know.

Wilson Cruz played Rickie Vasquez opposite Claire Danes on My So-Called Life in the mid ‘90s. As Nathan, one of Mary’s co-workers at the Baltimore Blade, Cruz offers timely one-liners. Barrymore’s performance is forgettable, but at least it allowed a chance to see Cruz again.

The movie is set in Baltimore and showed a fun side of a city on the rise. Whether sailing on the ocean, eating Maryland seafood, or walking along cobblestone streets, the backdrop shines at times more than the cast.

The He’s Just Not That Into You concept is not tough, but if hearing it doesn’t work for you, try any of three outlets this concept is now being broadcast. The movie is probably the most redeemable, but the theory is just getting a little tired. We get it, Greg Behrendt; you can stop extending your fifteen minutes of fame now.