Jennifer Aniston and Ben Afflack in "He's Just Not That Into You"
courtesy of Warner Home Entertainment
“You’ll Be Into This DVD”

After a lull in her career Jennifer Aniston has hit paydirt with her last two movies. She and Owen Wilson were a hit in “Marley and Me,” and now a full marquee cast surrounds her in “He’s Just Not That Into You.” This is a movie (now DVD) based on the book by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo. They got their title from a phrase used on the TV series “Sex and the City.” It is a catchy gathering of words and sets up the entire premise for the movie. 

It starts with one couple on a first date and then spreads attention to friends of these two who have friends in common with others who lead back to the first couple. Sounds complicated but it’s not. It’s just a lot of fun.

The first couple we meet is Gigi (Gennifer Goodwin) and Conor (Kevin Connolly). They are on a first date and seem to be hitting it off. Then the evening ends and they head their separate ways. At her office the next day she confides in her co-workers Beth (Jennifer Aniston) and Janine (Jennifer Connelly) who offer some tips on whether he will call. He doesn’t because “he is just not that into her.”

And so the movie goes. We learn about Janine’s marriage to Ben (Bradley Cooper) and his affair with Anna (Scarlett Johansson). Anna is the girl that Conor wants but she wants Ben. Ben’s best friend is Neil (Ben Affleck) who has been living with Beth for seven years but doesn’t want to get married. Beth does.

It is all kind of “sex degrees of separation from Kevin Bacon” with Gigi being “Kevin Bacon.” It all stems from her and her desire to find the one guy who is “just that into her.” Goodwin gets the most screen time but she is the least appealing actor in the film. Her clinginess in the role is grating and her whining gets old fast.

Best of all is screen favorite Aniston. She makes Beth someone we like to see and one for whom we are rooting all the way. Opposite her Affleck is kind of a non person. She lights up the relationship only to have him pull it into the dark.

Others in the movie besides Connelly & Connolly, Cooper and Johansson are Drew Barrymore in a very small role, and Justin Long. They are all better than Goodwin but I have to admit she does grow on you a little by the end.

The film is funny and romantic and should entertain all age groups and genders. If you don’t like one particular character, wait a minute and five more will come along. One of those is bound to please you.

This is a movie to enjoy but not to take too seriously. It might offer some tips on the current dating scene but no one rule applies to all. Just watch the DVD for its entertainment value and not for its teaching power. And guys, take a chance on the film. You may find you will get into it more than you think. It sort of sneaks up on you with its charm and humor.

Two of my favorite TV series have their previous season coming out on DVD this week. The first is “Raising the Bar,” the Steven Bochco show that airs on TNT. Last year was its first year and it definitely made an impression. And why wouldn’t it with a cast that includes Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Gloria Reuben and Jane Kaczmarek among others.

The show shines the spotlight on prosecutors, defenders and judges and the relationships between them all. Gosselaar plays a public defender as does Reuben. Kaczmarek plays a judge – and what a judge she is.

There is love, drama, excitement – everything on this series and you will love it. If you didn’t watch last year make sure you get the DVD of “Raising the Bar: The Complete First Season.”

Next is “Army Wives: The Complete Sec0ond Season.” This is the series that brought Kim Delaney, one of my favorite actresses back to TV. The show airs on “Lifetime” and is filmed in Charleston, South Carolina.

Delaney plays the wife of a Commander at a fictional base in Charleston. Her best friends are some other Army Wives, some are married to officers and some are married to enlisted men. The dynamics between the women makes this a very popular show.

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are addressed here as are the specific problems faced by the men and women in the military along with their families. It is timely, topical and totally enjoyable. Plus Delaney is still one amazing actress.

So watch the entire second season from beginning to end. It is “Army Wives: The Complete Second Season.”

Maybe Cuba Gooding, Jr. should come to TV and get his career reactivated. At the present time he is making straight to DVD films such as his latest “The Devil’s Tomb.” It isn’t a bad action movie but obviously it wasn’t thought highly enough of to give it a theatrical run.

In the film Gooding plays the leader of a military unit who is searching for a missing archeologist. His search takes him to the dessert where he uncovers “evil” lurking beneath the dessert sands. At this point it turns into a battle between good and evil.

The supporting cast includes Taryn Manning, Ray Winstone, Henry Rollins and Ron Perlman. That is a good group of actors, led by the always interesting Gooding. Plus the special effects in this movie are above average. So take a chance and get the DVD of “The Devil’s Tomb.”

Another actor whose career is not behaving as she would like is Jessica Biehl. Biehl is a beautiful and talented actress but her movie roles of late have been less than successful. Her new movie “Powder Blue” was hyped as being the one that would be her breakthrough, but al it did was break through straight to DVD.

It is actually a pretty good movie and Biehl does a strong job in it as an erotic dancer whose life, along with three others, are changed one Christmas Eve. Kris Kristofferson, Patrick Swayze, Ray Liotta and Forrest Whitaker are also in the cast.

I like Jessica Biehl and I liked this movie. Get the DVHD and watch it. I think you will agree that Biehl does possess star power. Now if she can just break through!
 

 

 

 

 

©2009 Jackie K. Cooper

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