Isn't it a little weird to turn a non-fiction book about how women have fallen for countless romantic clichés like "he's being mean to you because he likes you" or "never call him, wait for him to call you" into a romantic comedy, which is easily the most cliché-ridden genre in the history of film? What's even weirder is that it mostly works. Like any relationship, He's Just Not That Into You has its bumpy spots, but Ken Kwapis' film is surprisingly mature, enjoyable, and well-done. On one hand, it can be looked at as a missed opportunity, as a few tweaks could have made this a romantic classic, but, on the other hand, given the state of the horrendous rom-com genre, one shouldn't undervalue what has been accomplished here - a reminder that romantic comedy doesn't have to be about bodily functions, horrible people, or stupid gimmicks.

He's Just Not That Into You is a Short Cuts-esque tapestry of interweaving characters and plotlines all set around the idea that women are really just looking for love in all the wrong places. The central heroine is the charming but slightly damaged Gigi (Ginnifer Goodwin), who we first meet on a date with real estate broker Connor (Kevin Connolly). She thinks it went well. He calls his true unrequited love Anna (Scarlett Johansson) before he even gets home from the date. Gigi watches the phone and obsesses over why Connor hasn't called until she eventually gets up the nerve to stop by his regular watering hole and runs into the bartender/friend Alex (Justin Long). The supposedly smooth Alex lays it on the line for Gigi. He's just not that into you. Gigi sees the light and continues to turn to Alex for relationship advice until the inevitable happens. This IS a romantic comedy, after all.

Meanwhile, Connor continues to pine over Anna, who begins a flirtatious relationship with Ben (Bradley Cooper), who seems to be happily married to Janine (Jennifer Connelly), who also happens to work with Gigi. Make a flow chart. It will come in handy. Will Ben go too far with the lovely Anna? Why does Janine seem to be slowly cracking under the pressure of her home renovation? Does it say something about the state of her marriage?

Another of Janine and Gigi's co-workers, Beth (Jennifer Aniston), has been in a seven-year relationship with the sweet Neil (Ben Affleck), who has one big problem - he doesn't believe in marriage. After being inspired by Gigi's new brutal honesty and her younger sister's impending nuptials, Beth kicks Neil to the curb. Well, to the boat that he lives on and hangs out with friend Ben. Finally, Mary (Drew Barrymore), who works at a lifestyle paper and places ads for Connor's real estate company, laments the effect of technology on modern romance. Go back to the flow chart. Colored markers may help.

Most of these people, particularly Goodwin's Gigi and Aniston's Beth, are likable, interesting characters of the kind that you don't often see in a genre too often populated with spiteful, evil people like those in What Happens in Vegas or License to Wed. I didn't mind spending time with them and found their romantic exploits interesting. It’s been a long time since I actually wanted more screen time for Ben Affleck and Jennifer Aniston, and Goodwin's charm alone will get the film over the hump between thumbs down and thumbs up for a lot of people.

Having said that, He's Just Not That Into You should be better. It's surprisingly flat, missing sexuality instead of just "dating," and, honestly, kind of depressing. None of the characters have any interesting habits or traits outside of their quest for companionship. Are we really all that pathetically driven and prone to making the same romantic mistakes over and over again? And the film is seriously missing in the rising action department. I never felt like Kwapis knew how to build, almost too consciously trying to avoid the romantic melodrama that might have given the film more heft and less tedium in the final act. No romantic comedy should ever run over two hours.

Perhaps my response to He's Just Not That Into You can be summed up with this metaphor - having dated dozens of total losers in the romantic comedy genre, I'm more forgiving of this date than probably should be, but, like these better-than-average characters, I'm only human.

Rating: TWO AND A HALF BONES