He's just not that into you. A group of interconnected, Baltimore- based twenty- and thirty some things as they navigate their various relationships from

he's just not that he's just not that into youinto you

A group of interconnected, Baltimore-based twenty- and thirty some things as they navigate their various relationships from the shallow end of the dating pool through the deep, murky waters of married life. Trying to read the signs of the opposite sex, each hopes to be the exception to the "no exceptions" rule.

MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for sexual content and brief strong language)

HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU ©2009 New Line Cinema. Review © David Bruce

ANISTON PLAYS BETH, ANISTON PLAYS BETH, who has who has been living for 7 years with Neil. He is been living for 7 years with Neil. He is perfect in every respect, except that perfect in every respect, except that he does not want to marry her.he does not want to marry her.


AFFLECK PLAYS NEIL, AFFLECK PLAYS NEIL, who just who just wants the status quo! Why risk wants the status quo! Why risk getting married since living getting married since living together works so well? together works so well?


GOODWIN PLAYS GIGIGOODWIN PLAYS GIGI who, who, unlike Beth, doesn't have a unlike Beth, doesn't have a boyfriend. She sits by her boyfriend. She sits by her phone ever waiting for that phone ever waiting for that magic call from whatever guy magic call from whatever guy she’s given her # to. She lives she’s given her # to. She lives in rejection denial.in rejection denial.


BARRYMORE PLAY MARY, BARRYMORE PLAY MARY, who is surrounded by great who is surrounded by great guys, but they're all gay. guys, but they're all gay. Anna represent those still Anna represent those still looking for love. looking for love.


CONNOLLY PLAYS CONOR, CONNOLLY PLAYS CONOR, who is who is head over heels about Anna. He head over heels about Anna. He would love to marry her, except would love to marry her, except that…that…


JOHANSSON PLAYS ANNAJOHANSSON PLAYS ANNA, is not , is not committed to Connor, she has a committed to Connor, she has a sort of 'boyfriendship' with him. sort of 'boyfriendship' with him. AND she is "committed" to a AND she is "committed" to a married man, Ben.married man, Ben.


COOPER PLAYS BEN, the conflicted the conflicted husband, paralyzed by his fears. Then husband, paralyzed by his fears. Then he meets Anna and he just can't get her he meets Anna and he just can't get her out of his system. But, he is married to out of his system. But, he is married to Janine.Janine.


CONNELL PLAYS JANINE, CONNELL PLAYS JANINE, who is who is married to Ben. He doesn't share married to Ben. He doesn't share her expensive ideas about home her expensive ideas about home decoration, or much else.decoration, or much else.


LONG PLAYS ALEX LONG PLAYS ALEX who is, in who is, in effect, the voice of the book. effect, the voice of the book. He is the advice-giver. But, He is the advice-giver. But, he's never given himself over he's never given himself over to anybody emotionally.to anybody emotionally.


KEN KWAPIS KEN KWAPIS is accustomed to is accustomed to working with female-driven stories working with female-driven stories and interwoven relationships. He did and interwoven relationships. He did such films as such films as The Sisterhood of the The Sisterhood of the Traveling PantsTraveling Pants, and he is highly-, and he is highly-regarded for TV's regarded for TV's The Office.The Office.


(Left to right) Writer GREG BEHRENDT Producer NANCY JUVONEN Director KEN KWAPIS


2. BECAME EPISODE IN 2. BECAME EPISODE IN SEX IN SEX IN THE CITYTHE CITY Director Ken Kwapis: Director Ken Kwapis: "This might "This might be the first feature film inspired be the first feature film inspired by one line of dialogue from one by one line of dialogue from one episode of a television show.”episode of a television show.”

1. OFF HAND REMARKScreenwriter Greg Greg Behrendt: Behrendt: "It all stemmed from an offhanded comment I made to somebody over lunch. Telling a woman that a guy who doesn't call her doesn't like her just seems like common sense.”

3. INSPIRED BOOK, THEN MOVIE3. INSPIRED BOOK, THEN MOVIEThe phrase first inspired The phrase first inspired Sex and Sex and the City the City scribes Greg Behrendt scribes Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo to write what and Liz Tuccillo to write what became the bestselling book became the bestselling book He's He's Just Not That Into You.Just Not That Into You.


THERE ARE NO CHARACTERS IN BOOK: "We looked at the chapter headings: He's just not that into you if he's not calling you, ...if he's sleeping with someone else, ...if he's not marrying you, and so on. And that was really the biggest inspiration we took from the book, since the book had no actual characters or plot. We thought those chapter titles could each be an inspiration for an individual story. And that's what grew into our ensemble movie."


A relationship that run into a BRICK WALL (he’s married).


THE ENLIGHTENED ONEAlex, the advise giver is often encased by light fixtures and windows.


PAINTINGS UNDERSCORE THE THEMES

Women are blue and

Women are blue and

men are squares.men are squares.

Neil holds abstract art. He is

Neil holds abstract art. He is

an abstract to his wife.

an abstract to his wife.


HARD TO UNDERSTAND GUY = Cold blues and distant dark grays.

Note: Pay attention to the defining color palettes of each character’s dress and surroundings.


BACKGROUND PROPSProps help define characters! Example: Note the ever present telephone in scenes with Gigi, who is always waiting for that certain call.

TELEPHONES are ever TELEPHONES are ever present in Gigi scenes.present in Gigi scenes.

CALCULATOR -Alex CALCULATOR -Alex figures things out.figures things out.

LIGHTS around Alex, the LIGHTS around Alex, the enlightened one.enlightened one.


50% Positive Consensus voice: “The movie is short on narrative and long on advice, but still has a touch of sweetness.”--Rafer Guzman, Newsday


BEING PRACTICAL ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS “I completely related to the idea of being practical about dating and relationships, and to all the myths that we sort of create for ourselves or for each other--all these things we make up because we're not getting the phone call or the invitation that we really want.”-- Producer Nancy Juvonen

HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU ©2009 New Line Cinema. Review © David Bruce

QUESTION YOUR MOTIVES.This film brought to my mind a certain human dilemma: Why are we often attracted to want we can’t have, and take for granted what we do have? Perhaps there is an upside to this situation. Could it be a part of essential human quest for something more, something other than? There is nothing wrong in this quest per se, the question is: how are you directing that forward motion. Life is short. Question your motives. Evaluate your goals. Reject dead ends. Reject stupidly. Move on choosing life over death. Honestly, I think this is what the film is about.


BIG QUESTION:How do you handle relationships in this modern, sometimes unromantic, confusing, technological age?

HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOUHE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU ©2009 New Line Cinema. Review © David Bruce

“Things have changed. People don't just meet organically anymore. If I want to make myself more attractive to the opposite sex, I don't go get a new haircut - I update my profile. That's just how it is.” ―Mary (a Drew Barrymore line from movie)


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He's just not that into you. A group of interconnected, Baltimore- based twenty- and thirty some things as they navigate their various relationships from