Review of Think Like a Man (2012) by Philip P — 29 Aug 2012

I ignored "Think Like A Man" when it was released in theaters this past April despite it receiving more favorable reviews than I ever expected and despite the fact Kevin Hart was starring in it and no doubt handing out one liners like nobody's business.

Turns out that is just about all you need to know to be hooked into the film as hart, for the first half hour or so steals the show with his quick wit and hilarious delivery. Too bad after a great start and set-up of all the personalities that make up this diverse group of guys it devolves into several different rom-com storylines all rolled into one.

This results in a film that while for the most part is enjoyable ends up running much longer than it should. Two hours spent investigating the incompetencies of five different men is just too much at one time.

There is the mama's boy, the man child, the dreamer, the player and the divorcee. Lucky for director Tim Story his cast provides plenty of charisma and consistent laughs that we aren't totally sick of the people after an hour.

We actually enjoy their company, we are simply tired of hearing about all of their problems after the unnecessary running time. While Hart is on top of the comedy Regina Hall, Taraji P. Henson, and Gabrielle Union lead a strong female ensemble as well.

While this is at least an alternative in black entertainment to the onslaught of Tyler Perry films that the African American community face every year (and a nice few jabs are thrown in here) it still could fit into that vein of what Perry is doing with less Jesus in the final act.

You have to give "Think Like A Man" in the end for trying and ultimately being a really funny movie that can't accept just being that and tries too hard to be much more than it needs to be.