Have any of you seen the movie, “He’s Just Not That Into You”? Well, for those of you have not have here is the IMDB link, give it a read…or better yet, see the movie!

It has a stellar cast and I think a great story line. I went to see this movie with a good friend of mine. Her and I have been in one another lives for over a decade and we have seen each other through the dating sceen, watching one another crash and burn and been there at the end to help pick up the pieces. All the while, offering words of encouragement and inevitable consoling commentary of “what an idiot he is for not seeing how great you are”, or “he will be the one missing out!” Oh yes people, I too have been that friend trying to make excuses for why that really HOT guy you met the other night did not call. And yes, I have also been the girl wondering what is wrong with me and why is he playing these games?

While watching this movie my friend and I could not help but be glued to the impending train wrecks we knew were coming. But why when we see this happening to others are we so clear minded and when it is happening to us it is all murky and there just has to be a reason? The answer is not one I have, but I loved this movie. My fiance on the other hand had a different take on the movie. Although he did enjoy it, he thought it was going to mess women up even more.

Why? I ask. His reply is simple…in the end, every girl got what she wanted! For those of you who have not seen the movie, turn a blind eye, NOW! So, here is what I surmise after listening to him talk about the movie…

Crazy Gigi (Ginnifer Goodwin) seeks advice from Alex (Justin Long) about relationships and about the perils of the dating sceen. She has thrown herself at men, begged to be liked and believes that love is due to her. And you know the end, she becomes Alex’s “exception”. Apparently this is telling every girl that she CAN become the exception even though Alex has explicitly said few girls are the exception. But I say, every girl has to be some one’s exception, right my love (otherwise what is this ring on my finger)?

Another glaring example of how this story is going to mess with women is the Neil and Beth (Jennifer Aniston) story. Dating for 7 years and never getting married, so says Neil (Ben Affleck). Beth decides she really needs to know that marriage is an option for them. Nope, it’s not! Sorry Beth but you knew since the inception of the relationship. Then Neil packs leaves to live on his boat without the love of his life, but maintaining his belief that marriage does not equal happiness or a deeper commitment, or even a better life. When Beth’s father falls ill she see’s her brother-in-laws behaviour and realises that these men are half the husbands that Ben is to her without even being married! Huh!!! What a concept, marriage does NOT equal a good husband and it does not mean your man will become a good husband. Those socks on the floor that he threw there while dating, well, they will still be there 10 years after being married. Get my drift ladies?

And so the story goes. Beth agrees that they never have to get married then Neil comes home. He is not empty handed though, he brings with him quite a pretty box with quite a pretty ring inside! He falls prey to the needs of his woman and marries her! Where is the inconsistency in that I ask? Well, I say that she gave up her need to get married and accepted that the relationship is great on it’s own. Neil, well since the pressure is off about marriage, decides that being married is finally for the right reasons…because of their love not because it was the next step in the relationship or that it was the “right” thing to do. It was just what they wanted to do! A true love story…but…my fiance says this is unrealistic. Once again, the woman get’s the guy and all the advice this movie gives is going down the drain along with your crap! You can go out there and test it if you like but I would rather just accept this storyline for what it is, a happy ending!

I know there are a few more story lines to review, but to be honest I would like to remember the movie as a favourite and a classic. An epic of relationships and a (very) rough guide to dating. And maybe even a lesson to our friends; that although you think you are helping, just be honest and call a lie a lie (not using any metaphor here for a reason, do not want to give you a reason to read something ELSE into what I say)! You’ve been ‘had’ girl, and he’s just not that into you!