Think Like A Man
Opens Friday at International Village
Self-help books can be dry or illuminating reads, depending on how your relationship-satisfaction barometer is reading at the time.
Think Like A Man aims to jazz up dating advice by presenting four couples whose personal lives are turned around by stand-up comedian Steve Harveys real-life dating advice book Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man.
Family Feud host Harvey appears in the film as himself, at times dispensing advice directly to the camera.
On the receiving end are four guys who are pretty satisfied with the way things are going; and four unhappy women looking to change the rules. Weve got Zeke (Romany Malco), identified as The Player in Harveys book; Non-Commiter Jeremy (Jerry Ferrara) has almost convinced his girlfriend of nine years (Gabrielle Union) that she likes The Hobbit and doesnt mind sitting on a bong-stained couch. Dominic (Michael Ealy) is a short-order cook with dreams of owning his own restaurant, which makes him The Dreamer. He worries that hes not a big enough earner for successful exec Lauren (Taraji P. Henson). Meanwhile confirmed Mamas Boy Michael (Terrence J) cant seem to cut the apron strings and make time for single mom Candace (Regina Hall).
But newly divorced Cedric (Kevin Hart) has sworn off relationships lasting longer than one night, and is here purely for comic relief, and to narrate the story for viewers
The women turn the tables when Harveys book comes out. Suddenly, women like Mya (Meagan Good) implement a 90-day, no nooky rule, much to Zekes chagrin. Im the original negro gigolo, the original nigolo, he protests. (Harvey cites Fords 90-day probation policy as a model.) Kristen boxes up Jeremys action figures and remodels the apartment, sweetly suggesting he get a real job.
The guys bitch and complain about the power shift during their weekly basketball games, and eventually get wise to the book. Once they score a copy they deliberately start playing into the womens hands, in order to get into their pants. It was like taking a test you already had the answers to, gloats Cedric.
The people in question are ridiculously attractive, and dont look like they need dating advice from anybody. Theres lots of beefcake action: the only guy not sporting six-pack abs is the token white guy.
The film is corny, cutesy and fraught with clichés like you are the last person I want to see before I go to sleep at night. And yes, Harveys video advice does slow down the action when the story could progress on its own. Ditto Harts occasionally invasive voiceovers. But somehow the characters are winning enough that we forgive the predictable arc of the script, and a decent percentage of funny zingers on race and relationships (courtesy of screenwriters Keith Merryman and David A. Newman) stick, so we are kept entertained. After 90 minutes, however, the laughs wear thin, and the last half hour feels overlong.
Whether or not you believe that all dating woes can be solved by a book is another story. But sales of Harveys bookand those of Hes Just Not That Into You and the WASP-y The Rulesproves many of us are looking for answers.
