I feel as if the subject line, the book, the movie is something I will remember for a very long time.  I should preface that this won’t be a straight out review – it could entirely veer into some embarassing – no. I won’t go there. But it will be a book vs movie review because there are some interesting lessons to learn from both.

The book is written through letters, with headings such as ‘If he’s not calling you..’, or ‘If he’s not sleeping with you…’ through to ‘If he’s not asking you out..’ and so forth. And then letters from supposed women giving examples of guys they’ve met but oh? Maybe they’ve lost their phone. Oh! They probably don’t have credit, and they can’t text back. Or he’s just too busy. He’s a big shot! Too busy! And then the author comes back with; uh.. hello? If he’s into you, NOTHING will stop him.

It totally makes sense! Yet we make all these excuses. Because.. I don’t know why? Don’t ask me. I haven’t yet met someone to make me not be told by my sister that I need to read this book for a bit of tough love.

Then comes the movie..what was it going to be like? Such an ensemble cast with Ginnifer Goodwin, Justin Long, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Connolly, Bradley Cooper, Scarlett Johansson,  Drew Barrymore.. oh man. What. A Cast of eye candy.

That in itself was reason for me to see it, I can’t lie. And I could see from the trailer that it was moments of dating, or long term relationships; waiting by the phone, waiting for a ring, avoiding temptation, all of the things both men and women go through I suppose in hoping that they’ve found the right ‘one’.

When you have such an ensemble cast, you can expect that there have to be ‘lead’ storylines, and the others are just supporting. In my opinion, the strongest stories was Aniston and Affleck as Beth and Neil – a couple living together, happily for 7 years, no ring, no engagement. WHEN was it going to happen? All of the pressure from her family to get married, or what did it mean, did he NOT want to be with her? Was it just convenient?

And there is Goodwin and Long – Gigi and Alex. Gigi is the hopeless romantic girl, the eternal optimist and the one you have to shake your head at, constantly waiting by the phone (but I SO want that pink phone she has in her apartment!), or thinking her cell phone has lost reception, or maybe she missed the call altogether. Or she was in the shower. And despite not being called, or waiting for so long.. she happily moves on; whilst asking bar owner Alex for advice, seeing as he told her bluntly about her first date with Conor (Kevin Connolly) the one that ended with a polite ‘nice to meet you’ ; He’s NOT interested.

Throughout the film, Alex teaches Gigi all about the ‘Rules’ as described throughout the book, guiding her through some awkward first dates, or ‘auditions’ and just how NOT interested these guys are. Oh, and the remarkably romantic exceptions she hears of, are merely those; exceptions.

Then there is Bradley Cooper & Jennifer Connelly.. and Scarlett Johansson. Oh man, ever since Alias where Bradley was Will Tippin, Sydney’s best friend; I’m so happy he’s had some recent success with this role, and in the Yes Man. But I digress. Cooper and Connelly play Ben & Janine, married, renovating their apartment, but there’s something missing. A spark? I’m not sure if its the character.. but I just found Janine to be cold, and lacking of any real ‘warmth’ to her. But then, sorry to say – next to Scarlett Johannsson as Anna. She. Is breathtaking. And the chemistry she and Ben share, phwooar! And.. they play James Morrison’s You Make It Real. And during another sweet scene, Keane’s Somewhere Only We Know. I am such a sucker for a great movie soundtrack.

All of the characters mix together, indirectly, or directly, and are friends with each other, or Anna knows Conor, and then Conor meets Drew Barrymore, and so on and so forth and for about a 2 hour film.. or was it over; I didn’t look at my watch once. Not once. I had a great laugh, and during some moments was worried there wouldn’t be a happy ending, or when there were amazingly romantic scenes, or heck.. Ben Affleck doing the dishes, I’m sure I let out a loud girly whimpering sound. Or at the scene where Gigi was nervously trying to get a guy’s attention, or Beth getting embarassed by a distant cousin saying she has a few miles left on this ‘model’, I and a few others in the cinema surely groaned and laughed awkwardly, possibly because we’ve all been through it.

It just completely won me over, and although it is a movie with some tough love.. it still makes me feel okay that I’m a completely romantic sooky la la.

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