What Men Want Review - An Over the Top, Laugh Out Loud Funny, Testosterone Trip

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Category: Film

Published on Friday, 08 February 2019 08:22

Written by Janet Walker

What Men Want, from Paramount Players and BET Films, presents an hilarious, fun filled trip as super sports agent, Ali Davis becomes enabled, after a bachelorette party gone bad, with the power to hear the thoughts of men.

Directed by Adam Shankman, What Men Want stars Taraji P. Henson, Pete Davidson, Josh Brener, , Tracy Morgan, Max Greenfield, Brian Bosworth, Paul B. Johnson, Jason Jones, Aldis Hodge, Richard Roundtree, Chris Witaske, Kellan Lutz, Kausar Mohammed, Shane Paul McGhie, Phoebe Robinson, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Tamala Jones and Erykah Badu. With cameos from Lisa Leslie, Mark Cuban, Shaquille O’Neal, Grant Hill, Karl Anthony Towers and Kristen Ledlow.

The film begins with Ali Davis, played by Taraji P. Henson, superstar, sports agent, pounding it out on the treadmill. A mutli-tasker, she is listening to the morning news, scrolling her messages, has the tablet working, and talking about the upcoming shoot.

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Her assistant, Brandon Wallace, played by Josh Brener, walks in with the perfect competitive wardrobe choices for today’s big announcement, feminine but not sexy, power player, able to compete and oh yea I deserve this. Suddenly, life is in order as he takes over providing expert management.

At the office we met the male dominated testosterone fueled world of Sports Management, with Eddie, played by Chris Witaske, Kevin, played by Max Greenfield, and Scott played by Paul B. Johnson, all geared up for the big announcement. Today is the day.

The firm’s owner, Nick Ivers, played by Brian Bosworth, begins to talk to the male only boys club, with its one female member on the drive, dedication, and yes, balls, it takes to get to the top of the Sports world. And on this day, as we see Ali’s inner glow showing, there is one person who exemplified that and more.

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Taking the football from his bag, as everyone knows, the partner pass, one lowly associate’s luck is about to change. As Nick tosses the pigskin, our girl Ali dives for the catch. Already for the celebratory dance, with football in hand, she realizes the room is not on the same page.

Suddenly we see why, the toss was meant for the Eddie, a younger, as we find out, quite insecure, son of a so and so who just happened to sign someone from one of the big three – NBA, MLB or NFL. Partner comes with the acronyms.

The sting of the Interception and denied again sent our girl to the gym. Not banging weights in frustration, in the ring with the gloves with her father Skip Davis, played by Richard Roundtree, helping her pound it out.

The first act of What Men Want we see a day in life, controlling, dominant, tough as nails, working hard and enjoying the fruits.

Act two, begins with a bachelorette party, and Ali’s three friends who hire a psychic. At the end of the night she has our girl drink some laced tea. After a wild night dancing she hits her head.

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Waking up in the hospital, she is fine although she begins to hear the thoughts of men. First the doctor, then her trusted assistant, ouch!. Then she begins to walk across the courtyard to the office through a labyrinth of thoughts, voices, is it always about sex, OMG, he did not just think that.

What follows is a sidesplitting laugh out loud, funny as our girl navigates the deep recesses of the male psyche.

Taraji P. Henson, has proven she has it all. She is able to deliver the comedic timing without missing a beat. As her character travels on a journey of self-awareness, she brings the audiences into her world and has them trying to figure out how she can fix her messes.

With the level of unrestrained humor she was surrounded by some very funny actors, and sports stars, including Tracy Morgan, who is back and delivering a solid performance.

The players are broken into ensembles with the poker night, with cameos by Mark Cuban, Shaquille O’Neal and Grant Hill, and the bachelorette night each showcasing the talents of the performers.

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What Men Want, is the remake of the 2000 Mel Gibson, Helen Hunt, Alan Alda What Women Want film, and carries the same themes throughout.

An unrestrained, hilarious, laugh out loud, over the top, journey. What Men Want is fun at every angle. With all the right players, this film has all the right moves.

What Men Want opens Friday, February 8, 2019. So very funny. See it.