Ever see a movie with a friend? Of course you have. Share your thoughts and see if you can come to a collective agreement on what you saw, how it flowed and how good or bad it was? Probably every weekend, right? We at Geek For E call that a ‘Review In The Round’ and this week it’s “Think Like A Man” with Rock & Denise.  Grade: A-

DENISE: I’m a sucker for movies that say they’re gonna break down relationships and show all the little ticks and foibles.  From He’s Just Not That Into You to Why Did I Get Married?, I’ll be front and center soaking it all in.  But with Think Like A Man, instead of my usual bits of “I hear that” or “yep girls, haven’t we all been there” bonding, I laughed my butt off.  Never have I been so entertained by what many have labeled a chick flick.  In fact, the entire theater was laughing and applauding, giggling and sagely nodding in agreement. Not just the chicks.  Because this isn’t a chick movie.  This isn’t a dude movie.  This isn’t an “urban movie” (a label I dislike, as if entertainment can and should be separated by lines in the sand).  This is a fun, enjoyable film that everyone can enjoy.  Well, maybe not the kids.  They’d think all the kissing was gross.

ROCK: You couldn’t have hit the nail on the head any harder.  I was so worried about this film skewing urban and was overjoyed when it became a cross-sectional comedic rompfest covering everybody and every age.  Kevin Hart (Soul Plane) was at his uproarious best, best I’ve ever seen from him actually.  Constant energy and portraying a character that you could ridicule, hate on, and even empathize with.  I’m sure the DVD outtakes will show him ripping and unleashed between takes.  It doesn’t stop with him though, the entire cast plays and reacts and flows so well.  This may be a 2HR+ flick, but you don’t feel it, and you’ll still want a bit more when the curtain falls.  I have to credit that to Director Tim Story (Barbershop) who thankfully, has returned to his roots; character based comedy dramas.

DENISE: Director Tim Story mixes it up, keeping all the multiple storylines in play without so much as a hiccup in pacing or narrative.  This could have ended up a two-hour commercial for Harvey’s book, but Story shifts the focus to the individual characters and not the pages of Harvey’s narrative.  Screenwriters Keith Merryman and David A. Newman let you see the action from all sides, so this feels like a true ensemble film instead of a man or woman-bashing screed.  And as an ensemble piece, it’s tough to pick out the truly outstanding performances, because the actors do such a wonderful job working with each other.  That said, Kevin Hart (Kevin Hart: Seriously Funny) is brilliant as always, and manages to steal just about every scene he’s in.  His post-divorce bitter manchild is an absolute hoot.  And D.C. native Taraji P. Henson brings a softness to her COO that weighs a man’s net worth higher than a man’s heart.  Well, at first anyway.

ROCK: Oh the cast…where do you start?  The endless male eye candy parade of Gabrielle Union (Deliver Us From Eva), Meagan Good (Showtime’s – Californication), and let’s not forget La La Anthony.  Who?   Wife of NBA Basketball great Carmelo Anthony, but for most guys she’s that gorgeous young hottie from the movie Soul Plane that supported the main female lead.  Here she takes the same turn as a supportive galpal Sonia to Good.  And for the ladies its beefcake after beefcake with Michael Ealy (2 Fast 2 Furious), Morris Chestnut (Higher Learning), and Romany Malco (Showtime’s Weeds).  Beyond the starring gals and pals, there are a cadre of cameos by real life sports and entertainment figures.  It just adds to the overall enjoyment to see one appear after the other.

DENISE: I know, cameos from Luenelle, Wendy Williams and R&B singer Chris Brown (yeah, I’m as surprised as you that he has a comedic side) are goofy without being over the top.  And Kevin Hart flexing his voice-over muscle as the narrator was priceless.  You almost hear Chris Rock’s narration from TV’s Everybody Hates Chris, but it’s a pleasant surprise to hear Hart at the helm of it.

ROCK:  Final thoughts for me are how hopeful I am this film gets some love at the weekend box office.  It’s smart, super sexy, funny, and has appeal on all sides.  It’s a great date night romcom and you will be laughing end to end.

DENISE: What could have been a heavy or corny film is instead a laugh riot that informs and entertains.  Think Like A Man is a rare treat; a movie that lets you peek into how men and women think ala Sex and the City, but gives you something to think about and discuss afterward, like the best take-heart conversation from your best friends.

To quote the timeless philosopher Fat Albert:

You’ll have some fun now
With me and all the gang
Learning from each other
While we do our thang
Na, na, na
Gonna have a good time

 

Think Like A Man is rated PG-13 for sexual content, crude humor and brief drug use.  Running Time, 2 hours and 3 minutes