Baltimore, We’re Just Not That Into You.
So, I watched He’s Just Not That Into You a couple times over the past few days (I missed the beginning the first time…). It’s a cute movie to watch when you don’t really want to think or be depressed.
I think my biggest problem was the whole pushing Baltimore thing. Okay, so 20million product placements of Clipper City beer does not a Baltimore make. It was so strange watching it because (to someone who grew up in Maryland) it totally did not make me see Baltimore. It looked like they were taking DC and wrapping it in Baltimore paper … and had to keep being super obvious about the fact that it was Baltimore so people wouldn’t forget. I mean, the only Baltimore landmark that we even see is the stupid Domino Sugar sign.
Seriously, how hard is it to film in Baltimore (I highly doubt most, if any, of the film was actually shot in Baltimore)? Did the Baltimore tourism board (or whoever decides these things) actually say no to a film NOT about crime (or hairspray)? More likely, I want to think that the makers of the film felt that they needn’t bother going to Baltimore for shooting (it’s really hard not to make bad puns about Baltimore/Movies/Shooting, btw) and could just plop one or two things in the movie, keep saying “Baltimore” this “Baltimore” that, and show Clipper City beer 20million times, and suddenly, oo, Baltimore! OR, Clipper City Brewery made some lucrative offer to make it in Baltimore and show their beer 20million times, and that was all that mattered.
I could probably have done some research to figure all this out, but, meh, I’m lazy.
In any case, I was really disappointed in the whole lack of Bawlmer-ness. The people looked way too dressed up at all times at all bars. Again, it was like DC wrapped up in Baltimore paper (not downing DC, it just that DC has more of that vibe rather than Baltimore!). Granted, you do get some people who are stylish and dressed well in various locations of Baltimore. But everyone at a bar? Incongruous with my observations of Baltimore Bar/Party scene. Baltimore, if anything, is eclectic. Walk into any Fed Hill bar and you’re going to see a wide variety of people (skewed young, of course).
Meh. In any case, the plot was fine, but I really disliked how they were forcing Baltimore into it in the manner that they did. Either be real to Baltimore, so those that know Baltimore aren’t weirded out by the portrayal, or go ahead and do some other city. I didn’t even grow up there, nor live there, nor really work there ever, and it was bothersome to me!
