One cinematic trait that never fails to annoy me is a film attempting to be more profound than it really is. I have no problem watching movies like 50 First Dates or even Dodgeball because they don't pretend to be deep or profound. They are simply entertaining. Seeing a film like Closer, however, reminds me of that awkward guy you meet who is quite obviously and desperately trying to be a more sophisticated and intelligent version of himself.

Closer-starring Julia Roberts (Ocean's Eleven) as Anna, Jude Law (Cold Mountain) as Dan, Natalie Portman (Garden State) as Alice, and Clive Owen (The Bourne Identity) as Larry-left me feeling uncomfortable and confused. In the end, I found the movie overly symbolic and its pseudo-intellectual leanings too assuming.

During the film, many complicated relationships emerge, intertwine and ultimately fail. Alice is a young American visiting London for a short while. When she is hit by a car, she meets and becomes involved with Dan, an obituary writer and aspiring novelist. Through another series of encounters, Dan meets Anna, another American, and falls for her. Another more erotic twist of fate brings Anna and Larry together. Closer never explains why its characters fall for one another and also fails to account for why they act so childish in their relationships. If these romantic entanglements are supposed to reflect reality, what does this say about our society's opinions of love and marriage?

Closer attempts to be provocative, sexual and even scandalous. However, this raw energy is never fully realized. Anna and Dan's kisses lack true passion, and Alice's nudity seems awkward and out of place-especially since Larry remains fully clothed during the scene. Closer tries to be serious and tortured; it is neither. Although its characters seem to be complicated and introspective, there is nothing really going on underneath their superficial personas. The jealousy, arguments and weepy confessions seem phony and plastic. As a viewer, I didn't care either way.

The acting in Closer is also disappointing. The unrealistic and lackluster dialogue makes it nearly impossible for the actors to deliver a good performance. Julia Roberts noticeably refuses to smile. It is as if her glued-on frown is a way to prevent her usual charm from coming to the surface. Jude Law also lacks depth and has a quite forgettable performance. Natalie Portman has clearly grown-up in her last few films, but she still has a lot to learn. Clive Owen is the only actor who has a plausible and layered character, and his acting skills show why it is not surprising that he originally played the starring role of Dan in the film's play version.

Perhaps the most interesting part of Closer was its structure and editing. As a scene fades to black and another begins, months or even years might have gone by without any blurb on the screen or any obvious commentary. Thus, we must listen closely for lines that will inform us of approximately how much time has elapsed for these characters-which brought an interesting yet refreshing aspect to the movie.

Closer failed to strike a chord with me-it just isn't memorable. I did not fall for its cheap gimmicks, predictable romantic entanglements and overly sentimental dialogue. Though the film doesn't bore, it certainly doesn't intrigue.