Story of movie He%27s Just Not That Into You Film : This article's lead section does not adequately summarize key points of its contents. (June 2017) |
He's Just Not That into You is a 2009 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Ken Kwapis, based on the 2004 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, Jennifer Connelly, Kevin Connolly, Bradley Cooper, Ginnifer Goodwin, Scarlett Johansson, and Justin Long. The movie is set in Baltimore, and follows the story of nine different people and their varying romantic problems. Less of an ensemble comedy than a collection of interwoven stories, each of the characters has some degree of relationship with one or two others whether a crush, a date or a full-blown affair. Across the entire cast, Goodwin's character Gigi could be seen as the common thread. She is followed more closely than the other eight people and has a more developed storyline because she consistently misreads all of her romantic partners behaviors. She meets Alex, played by Long, who helps her to interpret signs given to her by her dates.
| He's Just Not That Into You | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Ken Kwapis |
| Produced by | Nancy Juvonen Michael Disco Gwenn Stroman |
| Screenplay by | Abby Kohn Marc Silverstein |
| Based on | He's Just Not That into You by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo |
| Starring | Ben Affleck Jennifer Aniston Drew Barrymore Jennifer Connelly Kevin Connolly Bradley Cooper Ginnifer Goodwin Scarlett Johansson Kris Kristofferson Justin Long Nana Kagga |
| Music by | Cliff Eidelman |
| Cinematography | John Bailey |
| Edited by | Cara Silverman |
Production company | Flower Films |
| Distributed by | New Line Cinema |
Release date |
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Running time | 129 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $40 million |
| Box office | $181.1 million |
The film was produced by Flower Films, the production company owned by Drew Barrymore, who served as an executive producer. The film grossed over $181 million at the worldwide box office.
Screenplay
Nine young Baltimore residents deal with their respective romantic problems, usually thwarted by the differing ideals and desires of their chosen partner. At the center is Gigi Phillips (Ginnifer Goodwin), a young woman who repeatedly misinterprets her potential romantic partners' actions.
Gigi and Alex
Gigi (Ginnifer Goodwin) is a single thirty-something woman who repeatedly misreads her dates' mundane actions and comments as indications of their romantic interest, and frets when a guy she likes fails to call her.
Following a tepid first date with real estate agent, Connor Barry (Kevin Connolly), Gigi attempts to stage a run-in with him at a local bar he frequents. She is befriended by bar manager Alex (Justin Long), who enlightens her about strategies men use to brush off women. He says that if a man is interested in a woman, he will overcome any obstacle to date her. The "rule" is that unanswered phone calls and similar behaviors means a man is uninterested, with few exceptions, and that Gigi has been misinterpreting and obsessing over imagined "signs" she is reading. Their friendship continues, and Gigi interprets his ongoing helpfulness as a sign he is attracted to her. Alex rebuffs her advances, claiming he is romantically uninterested and chastises her for ignoring his advice. She angrily counters that she always continues to search for someone while he is cynical and emotionally shut off.
Gigi eventually moves on from Alex. However, in a role reversal, Alex begins falling for Gigi. After leaving several unanswered messages, Alex arrives at Gigi's apartment and declares his love. Gigi thinks that she is the rule, but after Alex passionately kisses her, he says that she is his exception.
Janine, Ben, and Anna
Gigi's friend and co-worker, Janine Gunders (Jennifer Connelly), and her husband, Ben (Bradley Cooper) are having marriage problems. As Janine obsesses over their home renovations, Ben becomes attracted to Anna Marks (Scarlett Johansson), a yoga instructor and aspiring singer; she requites his interest. Ben and Anna pursue a flirtatious friendship under the pretense of him helping her establish a singing career. Ben reveals to Anna that he married Janine after she gave him an ultimatum to marry her or break-up. Ben agrees to only be friends with Anna, but she continues her flirtatious pursuit until they end up sleeping together.
Janine finds cigarette butts hidden in the back yard, and she angrily accuses Ben of smoking again, citing her father's death from lung cancer. Ben denies this, claiming it is likely the workmen at their house. During a tense home improvement shopping trip, Ben confesses his infidelity to Janine. She is devastated but rationalizes Ben's behavior, blaming herself for being too cold and domineering and wants to save their marriage; Ben seems less enthused.
While Anna and Ben are having a tryst in Ben's office, Janine unexpectedly arrives, wanting to spice up their marriage with a surprise seduction. Anna hides in a closet while Ben unsuccessfully attempts to deflect Janine. After Janine leaves, Anna, furious, departs after ending the relationship with Ben. As Janine tidies up Ben's clothes back at their renovated house, she discovers a pack of cigarettes in a pocket and explodes in anger. When Ben returns home, Janine is gone and has left his clothes neatly folded on the staircase with a carton of cigarettes and a note asking for a divorce. Janine moves into an apartment to restart her life, and Anna is later seen performing at an upscale nightclub. Ben is alone, purchasing beer at the same supermarket he met Anna.
