Think Like a Man (2012) User Reviews (78)

A quality film in line with Hollywood's traditional romantic comedy formula

[WydeOpen · 7/10 · 19 April 2012]

Based off the Steve Harvey bestseller, the film "Think Like A Man"opens with the legendary sound of James Brown singing "It's A Mans World". Anyone familiar with the song knows the true message of the song is in the lyrics; "but it wouldn't be nothing, nothing without a woman or a girl".

That song choice serves as a perfect theme for this conventional romantic comedy that chronicles the timeless war of the sexes. Now I realize that the description "conventional" may come across as negative but that's not my intention entirely. I mean conventional as in "not a Madea" movie. This quality film falls more in line with Hollywood's traditional romantic comedy formula rather than Tyler Perry's "play adapted for film" approach to movie making. There are plenty of laughs interspersed through out romantic conflicts that are resolved without any significant twists or surprises.

The plot revolves around the love lives and relationships of six male friends who fall into very specific roles; the player, the mamas boy, the dreamer, the non-commiter, the happily married man and the happy divorcée.

For the most part these guys are blissfully ignorant of the dissatisfaction that the significant others in their lives silently suffer through.

That is until the women discover and read Steve Harvey's book "Think Like A Man, Act Like A Woman". Acting on the advice of the book, the women manipulate the men into becoming the type of man they each want and getting the relationships they desire. So can the "player" be tamed by the girl who keeps her "cookie" on lock down for at least 90 days? Can the single mom get the "mama's boy" to cut the emotional umbilical cord he shares with his overbearing, over nurturing mother (played pitch perfect by Jennifer Lewis)? And what happens when the fellas realize that they've been "betrayed" by Steve Harvey and then use the book against the ladies like a sports team with knowledge of the opposing teams plays.

Although the majority of the cast is Black, the story (due to Steve Harvey's source material) and the comedy (thanks mostly to Kevin Hart) is broad enough to appeal to almost all audiences unlike some of Tyler Perry's movies which tend to cater  specifically to Black women.

Every actor and actress does an adequate job in their various roles and move the film easily from scene to scene. There are plenty of cameos that make the film fun but Kevin Hart deserves special recognition because he absolutely shines! He redefines the term "scene stealer" by being the most enjoyable character every time he appears on screen.

Although many people will consider this a Black romantic comedy, this film is really too strong to be pigeonholed into that genre.  But if you must classify it as such, then know that this movie breaks Tyler Perry's stronghold and breaks out of the Madea mold of what Black entertainment is.

Definitely one of the worst films of 2012 so far...

[QStrum · 5/10 · 28 May 2012]

I'm proud of this film's success. Will Packer and Rainforest work hard and they deserve it. But this film is weak on so many levels. Being based on a "self-help" book, this screenplay was crammed with nothing but on-the-nose dialogue that left me bored and fidgety for the most part. Outside of Kevin Hart, there wasn't a single thing funny about this film. Okay, maybe once or twice I laughed but one time it was at something I don't think was meant to be funny (actor Romany Malco singing with his guitar). You can't call a film a comedy where only one character was remotely, or should I say barely humorous. I found more humor in dramas like American Beauty, City Lights, and The Graduate.

This film seemed to just flat-line from beginning to end. When I say flat, I mean literally flat. Nothing happened until the guy-meets-girl moments, and that took a while to get to. Once the relationships started, the weak conflicts seemed to be limited to the superficiality of Steve Harvey's best selling book. No inner conflicts, not even conflict on the extra-personal level.

I could've done without most of the characters which can read like a list of players on a football team. They had no purpose and added nothing to the telling, like the married guy amongst them, Bennett played by Gary Owen. I know a lot of people loved this film. But can anyone seriously say they got to know any of the characters? Also, I had a hard time buying most of the relationships. The worst of them all had to be Jerry Ferrara with Gabrielle Union. It was like having to suspend your disbelief watching them together and that didn't even work for me. I didn't believe they even knew each, let alone them being in a 13 year relationship. At a glance, I would faster believe Union was Ferrara's babysitter or nanny, not her man. It was one big spoof to me.

