We went to see "He's Just Not That Into You" today. It's a rom/com -- a pleasing, innocuous, chick flick. Nothing particularly special about it. I found it inoffensive and somewhat enjoyable. So did "She Who Must Not Be Named". It was fun to watch big-name stars [like Ben Affleck, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Anniston, Kris Kristofferson, and Scarlett Johansson] completely outclassed by younger talents -- Ginnifer Goodwin, Justin Long, Kevin Connolly and Bradley Cooper. The best performance is Jennifer Connolly as a woman nobody in their right mind would want to stay with. The movie drags a bit and I spent some time thinking about how old the major stars looked, trying to figure out just where in Baltimore certain exterior shots were filmed, etc. In other words, I never got particularly involved in the story. There were just too many characters with too many hangups intersecting in too many ways.
When we got home I checked out some major reviews and was surprised to see how negative they had been. The NYT was offended that the women were not Thelma and Louise, wreaking violent vengeance on the men who didn't appreciate them. Variety worried that none of the characters had any economic worries to distract them from romantic complications. Salon complains that in the end the film adopts conventionally bourgeois attitudes. Roger Ebert is upset because some of the relationships in the film have happy endings. Rolling Stone is outraged because the images of women in the film are traditional and not modern enough. You get the idea. The critical community, at least at the most remunerative levels, despises or is bored by the traditions and values of middle-class America. "She" and I do not agree. We found the film, if not memorable, at least inoffensive and fairly entertaining. We did not regret the time spent in the company of these characters.
