The Story Behind He's Just Not That Into You
Date Movie Springs From Idea on Sex and the City Episode
Feb 9, 2009
Unlike most movies that are based on a book or original screenplay, the origins of this film go back even further to an episode of Sex and the City, a series that also gave birth to Sex and the City: The Movie, plus a Sex and the City sequel planned for summer 2010. The concept for He’s Just Not That Into You began as a subplot on the top-rated HBO television series, and then became the central idea of the best-selling book of that same title, and now lights up the big screen in an ensemble date movie.
A Web of Romantic Entanglements
He’s Just Not That Into You opened on Friday February 6, 2009 to cash in on the Valentine’s Day market, but this is not light romantic comedy. A blend of drama, romance, comedy, and documentary-style self-help, this movie draws in audiences with its A-list group of 30-something actors involved in an intricate web of romantic entanglements. In the movie, single and married men and women living in Baltimore weave themselves in and out of these romantic involvements with mixed results. Once lured in, audiences will find the laughs are few, but the poignant moments are plentiful.
Abby Kohn and Marc Silverstein wrote the screenplay, based on the book by Greg Behrendt, a former Sex and the City consultant, and Liz Tuccillo, who also worked for the series as an executive story editor. When the book first arrived in stores, Oprah Winfrey featured it on her television show and turned He’s Just Not That Into You into a best seller.
The Sex and the City Episode
In this very funny episode, titled “Pick-a-Little, Talk-a-Little,” Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) invites her boyfriend Jack (Ron Livingston) to join her friends for lunch. He then explains to them how a man’s mind works. Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) in particular wants to know about the mixed messages she often receives. Jack informs her there are no mixed messages (or secret signals or any other code).
If a man declines an invitation for any reason, it really means, “He’s Just Not That Into You.” This new enlightenment frees Miranda from second-guessing all the men in her life, which works fine until she gets a legitimate rejection from a man that has nothing to do with his not being into her, but with what he ate for lunch.
The idea for this segment reportedly came from Behrendt, who offered this cryptic advice to one of the women writers who was having trouble understanding the men in her own life.
The Film: He’s Just Not That Into You
- He’s Just Not That Into You
- Starring Jennifer Aniston, Scarlett Johansson, Ben Affleck, Justin Long, Gennifer Goodwin, Jennifer Connelly, Drew Barrymore, Bradley Cooper, Kevin Connelly
- Director: Ken Kwapis
- Run time: 129 minutes
- Rating: PG-13 (for sexual content and brief strong language)
The Book: He’s Just Not That Into You
Behrendt, Greg and Liz Tuccillo. He’s Just Not That Into You: The No-Excusers Truth to Understanding Guys. Simon Spotlight Entertainment, 2009. ISBN: 978-1416909774, 176 pages, Nonfiction, Paperback, $14.99 U.S.
Also:
- He’s Just Not That Into You: The No-Excuses Truth to Understanding Guys. (The Newly Expanded Edition), Hardcover, 2006.
- Pocket Guide to He’s Just Not That Into You: The No Excuses Truth to Understanding Guys. (Charming Petite Series), Hardcover, 2005.
- He’s Just Not That Into You: Your Daily Wake-Up Call. (Abridged), Paperback, 2005.
- He’s Just Not That Into You: The No-Excuses Truth to Understanding Guys. Audio CD, 2004.
- He’s Just Not That Into You: The No-Excuses Truth to Understanding Guys. Hardcover, 2004.
Sex and the City Television Series
- Episode 78: “Pick-a-Little, Talk-a-Little”
- Original Air Date: July 13, 2003
- Starring Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon
- Guest Starring Evan Handler, Ron Livingston, Jason Lewis, Patti Karr
- Director: David Frankel
- Storylines: Charlotte revels in becoming a Jew; Sam plays sex games with her boyfriend; Carrie criticizes the way her boyfriend, Jack, wrote his new book; and Jack translates the male mind for Miranda.
For more information about the movie He’s Just Not That Into You, visit Internet Movie Database.
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