By Linda Winsh-Bolard
Is just not that interesting.
From the “cute “ beginning it is clear where this goes: Mommy tells a little girl that the nasty boy who bothers her “likes” her, and from that piece of “wisdom” the girl gets life long cue: males are bothersome, nasty fools but that does not matter. The only thing that matters is to have one.
Hence, any male showing the slightest interest is worth of pursuing – and that comes from…eh, a bored middle aged male Hollywood executive?
There are five main female characters: Jennifer Aniston is the live in girlfriend Beth whose boyfriend Niel repeatedly tells her how much he loves her and what good life they have together until she extracts from him the admission that he has no intentions of marrying her- ever. In other words, he is not committed to her, nor does he find her good enough for permanent relationship. It gives Beth temporary pause. Ben Afleck as Niel is the guy who doesn’t get the “marriage thing”.
Ginnifer Goodwin is Gigi, the girl in pursuit- of any male however disinterested. She spends her days by the phone or on the phone (her boss must be really lax) while she tries to get hooked with some/any male. Jennifer Connelly is Janine, the married one, who wants a kid with a guy “who is just not that interested”. Ben (Bradley Cooper) is the guy who cheats on her with a girl he met when buying beer (so romantic) but lied to her for a long time.
Scarlett Johansson is Anna, the single beauty who falls for the married guy. It takes watching him to have sex with his wife (in order to save their marriage) for her to leave him. Anna then tries involvement with a decent guy, Connor, who loves her and fails. Drew Barrymore is Mary; fantastic males surround Mary, albeit they are all gay. Considering that all females in this film seem to have only one life interest- marriage- it is not surprising. Barrymore is also the one with the best bit of monolog (about how it was easier in the old times when there was only the phone and the answering machine) and will be, naturally, loved at the end. Alex (Justin Long) is the proverbial friend of Gigi, full of advice and lack of commitment. At least his character has some room to grow. You can guess what will happen to him.
One does not wonder why the guys are disinterested, all what these women are interested in is dating and marriage. I would not want someone that dull either. Why are the women interested in men whose only interests are beer, fishing and casual sex with multiple partners eludes me; that is not even boring, that’s just old.
It does not surprise. Ever.
Not even the titled chapters surprise.
Plenty of advice is offered to potential or existing lovers; it is that kind of advice that makes Elle like a smart magazine. Main problem of the film: all the characters are flat as pancakes. All women are needy, all men are jerks and all what a relationship is, is sex. Thin pancakes.
True, the ending is loftier, but that is a bit too little after a bit too long.
I have no problem with very young girls analyzing every minute sign they think they can read into a reaction of a guy they are interested in (or even not interested in). It is appropriate to age and learning. If you are over 25 and still stuck in the same groove, you are too old for what you are doing.
If you are over thirty and still believe that men invested more emotionally into you because they might be sexually attracted to you than women who might become your friends, or that lasting happiness is finding a sexual partner, you need help. A good shrink does not come cheap, but considering the expense of weddings and divorces, it is a good investment. Remember, “stable marriages” of the past were based on women’s inability to financially support themselves and to have legal rights. Not on mutual love and trust. And corporate America investing into films is male and very rich.
As for this prattle: I am just not that into this.
PS
Few days ago LA Times printed a cartoon depicting a boy just as obnoxious as the one in the film. When Mommy tells her daughter that the boy likes her, the girl replies: But he is disgusting! In the last pane, both, Mother and daughter, take a look at the boy in question. In unison they found him: Yak!!!-disgusting. Does progress ever reach male executives?
