From the Friday, Feb. 6 Oregonian....
A friend recently told me about cartoonist Alison Bechdel's "movie test," as articulated by one of Bechdel's characters in this comic: "I only go to a movie if it satisfies three basic requirements: (1) it has to have at least two women in it who (2) talk to each other about (3) something besides a man."
It was fascinating to walk into "He's Just Not That Into You" with this organizing principle rattling around in my head, because it made me realize there was -- quite literally -- not a single conversation between the talented actresses in this two-hour-plus movie (including Jennifer Aniston, Scarlett Johansson, Drew Barrymore, Ginnifer Goodwin and a once-again-scowling Jennifer Connelly) that did not revolve around catching or pleasing a man.
These aren't conversations; they're endless reiterations of mission statements. For over two hours. Yawn!
Director Ken Kwapis does a craftsmanlike job staging these reductive "conversations" amid the comings and goings of a bunch of intersecting lovelorn (and very dull) yuppies in Baltimore. There are good-enough performances and a couple of laughs. Justin Long is pretty funny as Goodwin's truth-telling pal. The interstitial interviews with "real" people about relationship woes would make a cute short film. But scratch the surface, and the movie's underpinnings are an insult to women everywhere -- the film is slick, stupid propaganda for the myth of The One True Love that wastes the talents of fine actresses who apparently can't find better projects.
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D; 129 minutes; rated PG-13 for sexual content and brief strong language.
'He's Just Not that Into You' (The Oregonian, Feb. 6, 2009)
I cannot just say that its a good movie neither say that its a bad one!.Group of casting actors was well selected.But I felt as if the storyline was a bit complicated (and boring too).I felt like I am watching an episode of FRIENDS.My average rating would be 3/5.I may suggest you to watch it, but you must not keep high expectations
Posted by: Joe Barry | February 28, 2009 at 01:58 AM
Do the men talk about anything besides women?
Posted by: hannele | September 15, 2009 at 07:45 PM