The next absurd relationship was Regina Hall and the guy from 106 and Park, Terrence Jenkins. I didn't believe he and Hall went to high school at the same time. In fact, she could've passed for his mother as well.

Taraji Henson's relationship with Michael Ealy was also hard to stomach, as I had trouble believing a woman with her success in business wouldn't question Ealy's facade.

I liked the relationship between Meagan Good and Romany Malco but it was so contrived, like everything else about this film.

And the next black film made showing black friends discussing their relationships while trying to play basketball should have little-tree car re-fresheners hanging from theater ceilings for the sake of audiences. Why? Because such expository scenes are a load of steaming crap. Guys don't stand around on the court discussing such things, or play ball while having those kinds of conversations. I know they did it in The Brothers (2001) and it was b.s. then as it still is now.

The telling had no direction, no point-of-view. It could've been anyone or anything's story at any given time, which left me confused and disengaged. I was waiting for the fire hydrant's storyline eventually.

I really wanted to like it, but I couldn't. In the end, I was dissatisfied and utterly annoyed.

More an Ode to Steve Harvey than a real Movie

[TamPalm · 5/10 · 22 April 2012]

Excruciatingly bad. That's my takeaway from this movie. As other critics have stated, this is just one big infomercial for Steve Harvey's book. I will go a step further and say it's a big ol' "that-a-boy" from Steve to himself. Gag me now.

The plot is non-existent. The "movie" is just an array of vignettes that sloppily intersect and form silly lessons from the "great one" (Harvey) about relationships. The characters are just there. There is no real development except the trite, predictable "I see the light now" that brings the manufactured happy endings to each vignette. The writing is HORRIBLE. The production is low-budget. The list goes on of things that make this "movie" forgettable.

However,there are small but significant peeps of light through the otherwise dark cloud that is this ode to Harvey. The all-star cast tries really hard and sometimes succeeds at making this horrible script entertaining. I will highlight Michael Ealy's character as a ray of sunshine. The combination of his looks including those piercing eyes and his acting chops make his character appealing and dreamy, despite his being mismatched with the older-looking Taraji Henson. Gabrielle Union does a decent job with her character and she and her beau have the most interesting, believable story line of the movie. The numerous cameos would be kind of cute if they didn't leave you with the impression that their inclusion is just yet another way for "the great one" to show he is "somebody" and that he "knows people." I digress as I find myself getting back to the negative even in the paragraph I had reserved to show the few positives of the movie.

Bottom line, this is an ego-driven "I love myself" fest of Steve Harvey. I am wholly disappointed in the Rainforest crew who produced it, as I thought they would have grown more in their movie-making than they have apparently. They are still putting out low-budget, poorly-constructed films. It seems the only difference is that they are getting paid more now to do so. It's a shame. They had the opportunity to make this movie a quality movie. It could have been so much more than it was.

You will not regret skipping this movie.

How to catch a "good man"

[abcvision · 25 April 2012]

Men and women have been trying to go beyond the "hook up" and create a long lasting bond since the days of Adam and Eve. Now comes another spin to the web woman can weave to catch a "good"man. Based on Steve Havey's bestselling book Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man, the movie Think Like a Man puts these words into action. It seeks to set the record straight on the type of men out there: the player, the mama's boy, the dreamer, the non-committal, the divorce guy, and the married man. In this tale a group of guys are on the prowl and each seeks to find someone. While the women are ready for the hunt but are armed with the shield from "the book". It's cute, whimsical, and hard hitting as these couples find out that love cannot be found with a road map or formula, but has to be an odyssey of vulnerability and self discover. A good movie, but should be not be a date movie, because it already adds to the pressure to the typical high first date "standards".

As a single guy, it also adds to the complexity of trying to fit the ideal mold of the perfect man. I am way beyond perfect and hence my relationship status is best described as "complicated". That really is what sums relations between men and women.

