Here's what I learned from seeing "He's Just Not That Into You."

1. If you're a guy: ouch. Chances are you're conceited, shallow, selfabsorbed and totally driven by random sexual urges. I'm not saying these aren't realistic attributes, and there are exceptions to the rule, but— ouch.

2. Owning a cellphone may have totally screwed up the fine art of romance.

3. MySpace.com is the new cellphone. (So if you're single and looking for love, MySpace may not be the place to hang out.)

Being single—or rather, dating—was never easy for most of us, but somehow, in the new millennium of "HJNTIY,"being single means being neurotic and unhappy. A decidedly unromantic comedy (yet with wisps of romance and a moderate sprinkling of comedy), the film depicts the darker side of love, or even thinking about being in love.

Gigi (Ginnifer Goodwin) desperately wants to be in love with almost anyone but can't find a guy with similar feelings. Her friend Janine (Jennifer Connelly) is married to Ben (Bradley Cooper), who's just met Anna (Scarlett Jo . . . oh, forget the casting call, everyone in this flick is somebody or other in Hollywood).

Anna's also toying with the emotions of earnest Conor, but rarely returns his phone calls.

Meanwhile, Gigi's other friend, Beth, has had a wonderful seven-year relationship with Neil. But since Neil won't commit to the M-word, Beth freaks out and ends the relationship. And bar manager Alex seems to like Gigi—or does he just feel sorry for this lovelorn girl who's making a fool of herself, trying to pin down the right man over too many vodka tonics and pointless, unanswered voice mails?

The problem here is that everybody wants somebody else or can't see the love in front of their faces—and for a while, this can make for some clever, if occasionally biting, laughs.

Misguided love's been movie material for as long as audiences have been laughing at other people's misfortune, but seldom has a film tried to incorporate so many other people's misfortunes.

Hey, slipping on a banana peel is funny, right? But when bunches of people begin to slip on bunches of peels . . . in other words, how many bananas make a tragedy?

Fortunately, "HJNTIY" doesn't present that many bananas. But, like so many romcom efforts of late, the film does present both sides of the coin.

One might even say "HJNTIY" is the antithesis of the romantic comedy.

Sure Gigi or Alex or Beth or Conormight find light at the end of the tunnel, but expect a long, dark, bumpy ride. And a high casualty list.

Casually dating? I wouldn't call this one a good "date" film unless you've already got that half-carat stone in your pocket or unless your relationship is secure enough to undergo some Freudian scrutiny from a host of opportunistic, on-screen characters. I suspect it's more a buddy film for girlfriends used to supporting broken hearts.

I mean, my wife was giving me dirty looks by the end of the film, and I swear I haven't done any of those things.

Meanwhile, back on screen, we assume that Mr. (or Ms.) Right will emerge for those few fortunate folks—which makes "HJNTIY" at least partially palatable to the lovelorn or lovestarved or those attempting to sniff out traces of love.

Because, yes, love does exist, but apparently it's a rare occurrence.

And that means kissing a lot of frogs who will simply go on being frogs.