Love and romance, dating, and the whole 9 yards are never short of complicated. We strive to be happy but our path toward that goal is filled with heartache and rejection, miscommunication, and many other crazy wonderful/amazingly messed up emotions. These feelings drive us wild with desire and stab us in the deepest part of our hearts. He’s Just Not That Into You showcases the many aspects of love and it does it in such a way that no matter who you are, you will find truth and meaning behind the stories and the situations presented.

       I absolutely loved this film. There were parts that I felt could have been re worked or dropped altogether, but overall I just couldn’t have had a better (or worse [in a cathartic way]) time viewing this genius work. It wasn’t that the film was spectacularly done or that the direction was beyond brilliant or that the acting was top notch. All of those things were good, mind you, but what put this movie in a whole new category for me is the writing as well as the casting choices. Adapted from the book He's Just Not That Into You: The No-Excuses Truth to Understanding Guys written by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tucillo, the screenplay is penned well and nicely adapted to the big screen with the assistance of writers Abby Kohn and Marc Silverstein.

       Let me tell you something about casting. It is pretty obvious that an incorrect casting choice can ruin an otherwise great piece of cinema, and this film does not let itself fall into that category. I have been in love with Ginnifer Goodwin ever since she burst onto the scene as Diane Snyder in the brilliant television series Ed, which also starred Justin Long who also appears in this film. As Gigi Haim, the lovably clueless girl who is failing at her many attempts to understand the male mind, Ginnifer shined in ways I never thought possible. She literally made me fall in love with her character and by film's end had me hypothetically eating out of her hand. Her mixture of vulnerability and goofy haphazard way of doing things spewed out so much cuteness it could barely be contained on screen.

       Another cast member that shockingly impressed me here was Ben Affleck as the opposed to marriage boyfriend of Jennifer Aniston’s character. His part in this film wasn’t larger than life or over the top and it didn’t choke me to death with its in your face attitude. His character is played down and his mannerisms are subtle and that to me is where Affleck truly shines. I loved the way he played the good guy here. Soft and caring and really mild mannered, he just worked.

       Director Ken Kwapis deserves praise for his ability to create a mood with a scene and really wrap the viewer in the moment and just affect them. There are several poignant scenes in this film that tug at your heartstrings, but none more prevalent than one near the end. Without ruining any thing for those unfamiliar with this story, I’ll say that a soft lit set and some perfectly executed dialogue teamed with Keanes "Somewhere Only We Know" seemingly floating along on an unseen gentle breeze in the background grabbed a hold of my heart and made me feel feelings that I thought had long been forgotten never to be seen or heard from again. It was nice and it felt really good.

       Check this film out. There is too much good about it for you not to. It’s labeled as a chick flick sure, but it really does deserve a look no matter who you are. Brilliant casting and excellent writing paired with a good director and perfect execution make this a love story for a new age.