Goofs in the movie

[sha9497 · 7/10 · 13 September 2012]

Terrence J's characters name was Michael Hanover,he introduced himself as this in the beginning and in the end of the movie, however in the middle of the movie in the scene where Regina Hall answers his phone she addresses him as Michael Atwater. You would think editors would have caught this when reviewing the film but I guess some things slip through the cracks. I played this back several times just to make sure I wasn't imagining things but there it was. Now I'm curious to see the other goofs in the movie that I may have missed. Overall, I did enjoy the movie. It would have also been nice if Kelly had a bigger role in the film.

It's war

[kosmasp · 7/10 · 14 August 2015]

But in a fun romantic kind of way. It's not only about suspending your disbelief, but just rolling with it. The movie does not serve anything else than what you should expect from a title like that. To be honest, I thought it'd be worse, but in this case you can feel how much fun the actors had on set. Everyone is clicking and even relationships that seem to have issues, have their strong moments.

You can see why there are problems and obviously we do get clichés too. Even the voice over does work (most of the time). Of course you shouldn't have issues with Kevin Hart (I have friends who think he's annoying) or anyone else for that matter. If you can dig them and like seeing people going at it (not literally, no explicit love scenes to make that clear, and the movie is far too light and does not need them) - this movie can be a fun ride for you. Don't expect too much depth of course

really amusing entertaining and funny romcom

[HelenMary · 7/10 · 1 June 2013]

A great ensemble cast of comedic greats, and familiar faces, Think Like A Man is an entertaining, funny film. Based on a 'self help dating' book by Comic Steve Harvey, similar to "The Rules" the plot follows the book's suggestions for women's dating technique in order to get what they want from the men they date.

It's predictable, of course, but gripping and amusing. All the actors bring something different, similar to Best Man casting. Comedy Golden Boy du jour Kevin Hart was the main overt comedy of the piece - as the downtrodden soon to be divorced from an overbearing wife character. Gorgeous Meagan Good goes up against the "playboy" character as Mya dating Zeke (Romany Malco), Regina Hall (Friends, Bad Boys II) dates "Commitment-phobe" Jeremy (Jerry Ferrara - Entourage's Turtle), Taraji P Henson plays Lauren the rich business woman, falling for jobless eye candy "dreamer" Michael Ealy. Morris Chestnut also puts in an appearance, playing arrogant high flyer. Jenifer Lewis, a stalwart Black American actress, known for her face and her voice in equal measure plays the Mother to the "Mother's boy" character Terence Jenkins. All the pairs of daters are up against/use the book for their own ends with comic effects.

A really fun film. You are quickly involved in the characters - no doubt female watchers would root for the girls, and males the boys - and with the variety of the couples, there is something for everyone to watch, enjoy and relate to. Something for men and women to watch, this isn't like a "chick flick" as it might appear. A very entertaining, laugh out loud watch. I was a little disappointed when it finished.

Greatness

[xsophietaylorx · 7/10 · 30 November 2014]

My friend recommended this film and I was doubtfully but after watching it oh I can see where she was coming from this film is so funny and all though it comes across very for woman I think men would also enjoy this film it's funny because it's so relatable and obviously Kevin Hart is just comedy gold anyway. Think Like A Man has a very strong cast with many actors I have been very fond off in a range off different films featuring in it, the film is just enjoyable it's so relatable it's funny there is a character in the film to fit every every person out there. It's simple fun just a film for the girls to watch on a night in maybe even you could persuade your significant other to watch it with you... I did and he enjoyed it!! 7 out of 10 definitely.

Predicable but well executed.

[gregarious1987 · 8/10 · 13 August 2012]

There are ups and downs to this flick. The story is interesting and unique. The cast is beautiful, the emotions are spot-on all through the film. Another plus is the humor. Every character has a situation that we can all relate to. A momma's boy, a player, a divorcée... All characters that we have interacted with at one point.

