THINK LIKE A MAN
RYAN: I’d like to introduce and welcome my old pal and associate film critic, Chuck Walker. I’m thrilled you’re joining me in reviewing today’s latest film.
CHUCK: It’s my pleasure to be here! I always love going to movies and then dissecting them with you after.
RYAN: We just saw Think Like a Man, the new romantic comedy based on the book Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man by comic Steve Harvey; and he produced and costars, as himself.
CHUCK: I walked into this thinking it would be like He’s Just Not That Into You since it’s based on a dating advice book, written by a comedian. And I didn’t like how much it referred to the book throughout the movie. It was almost more like an infomercial for the book then a stand alone movie.
RYAN: Totally. It’s very reminiscent of Men are from Mars, The Rules, Down with Love, etc… And you’re right, especially since Steve was in this as himself, author of the book, it was outlandishly infomercial-like.
CHUCK: And the men all start off like caricatures.
RYAN: They’re stereotypes of the kinds of men women encounter whilst dating.
CHUCK: The dreamer, the mama’s boy, the happily married guy, etc… They were very one dimensional.
RYAN: And yet I totally know guys like that. And interestingly, the movie flops back and forth between the guys’ and girls’ perspectives.
CHUCK: That actually made it hard to follow. And I didn’t like that there were two narrators. I was, like, “Pick one and stick with it.”
RYAN: The script was a little all over the place. It’s a sizable ensemble piece that tried to give equal time to each couple but in the end made the movie way too long and it suffered for that… a lot.
CHUCK: I love Gabrielle Union; like her in everything. I wish a good director, like Soderbergh, would showcase her talent to the fullest. The whole movie felt like the actors were better than the director.
RYAN: The director, Tim Story, has previously done a couple of the Fantastic Four movies and other things. Those were not always brilliant on story and nor is this. This is pretty cliche, although relate-able to the masses, I’m sure.
CHUCK: True.
RYAN: And I think you’re giving Gabrielle Union a little too much credit. She’s cute. But all the gals are good in this movie – Regina Hall, Taraji P. Henson, etc…
CHUCK: There’s just something about Gaby Union I’ve always liked.
RYAN: The dudes in the movie are lesser known. Some are comedians and then there’s Turtle from TV’s Entourage.
CHUCK: I liked Michael Ealy as the dreamer character.
RYAN: His eyes are waymazing. And I liked Terrence Jenkins as the mama’s boy stereotype. It’s a chick flick but the guys who get dragged to it will probably enjoy it too.
CHUCK: There’s definitely enough bromance moments to hold their attention.
RYAN: I’m just disappointed it was so long and dragged at parts. It was two hours but felt like three.
CHUCK: They could have easily trimmed 20 minutes.
RYAN: Or 35.
CHUCK: [laughs’ Right.
— BOTTOM LINE —
CHUCK: I don’t think I’d want to sit through this movie again, but it’s not horrible. The acting is good and there are a few funny moments.
RYAN: We only LOL’d once but it is amusing. It’s a bit aspirational and at it’s best moments wanted to be like a Jerry Maguire but ultimately lacks the emotion, spirit and heart a film like that has. It’s more a movie to catch at home than a must see on the big screen.
— RATING —