Conor, Anna, and Mary
Meanwhile, Anna enjoys a close friendship with Alex's friend, Conor. He is romantically interested in her, but Anna only wants a casual relationship. Conor misinterprets her playful affection as potential romantic interest.
Anna's friend, Mary Harris (Drew Barrymore), works in advertising sales for a local gay newspaper. She helps Conor promote his real estate business in a series of print ads. Like Gigi, she meets many men (mostly online), but despite constantly monitoring emails, pager, phone, and Myspace messages, her dates go nowhere.
While Conor attempts to cultivate a gay clientele, two gay men tell him how he is going wrong with Anna. Taking their advice, Conor declares his love to Anna. Vulnerable after falling out with Ben, Anna agrees to a more serious relationship with him. But when Conor proposes buying a house and moving in together sometime later, Anna admits she does not want to, they return to being just friends.
Mary later runs into Conor, recognizing him from his ad photo, and introduces herself, having only spoken to him over the phone. They hit it off, and start dating.
Beth and Neil
Gigi's other co-worker, Beth Murphy (Jennifer Aniston), lives with her boyfriend, Neil (Ben Affleck), who is also friends with Ben. After seven years together, Beth wants to be wed, but Neil opposes marriage. With Gigi's newfound pragmatic stance on relationships after advice from Alex, she announces she will no longer misinterpret vague gestures and comments, and says that men who delay marrying their girlfriends, likely never intend to. This spurs Beth to confront Neil about their relationship. When he is adamant that he never wants to be married, she breaks up with him.
Later, the preparations for her younger sister's wedding brings the issue into sharper focus after Beth hears many back-handed comments from various family members. During the reception, her father, Rod, (Kris Kristofferson) suffers a heart attack. Beth cares for him as he recuperates at home while her sisters wallow and their husbands remain glued to the television with constant takeout food. As Beth's patience wanes as the household grows more dysfunctional, Neil arrives with groceries and helps with chores. The two reconcile with Beth assuring Neil that she only wants him back, and without being married. Neil later proposes, and they wed in an intimate ceremony aboard his sailboat.
- Ben Affleck as Neil
- Jennifer Aniston as Beth Murphy
- Drew Barrymore as Mary Harris
- Jennifer Connelly as Janine Gunders
- Kevin Connolly as Conor Barry
- Bradley Cooper as Ben Gunders
- Ginnifer Goodwin as Gigi Phillips
- Scarlett Johansson as Anna Marks
- Kris Kristofferson as Rod Murphy
- Justin Long as Alex
- Sasha Alexander as Catharine
- Greg Behrendt as Priest
- John Ross Bowie as Dan the Wiccan
- Bill Brochtrup as Larry
- Hedy Burress as Laura
- Frances Callier as Frances
- Wilson Cruz as Nathan
- Cory Hardrict as Tyrone
- Stephen Jared as Steven
- Nana Kagga as Party Guest
- Brandon Keener as Jarrad
- Rod Keller as Bruce
- Natasha Leggero as Amber Gnech
- Morgan Lily as Little girl
- Leonardo Nam as Joshua Nguyen
- Peter O'Meara as Bill
- Corey Pearson as Jude
- Busy Philipps as Kelli Ann
- Angela V. Shelton as Angela
- Luis Guzmán as Javier (uncredited)
- Mary Stuart Masterson as Watts (uncredited archive footage from the film Some Kind of Wonderful (1987))
Baltimore, Maryland, was selected for the setting of He's Just Not That into You as an alternative to the common New York City, Chicago, or Los Angeles settings of romantic comedies. In addition, screenwriter Marc Silverstein had lived in the city for several years prior to attending college. However, exterior shots were filmed in the city for two weeks during November 2007. Interior scenes were filmed in Los Angeles.
The film was released on February 6, 2009.
Critical response
Rotten Tomatoes reported that 40% of critics gave positive reviews, based on 160 reviews with an average rating of 5.1/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Despite the best efforts of a talented cast, He's Just Not That into You devotes too little time to each of its protagonists, thus reducing them to stereotypes." Another review aggregator, Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 reviews from mainstream critics, gave the film a 47 out of 100 based on 32 reviews.
Box office
In its opening weekend, the movie made $27.8 million, topping the box office. Its total US gross amounted to $93,953,653 while internationally it grossed $84,436,590 bringing the worldwide gross to $178,390,243 against a $40 million budget.
Accolades
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