Kevin Hart does an exceptional job and he stands above the rest of the cast. The downer is the last quarter of the movie. It gets too sappy for a dude. The resolutions of the relationships become way too predictable. I mean, it's predictable down to the actual words spoken by the couples.

That aside, this is a movie suitable for a night in with your girl, or a date. It will set your chic in the mood :-) A better than average movie, and still worth your money.

Think Like a Man Flips Ideology of Steve Harvey's Book

[theauntsavant · 6/10 · 25 June 2012]

Making non-fiction entertaining has to be more difficult than adapting a work of fiction. Yet it seems most Hollywood films-whether large or small scale-always include an obligatory emotional component usually in the form of a romance. Think Like a Man doesn't veer far from this general formula, and in the process alleviates the fresh insight we'd hoped for.

So is this romantic comedy entertaining? Sure, but as with other highly anticipated, overly hyped releases, fails to deliver any real substance. If you want to know how men actually think,read Steve Harvey's 2010 book "Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man,"on which the film's based. The comedian/actor/radio host and author does a much better job at laying out the premise chapter-by-chapter. Then again isn't the book always better than the movie?

Despite the fact that the NY Times bestselling self-help was read by scores of females, no doubt fans of his personal advice segment heard daily on the syndicated Steve Harvey Morning Show—the film's approach flips delivery of Harvey's intended ideological route almost entirely.

Three of the specific types represented include: the Mama's Boy, the Non-Committer,self-proclaimed Playa and the recently divorced friend with a jaded view of committed relationships, although he's not being truthful about the feelings he harbors for his domineering ex-wife.

Fellow actor and stand-up Kevin Hart infuses the comic relief into the ensemble cast. The decisive spin adopted in creating the multi-faceted storyline, which weaves Harvey's words into a cohesive screenplay revolving around the characters, shifts from a woman's perspective to a man's. And unfortunately, the whole point of females getting an insider's view into the male psyche gets lost in the shuffle. The book provides serious life strategies for women rather than a common thread of interwoven scenarios of men reacting to how they think women think who've read Harvey's book.

Ultimately, the screen adaptation's a lot less complicated than it sounds. Nonetheless, you won't really learn how a man thinks ladies. Harvey appears on screen giving input, but not enough to make his presence effective. He also wouldn't advise women to definitively follow their hearts.

Not my cup of tea...

[stuffed-pumpkin · 2/10 · 7 October 2012]

Watching this, I have a vague feeling that I'm watching a well-written infomercial with good acting. It has sweet moments and some good laughs, but I just can't shake that feeling of watching an infomercial, especially when a character holds up the book while she's referencing it. I'm not African-American and I haven't seen the end of it yet, but I can tell already that I'm just not thrilled with it. There's a lot of common sense-type ideas in it... and I really can't figure out why these women are messing around with men they don't really like or respect in the first place.

But then again, I'm really not a big fan of romantic comedies anymore, so maybe I'm a little biased. Plus, this movie was someone else's pick, not mine. I know that not everybody feels the way I do about this movie.

Amazing feel good movie

[bynari-1 · 10/10 · 26 August 2012]

Don't be put off by the low ratings. So far the movie has only been rated 6700 times which isn't really enough for it to shadow the minority ratings.

I suspect there's been a lot of men who aren't into these types of movies that have been forced to watch it with their girlfriends and have then given it low ratings because it definitely leans towards being more of a soppy romantic comedy than a gritty one.

It's definitely not a 'fairy-tale soppy romantic' movie by any means. I would class it as having a realistic amount of soppyness which is what makes it good.

The main cast are pretty diverse in their personalities so most people will be able to relate to someone in the movie, but even if you can't it's got enough comedy/fun in it to keep you entertained.

I think racially this movie is fantastic and it makes a lot of very positive statements. We have a mostly black cast with a very middle class Friends(TV series)'ish feel to them with 2 white guys in the group, 1 of whom has a black girlfriend.

