There is basically nothing redeeming to “Think Like A Man.” If you’re already interested in what Harvey (an actor and Original King of Comedy, by the way, not any kind of trained relationship therapist) has to say about love, you’ve probably read the book or its follow-up, “Straight Talk, No Chaser: How to Find and Keep A Man,” so why see this fictionalized version of its teachings? And honestly, how many times do we women need to be guided, by men, into learning what we should be doing better as women? There’s something fundamentally suspect about such a congratulatory film, which basically applauds Harvey as an emotional genius when really he’s just the host of “Family Feud,” with a book deal.
And yup, Harvey appears as himself in the film, spewing advice regarding how men really feel about sex, commitment, companionship, and marriage. (Note how I italicized “really” to demonstrate my frustration with this entire concept.)
“Think Like A Man” focuses on one long-term couple and various other single daters, with each man and woman fitting a clear type. Frustrated with their relationships or lack thereof, the women try to fix their love lives by reading Harvey’s book. Kristen (Gabrielle Union), who lives with longtime slacker boyfriend Jeremy (Jerry Ferrara), is fed up with how he refuses to truly to commit to her or a grownup life together. Less accommodating is Lauren (Taraji P. Henson, of “Larry Crowne”), a super-busy, incredibly demanding executive whose high expectations don’t jibe with more relaxed dreamer Dominic (Michael Ealy). And more innocent is Mya (Meagan Good, of “Jumping the Broom”), who decides to wait 90 days before having sex with smooth-talking new beau Zeke (Romany Malco).
Other character types include a mama’s boy, his terribly overbearing mother, a guy who happily indulges in one-night stands (played by R&B singer Chris Brown, the one who beat pop star Rihanna and oozes ick), and another who is happily divorced, played by Kevin Hart. Hart is the main comic relief of the film, often delivering absurd rants about women that are meant to punctuate the film’s otherwise preachy, lecturing tone.
But Hart’s manic energy, Union’s consistent poise, and Ealy’s laidback charm can’t fix the film’s oddly structured style (with each couple practically serving as a kind of book chapter) or Harvey’s imperious presence. When he comes onscreen to deliver advice, it takes away from the characters’ interactions and narratives, driving home that this is just an overly long infomercial for the comedian. And it’s easy to get turned off by his instructions, which often force other people to change and accommodate your needs and desires. Why not just break up and find someone more in line with what you want? Is that so unacceptable?
Screenwriters Keith Merryman and David A. Newman (who previously worked together on “Friends With Benefits”), add some witty lightness to male-bonding scenes, but they also have women toss around phrases like “controlling the cookie.” Ugh.
What hurts “Think Like A Man” most is its paint-by-numbers mentality, the absurd concept that love can flourish when everyone plays by the rules and follows specific guidelines. Spontaneity and romance—Harvey killed them.
