Reel Critics:

Some of us single females grew up believing that when it comes to dating, men send out mixed messages. So when the now-infamous episode of “Sex and the City” gave us the line “He’s just not that into you” our little ole heads were spinning. Basically, if a guy isn’t calling, sleeping with or marrying you, then fuggedaboudit? Wow.

This has started a cottage industry for women who are still confused and haven’t yet awoke and smelled the nonfat no-foam lattes. First came a cute, quasi-self-help book, and now a movie version of “He’s Just Not That Into You” featuring famous actors portraying various shades of “he loves me, he loves me not.”

There are some cute moments to be had for sure, but I found the movie by turns annoying (Jennifer Connelly and Bradley Cooper), pathetic (Ginnifer Goodwin) or bland (everyone else, including Jennifer Aniston and Ben Affleck).

Goodwin’s character Gigi will make you cringe as she tries to turn even the most casual remark by a one-time date into a relationship. Even Scarlett Johansson, as the resident sexpot Anna, has the same issues.

For me, the most genuinely funny line was the “woman on the street” interview with two ladies who said, “Girl, go get yourself some ribs and some ice cream, ‘cause you’ve just been dumped.” Now that’s good advice.

‘Pink’ just doesn’t work second time

I really enjoyed Steve Martin’s first effort to revise the “Pink Panther” franchise in 2006. The laughs were predictable and obvious. But the gags were so plentiful the audience could enjoy the show and ignore the lowbrow nature of the comedy. Unfortunately, the tired plot of “Pink Panther 2” falls short of its previous success.

A host of good actors have fun in this film while working at the lowest level of their abilities. Alfred Molina, Jeremy Irons and Andy Garcia go through the motions while the lame screenplay unfolds. A few very funny situations are interspersed with lots of silly nonsense that will cause more groans than guffaws.

The Henry Mancini-inspired jazz soundtrack is a plus. And there are several good laughs sprinkled throughout this lackluster sequel. But the laughs come much fewer and far between than the last try at this well-known formula. This major studio project screams out “Wait for the video!”

SUSANNE PEREZ lives in Costa Mesa and is an executive assistant for a financial services company. JOHN DEPKO is a Costa Mesa resident and a senior investigator for the Orange County public defender’s office.