There's a couple of light racially inspired jokes at the expense of one of the white guys in the group which further emphasises that race just isn't and shouldn't be a serious issue in the group.

It's really nice to see a movie like this with a nice intelligent middle-class group of African Americans. Too many movies focus on the gangster element of African American culture these days, so I think this is a really positive and refreshing movie.

I definitely recommend it to everyone except those who are put off by a bit of soppy romance.

Formulaic "battle of the sexes" comedy elevated by the charisma of its cast

[brchthethird · 7/10 · 14 November 2014]

Ostensibly based on Steve Harvey's best-selling book, this film uses the book more as a springboard for a rather typical battle-of-the-sexes plot that, while rather formulaic, delivers on the charisma and chemistry of its cast. Speaking of the cast, there's a who's who of African-American talent on display, with Kevin Hart, Michael Ealy and Gabrielle Union among the standouts. Everyone here brings their A-game when it came to the comedy, and no one really felt out of place, even the token white guy. Granted, there isn't a whole lot of character development and certain title cards actually play up the stereotype that each person is portraying (originating in Steve Harvey's book), but the actors play their parts very well. Steve Harvey also shows up occasionally to quote his book, essentially providing commentary on some scenes. Of course, the final act has the obligatory melodrama and unbelievably perfect resolution that we've come to expect from this type of movie. It might be sweet, but for me it was a little too formulaic and saccharine. Still, the 90 minutes that preceded it were mostly enjoyable, with lots of great laugh-out-loud moments. This isn't the best romantic comedy in the world, but you could do a whole lot worse. On another note, the soundtrack is great and features a good mix of old-school and modern R&B.

RTeally Sucked / 1 hour too long!!

[skipweo · 2/10 · 30 April 2012]

Typical 'clown' movie.

Guys are players.

Girls are either ho's, a 'shackee', or a "nice" single mom.

Bros play the ho's.

the ho's play the bros, and they all end up happily ever after.

A 2 hour commercial for Steve Harvey.

Save your money and go see Tyler Perry movies instead!!!! Kevin Hart? - Cool! And for those who say they laughed throughout? - NOT!! And those reviewers who used the term 'racist' - NOT!! This is just one bad / silly movie

No one wins this battle--ever.

[JohnDeSando · 20 April 2012]

"No one will ever win the battle of the sexes; there's too much fraternizing with the enemy." Henry Kissinger

From early literature, at the very least Chaucer, the war between the sexes has been a topic of the best writers, notably Shakespeare in his Taming of the Shrew, among others.

Now Think Like a Man, based on Steve Harvey's best-selling Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, takes the topic for a modern spin, and a pleasant one at times, at other times just too long. The boys, really grown men but film prefers to keep them like adolescents for as long as possible, have varying degrees of difficulties with their women. The film has arranged the tale in episodes that feature each type, e.g., mama's boy, non-committer, and the player. The ladies have a secret weapon to win the engagement ring prize--the book, Act Like a Woman, Think Like a Man, promoted by a smarmy talk show host played by Harvey himself.

Such tips as making a suitor wait for 90 days before sex and increasing standards are among the many strategies that help the women deal with intractable male slacking and avoidance. The episodes are sometimes funny and all devoid of scatological surprises as have come to be common in modern male-centered Hangover and Bridesmaids comedies.

It's not just the absence of crudity that makes this a pleasant film; it's that at times it has respect for the adults absent in comedies of late. Sure, the film has caddish men and pushy women, but they have a civility that sets them apart from the rest of the contemporary comedy scenes. Cedric Kevin Hart) is not classy but as the manic divorced one with stories to tell, he serves to keep the plodding sermonizing from sinking the film.

When the men learn about the book and turn that knowledge into weapon, the film gets interesting. After that strategy gets its challenge, the rest of the film trails off lamely into another Shakespearean observation: all's well that ends well.

