He's Just Not That Into You, the romantic comedy inspired by the self-help book of the same name, might just boast the biggest cast of the year or, in fact, any year in recent memory: Jennifer Aniston, Scarlett Johansson, Jennifer Connelly, Ginnifer Goodwin, Ben Affleck, Justin Long, Bradley Cooper, and Kevin Connolly. Oh, and Drew friggin' Barrymore, who also produced, and recently showed up to promote the movie at a LA press junket. It never ceases to amaze me that she's just a year older than me. I've been watching her on film since 1982 when E.T. rocked my six-year-old world.

Cole Haddon: Drew, you're a producer on He's Just Not That Into You. Why then take one of the smaller roles for yourself?

Drew Barrymore: Because I identified with [the character], and I worked with my partner Nancy Juvonen -- who is the producer -- and the writers, and I was in the middle of doing [an upcoming role in] Grey Gardens and directing this film Whip It, and there were just so many other great roles, and there were so many awesome actors. I just wanted to step back. I liked my character. I wanted to make her the one who's dismayed by technology, and it was just a perfect fit for me. Everything happens organically for a reason, so I felt like a Mary, my character.

CH: In the movie, you foresee an age when everyone will be dating electronically. How close is that to the way you feel?

DB: I wrote that with the writers and Nan. I just said I wanted to express how difficult it is. I still have a wall phone, and I love tape and shoot on film, and so this whole "You're in your pocket, and you have to respond immediately and be quirky and quippy," and no guys call anymore, it's all text... So I'm awkward enough on the phone ... I'm awkward answering this question. Yeah, it's really difficult, so I wanted to discuss that in the film because it's so important in our day and age, of Facebook and MySpace and the internet and texting, and all of this. It's just a new ballgame. I wanted to address that.

CH: The movie is about who is the rule and who is the exception. Is there such a thing, and, if so, are you, Drew, the exception or the rule in love?

DB: Oh my God, I'm hoping that's being asked as a producer. I believe there are no rules, I really do. I think it's a case-by-case basis, but I think at a certain point something clicks and you're just not willing to accept or give less than what your heart desires, or less than what you deserve. Your behavior changes, you run into that wall and you hit your head so many frickin' times that it's just there and bloody on the floor, and you're like, "I get it." I'm going to say the exception is that infinitesimally small chance, and there are those moments, [when] maybe he did get hit by a bus, and [he's] in an oxygen tent in Peru, and things like that do happen. But, for the most part, I think a person has a certain pattern and behavior and you have to look at that and just say, "What works for me? What works for this person?" And not repeat the same BS over and over and over, or accept less. So, as much as I don't think there are rules, I think there is sort of a good global case-by-case basis of how you should treat someone and how you want to be treated. [These] clichés, they are clichés for a reason, because they're true, and they're happening, so don't buy into it. It's so great when that clicks.

CH: He's Just Not That Into You has nine different storylines. Were there more that might have been left out to cut down the complicated factor, and, also, do you have a favorite storyline?

DB: I love all of them. That's what's so great about an ensemble. Like I was watching The Big Chill the other night, and you're just fascinated with everybody's storyline. It's so good, and it's such an amazing honor to be in a film with all these people, and to get a group like this together. It's rare and extraordinary. So, no, that's a better question for Nan. Everything was fleshed out on purpose for a reason, and I think she covered a lot of bases really well without anything getting lost. All the stories feel extremely well interwoven without feeling like, "Oh, isn't it coincidental that everybody knows everybody?" I think her and [director] Ken [Kwapis's] tone was just perfect.

CH: How did you assemble such a great cast ... and you mentioned yesterday that you're working on Charlie's Angels 3?

DB: No, [someone] said, "You should do a Charlie's Angels 3," and I was like, "No shit." [Meaning], I would love to.

CH: Are you actively working on it?

DB: No, not yet on Charlie's 3, it's still incubating in all of our hearts. And as far as getting the cast, Nan and Ken and [writers] Marc [Silverstein] and Abby [Kohn], they had a vision, they had a tone. The most important thing is the script, the tempo. You can't go in and do anything without it. So everyone obviously decided to do this because of the writing, because they liked the idea of working with each other, the characters and because Ken and Nan's tone was to make this real and honest. People are in sweatpants, and they're talking, and the dialogue isn't bubblegum, it's real life. It's exciting to come across a project that's a good discussion and a look inside of what we're all really going through. These are not fantastical storylines where somebody misses someone at an airport, and somebody's a prince. This is what we're all really dealing with, so it's an amazing opportunity for all of us to get to work on a project that's relatable.

CH: And finally, a slightly frivolous question, but appropriate considering the subject matter of He's Just Not That Into You. Is there any good way to end a relationship if not in person?

DB: The in-person is first and foremost, a must! Fly. Do whatever you can. The older you get, the more un-okay it is to do it over any technological device. Yes, in person is the starter right there, and then, hopefully, as sweetly and kindly and nurturingly as possible.

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