For those of you who stalk me via Messenger articles: 1. Stop. 2. No, I am not going through a mid-high school crisis. It is mere coincidence that my two articles for this issue involve self-help books.

I’d like to call He’s Just Not That Into You a self-help movie, but that’d be a lie comparable to those told by the under-committed men featured throughout the film. He’s Just Not That Into You is none other than a class-act chick flick; its self-help message is lost in both the happy ending and lack of instruction.

Self-helpful or not, it’s based off the book of the same title by Greg Behrendt. The book takes a no frills, simplistic approach to relationships: if a man likes a woman, he will do absolutely everything in his power to woo her. If he fails to woo accordingly, he’s just not that into you. If he doesn’t call, he’s just not that into you. Even if his cat died, he’s just not that into you. No exceptions.

While the movie toys with the ideas explored by Behrendt, it uses them neither instructionally nor, in the end, as definite rules. All told, that’s what limits He’s Just Not That Into You to simple chick-flickdom: it has no message or purpose, other than to make viewers feel content and go “awww.”

Loaded with an all-star cast (Scarlett Johansson, Jenifer Aniston, Ben Affleck, Drew Barrymore, etc.), each of the characters has their own unique set of relationship issues. As a wise man once said, “with so much drama in the L-B-C, it’s kinda hard being Snoop D-O-Double-G”…though in this case, the L-B-C is actually Baltimore, Maryland and Snoop Dogg is every living man and woman. In Baltimore each story unfolds, each relationship develops, and each character simply dies from heartache.

Each of the characters is slightly linked to one another, whether they be co-workers, housemates, or bar buddies.

Beth’s (Aniston) problem is that even after a seven-year relationship with Neil (Affleck), he still won’t marry her. They’re very close, practically married, yet she can’t quite ignore her deep-seeded craving for a ring.

Gigi (Ginnifer Goodwin) is too clingy and can never hold onto a guy. She’ll obsess over her date from the previous night, checking her phone incessantly to see if he called. Through her, we meet Alex (Justin Long), the voice of Greg Behrendt’s book. As Gigi’s bartender, he enlightens her into the inner-workings of a male mind. He explains that because her date didn’t call, he’s just not that into her. Etcetera.

Ben (Bradley Cooper) and Janine (Jennifer Connelly) are happily married and moving into a new home. While Janine pours over sofas and tiling and other home furnishings, Ben can’t quite overlook the spark between him and smokin’ hot, yoga-instructing Anna (Johansson). He loves his wife, yet he very well may love Anna more. Dilemma!

As far as chick flicks go, this one’s quality. Each character is developed to the point where viewers actually care about them, and the acting is convincing. I laughed in a typical, girly way at the clever humor. I teared up when Ben Affleck proved himself to be such a good guy. I enjoyed my movie-watching experience, and would recommend the film to all seeking a happy two hours.

Unfortunately, my enjoyment level and my intellectual stimulation don’t always go hand in hand. I attribute my love of Gossip Girl to this very reasoning. And while I generally don’t expect chick flicks to be intellectually stimulating, He’s Just Not That Into You had potential. Which is why I’m somewhat disappointed.

The premise of men not being into girls they won’t go out of their way for could be interesting. Psychology could be explored. Heartbreak could be analyzed. I assume the self-help book went into detail, but the film barely skimmed the surface.

Another dictum of the book is “you are the rule, not the exception.” This essentially means that while some folks get lucky, most don’t. In action, it’s like this: just because Betty married a guy who initially didn’t call her for a week, doesn’t mean you will. In fact you won’t.

It’s a bit iffy, then, that there are approximately four exceptions made in the film. Initially this got my goat, but then I realized that there’s no explanation other than the obvious: He’s Just Not That Into You is a chick-flick, made with the sole purpose of entertaining. Chick flicks are fun and good, but rarely phenomenal. That’s what this is: fun and good, yet nothing more.