Good chemistry and good laughs

[Calicodreamin · 7/10 · 9 December 2021]

A great rom com of sorts with a light tone and some good laughs. Each couple had good chemistry and the friend group had easy banter. Storyline was expected, but in a good way.

Entertaining

[nicorip22 · 6/10 · 26 January 2021]

It is a quite entertaining romantic movie, it is more or less similar to the rest of the romantics, but I recommend it.

good movie

[shirlone · 7/10 · 10 December 2021]

Netflix has some good movies on it and this is one of them. When push came to shove the four couples stopped playing games with each other and realized that they wanted to be together. Steve Harvey this is a really good movie thank you. Some parts of it actually had me laughing out loud.

Think. Like. Man or Woman.

[cultjones · 7/10 · 11 February 2013]

Yes, it's clichéd and predictable but that's not why you watch Think Like a Man. Like other movies of a similar mold such as, 'The Brothers' and 'The Best Man,' Tim Story's feature won't win any Oscar's nor will it break box office numbers but it will make you laugh and keep you entertained throughout. Chances are you may even know and relate to some of the characters.

With a recognisable cast which play their roles well, combined with eye-candy (Megan Good) for both sexes along with a wealth of chuckles, Think Like a Man is a well executed film sure to leave you with a warm and content feeling. It's one that is worth watching either alone or even on a date….well, maybe.

Can't believe the rating is so low

[mohammed-helal-eng · 9/10 · 6 May 2012]

Friend of mine referred me to this movie to go see with my girl. I saw the rating on IMDb and was hesitant. However, he insisted, so I went for it.

The movie is funny as hell. It may run for two hours but for me and my girl it passed by quickly; there's always something going on keeping you interested or making you laugh.

I don't need to write a detailed review. If you're hesitant, don't be...it's worth it!

PS I'd really give this movie an 8, but I feel like the current rating is way too low.

Another PS: I'm not black!

This take on modern romance is both very funny and engaging.

[khanbaliq2 · 7/10 · 23 October 2013]

I'm glad I decided to watch Think Like A Man. It may be the funniest film of 2012 and the funniest romantic comedy in a long time. The cast, dominated by black actors, often works wonders. Comedian Steve Harvey decided to bring his 2009 book Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man to the big screen. And it was a good decision. The setup is silly because the women in the film take Harvey's suggestions to heart but, surprisingly, it works very well. At its heart it's just a story about four couples who take a funny long time to realize they're in love. Their desire to win and outsmart is what complicates matters. The screenplay by Keith Marryman and David A. Newman is stale at times but the actors take it to another level with Tim Story's direction. Michael Ealy's "the Dreamer" and Terrence J's "the Mama's Boy" are both likable despite their flaws. Meagan Good's "the 90 Day Rule Girl" is funny and good-looking. Taraji P. Henson's "the Woman Who Is Her Own Man" is cool but loving when she needs to be. Romany Malco and Regina Hall are also funny and engaging. But, really, there isn't a weak link in the cast. Even Kevin Hart's loudmouthed Cedric isn't overplayed. Think Like A Man would have been a terrific film if the screenplay was better. Still, it's good as it is. The laughs keep on coming. By the end I was eager to watch it again. Therefore I was pleasantly surprised when I found out that a sequel, Think Like A Man Too, will be released in 2014, with the cast from the first film reprising their roles. Yes, it's an easy decision for me. I easily recommend Think Like A Man. Harvey, the filmmakers and the cast all did a good job.

The date night from hell

[StevePulaski · 4/10 · 31 August 2012]

In 2009, entertainer, game show host, and radio personality Steve Harvey released a book called Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man: What Men Really Think About Love, Relationships, Intimacy, and Commitment, and after plugging it on The Oprah Winfrey Show, it quickly climbed to the top of the bestseller's lists and soared in popularity with women everywhere. This sudden surge in demand for a book "exposing" men for what they really are led Harvey to create a follow-up novel called Straight Talk, No Chaser: How to Find, Keep, and Understand a Man, but considering how this film became a surprising box office success, it wouldn't surprise me if we'll be talking about that film in a matter of time.

