HE’S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU

US, 2009, 129 minutes, Colour.
Ginnifer Goodwin, Jennifer Connelly, Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore, Scarlett Johansson, Kevin Connolly, Justin Long, Bradley Cooper , Ben Affleck, Leonard Nam.
Directed by Ken Kwapis.

Friendsish, so to speak.

For many years (and through constant repeats), Friends has made quite an impact on the viewing public. The week-in, week-out activities of a group of 30-somethings, their friendships, their relationships, their work, their careers, families, all presented in a pleasantly glossy style, with some farce, some comedy and some quips, has become a way of communicating the details of lives, both serious and trivial, from the screen. Sex and the City derives from this approach. And this film takes its title and its chapter headings from Sex and the City and Jennifer Aniston is in it, so a constant reminder of Friends.

If the anguishes and the falling in and out of love of this particular American demographic holds a special appeal, then this film provides plenty of it, running over two hours.

But, while the situations might be important to the characters, are their personalities interesting enough to stay with them and has the film been made in the semi-blandly engaging television style? The personalities, of course, some yes, some no. The style is, yes, big screen TV style.

And the characters? Jennifer Connolly is very strong and makes her story worthwhile. She has a two-timing husband who professes love and even confesses to her and, while she is definitely a controller, the experience is hard for her. She works in an office with Ginnifer Goodwin who is, more or less, the central character. She is ingenuous, over-eager and sometimes quite irritating as she tries to sustain a relationship, especially with a real estate agent (Kevin Connolly) who is really in love with Scarlett Johansson (who seems to be becoming less and less impressive each film she makes). But, she is the object of the two-timing husband's affair. In the meantime, Jennifer Aniston, who also works in the office, would really like to marry her partner of seven years (Ben Affleck who, after directing the excellent Gone, Baby, Gone, has unwisely gone in front of the camera again). He doesn't. Oh, there are two more characters. Justin Long does quite a good job as the bar managing confidant who has all kinds of detached advice without realising he has fallen in love. And Drew Barrymore, taken in by an on-line Lothario, is a plain Jane who is also on the lookout for love.

So, there you are – if you want to enjoy another American romcom. Otherwise you may just not be into this kind of film.

1.A romantic comedy? The relationship to Sex and the City?

2.The title, the quote, Sex and the City, the aphorisms throughout the film? The cruelty of men in the opening collage – around America, even in Africa?

3.The Baltimore setting, the world of the thirtysomethings, apartments, homes, restaurant and clubs? The workplace? Audiences identifying with particular characters? Realism or soap opera? The range of songs to give the mood and illustrate situations?

4.Gigi as the central character? Seeing her at work, discussions with her friends? Family background? Relationships, despondent, her living in a world of cliché hopes? The date with Conor, its failure? The phone calls, waiting for the phone, continually checking her messages? Wanting advice? Going to the club, pretending to seek Conor, meeting Alex, his giving advice, their talking? His setting up the date but the man not arriving – but later coming and his not being a permanent relationship for Gigi? The friendship with Alex, the kiss, Alex and his retreat from her? Alex and his friends, her discussing this at work, their support? Discovering Alex’s attitude, her realisation?

5.Conor, the estate agent, the date with Gigi, thinking of Anna? Talking with Alex? Anna putting him off? His desperation, the meetings? The serious relationship, Anna going? The meeting with Mary – and finding a soulmate?

6.Janine, strong woman, at work, with her friends, her relationship with her husband, her running of the house, the redecoration, the builders and her demands, the smoking issue? Ben and his flirting with Anna, the meetings? His behaviour at home? Attitudes towards the decoration, the lying about smoking? His relationship with Anna, admitting the truth to Janine? Anna at his office, hiding, Janine and her wanting to make the marriage better, the sexual encounter, Anna’s disgust? Her leaving? Janine, finding out the truth about the smoking, the separation?

7.Beth and Neil, together for seven years, seeing their domestic life, happy, Neil not wanting a marriage commitment? Beth and her really wanting it? Their discussion of the matter? Neil and his inability to commit? Leaving? Getting advice? Beth at work, the wedding, her family? Her care for the family? Neil and his change of heart, the proposal?

8.Mary, at work, her gay friends, the internet dating, the discovery of the truth by accident? Going out, the party? With Conor?

9.A film of the 21st century, with the young adults, their uncertainties, hopes, desires?