Saturday, February 21, 2009

He's Just Not That Into You

He's Just Not That Into You is just about one of the best books I have ever read when it comes to relationships. In fact, it's one of the best things I have ever done for myself.

Which is why I was a little sceptical when the movie came out. And yep, they killed it. When I saw the ending, I knew the film HAD to have been filmed by a man.

I saw the show with a friend from overseas- someone who's older, dated guys of different nationalities from me and stayed in cities I have never been. Nonetheless, our pre-movie dinner proves that it doesn't matter where you come from, live in or date. The kinda bullshit that men offer when they are just not that into you is about as universal as the women who would believe that bullshit. Heck, it's about as universal as love itself or perhaps I should use sex. That's probably age old universal.

We have both been through the same heartaches, craziness and embarrassment. While we both hope we are a little smarter, chances are we fear would do the same. And yes, we both read that book.

Which is also why we were both disappointed with the ending. The movie starts off with saying that as little girls, we had been educated that guys who do bad things to us actually do it because they like us. Then, they go on to dispense nuggets of advice on how that is not true. That was barely following the spirit of the book. If that's the case, why give it a Hollywood happy ending? A case of "ah let's just give the women what they want"? You guys are just being the very same people the movie disses in front!

What made the book valuable is how it helped women to recognise that when a guy doesn't call, marry and give a shit, he really doesn't give a shit. However, with the movie's ending, all the director and scriptwriters did was to validate that the guy who hasn't proposed (and probably never will) will get on his knees one day, that the player who has been around the block will suddenly realise that YOU are the one. Trust me, dear director and scriptwriter, most women who watch this movie are going to hear more of the girl's "I'm the exception" than the fact that SHE IS THE EXCEPTION.

The movie totally failed the spirit of the book. This may just be my judgement but I wasn't alone in thinking so.

And to add to it...HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU, ladies and maybe with current times, I should just add SHE as well.