In my above sentence, I put the word "exposing" in quotations because I am unable to fathom why Harvey's self-help book has gained so much notoriety amongst single women. It seems everything that is discussed in the film about men wanting sex, wanting a looser relationship, and wanting less constraints in a commitment is something most people knew before this book surfaced. Did someone just need to print them and spell them out for people? Did it really need to ostracize men as the soul source of many relationship problems, and continue to feed the idea that all men are cut from the same cloth? I'm not sure, but as a film motivated to take the idea of a self-help book and incorporate its ideology into a film counterpart, it's labored and shockingly uninteresting for the most part.

The film follows the lives of several couples, whose relationships are failing because, of course, it's the males efforts or lack thereof that are soiling the chemistry and the recipe for success. We have Dominic (Michael Ealy) a capable, but unmotivated soul; a trait that his new business executive girlfriend, Lauren (Taraji P. Henson) can definitely change. Michael (Terrence J), a man so attached to his mother that the girlfriend becomes the second priority. His high school crush, Candace (Regina Hall), a single mom as well, whom he recently reconnects with, feels that in order to make a relationship work, she'll need to fix this. Jeremy (Jerry Ferrara) is dating Kristen (Gabrielle Union), who is upset because he is reluctant to pop the question and is very fearful of committing to anything. And who could forget Zeke's (Romany Malco) dilemma? His girlfriend Mya (Meagan Good) puts him on a love lockdown, meaning that since he is known as a player and a complete and total ladies man, that he will be prohibited from sex until ninety days of knowing each other.

It's also an obligation that these pals have a wise-ass best friend who, in this case, is Kevin Hart's Cedric, recently divorced, and frequents many strip clubs. He's definitely the most interesting character here, but look at his competition. Uninteresting males accompanied by equally uninteresting females in a contrived plot serving as extended product placement for a surprise bestseller. Put that on the back of the DVD.

So, it takes the men a little while to piece together why their girlfriends have become vindictive and overcompensating, and soon they realize they have unwillingly become victims to their new passing-phase, which is the self-help novel. They decide to read it and use Harvey's ideology against the women as a defense tactic for themselves. Color me not surprised, but heartbroken. Two wrongs don't make a right, and this is where contrivance triumphs logic, reason, and humanity.

Think Like a Man is also plagued with the most hopelessly unbelievable setup of the year, so far. Even more asinine than our sixteenth president being a cold blooded vampire hunter. As we watch this film, we see women who appear to be compassionate, understanding, and, for the most part, good-natured. One impossibly tries to grasp the idea that these women would become gridlocked to the rules of the genius of Steve Harvey that they'd begin to live their life by his advice and tips. One finds it almost shiveringly absurd that an independent, free-thinking individual would not realize that these ideas of men being motivated by sex and ego, along with requesting the loosest possible rules by women, have existed for the past hundred years and will probably lurk around for another hundred years. I hate to say this, but the film stereotypes men into careless, unfeeling slobs and doesn't leave much redemption for the women. C'mon, this is sitcom stuff.

Think Like a Man was written by Keith Merryman and David A. Newman, who are responsible for penning last year's Friends With Benefits, a comedy I've grown to think less of over time. It was essentially a romantic comedy playing dress-up, acting like it wasn't part of the cliché crowd, but when the layers of dress-clothes came off one by one, by the third act, we saw what was coming and we became disappointed and slightly cheated. Think Like a Man is a little different. It shows up with a questionably quirky premise, offers the disheartening thoughts that women can and will be manipulated by loose-lipped trite composed into a novel, men will continue to accept and receive most blame for failing relationships, and occasionally, we'll be poked in the gut with a zinger by comedian Kevin Hart. To me, it sounds like an overlong date night from hell.

Starring: Michael Ealy, Jerry Ferrara, Meagan Good, Regina Hall, Kevin Hart, Terrence J, Taraji P. Henson, Romany Malco, Gabrielle Union, and Steve Harvey. Directed by: Tim Story.

The Kevin Hart Show

[cattjones · 8/10 · 21 April 2012]

I am sure that a lot of folks will think that this is a film to plug Steve Harvey's book, but trust me when I say that the book does not need plugging since it made the best seller list (just wanted to get that off my chest). This is one of those films that I am going to have to watch again because the audience was laughing so loud and long that I fear I missed some of the jokes. That being said ….. Kevin Hart (Cedric) is a fool (in a good way). He had me (and the rest of the audience) cracking up. His comic timing and expressions are priceless. The relationship between Dominic (Michael Ealy) and Lauren (Taraji P Henson) was probably the most honest (compared to the others). I like the reference that they made to For Colored Girls (classic). I have always considered Michael Ealy to be very sexy and he did not disappoint in this film (Yum). Michael (Terrance Jenkins) was a true mama's boy almost to the point of being sickening, but Candace (Regina Hall) did what she had to do to rectify that situation. The longtime relationship between Jeremy (Jerry Ferrara) and Kristen (Gabrielle Union) is one that a lot of couples will be able to relate to. Finally, Zeke (Romany Malco)…. What can I say, there are a bunch of you out there and I am glad that Mya (Meagan Good) stuck to her guns. The only negative thing that I would say about the film is that I am not sure that Alex (Chris Brown) needed to keep popping in on the scenes. It was kind of redundant since the film already had a "playa". Wendy Williams (Gail) and Sherri Shephard (Vicki) had small roles in the film, but it was good to see the talk show hosts represent. I think that a lot of people may see this film as a "chick flick", but I like to think of it as a great date movie. I think that the implied war of the sexes will appeal to all and if nothing else, Kevin Hart will keep you in stitches. This film is well worth the price of a ticket. Put down the book and get out and see this film because this will be the one that they will be talking about next to the water cooler on Monday. I am giving this film a green light.

Great laughs but a little bit long

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 7 June 2014]

Zeke (Romany Malco) is the Player. Michael (Terrence Jenkins) is the Mamma's Boy. Dominic (Michael Ealy) is the Dreamer. Jeremy (Jerry Ferrara) is the Non-Committer. Four women, the 90 Day Rule Girl Mya (Meagan Good), the Single Mom Candace (Regina Hall), Lauren (Taraji P. Henson), the Girl who wants the Ring Kristen (Gabrielle Union) have trouble with men until they discover the relationship book written by Steve Harvey. Rounding out the group is the Happily Married Man Bennett (Gary Owen). Cedric (Kevin Hart) is the Happier Divorced Guy.

Steve Harvey's take on relationships can be very goal oriented. It doesn't always lend itself to be a comedy. However there is enough comedy in the relationships and that's why they got Kevin Hart to spice things up. The best thing about this is the great actors in the cast. I like everybody and their chemistry. I love the fun chemistry between guys. Kevin Hart is hilarious as the idiot. The only relationship I'm not feeling is Jerry Ferrara and Gabrielle Union. They don't fit. I don't see Gabrielle as that girl and Jerry is still Turtle to me. In general, it has some great laughs but it is a little bit long.

predictable and unfunny

[LucyBonette · 2/10 · 24 July 2016]

This is a terrible movie. It's supposed to be funny, but it really isn't. Full of stereotypes (both racial and sexual) and right from the beginning you know how it's going to end.

The acting is very bad, with Wendy Williams as Gail as an absolute low point. The only one doing kind of OK is Steve Harvey, but he pretty much plays himself.

At one point two characters realize they think alike when they correct the waiter on the pronunciation of French culinary term (en crôute) simultaneously. Only, the correction is all wrong! Not relevant to the story, but things like that just make the movie so amateurish.

It's also quite a long movie and scenes on nthe basketball court where the short guys have to play the tall guys could have been left out, as they are totally irrelevant to the story and are not funny either.