What Men Want Movie Review

The following is a movie review “What Men Want” by Marc Primo.

Release date: February 8, 2019 (United States)

Director: Adam Shankman

Language: English

Production companies: Will Packer Productions, BET Films, Paramount Players

Producers: James Lopez, Will Packer

When Mel Gibson starred in 2000’s What Women Want, Nancy Meyers scored a hit that went up the ranks with the classic rom-coms of its time. This year, film director Adam Shankman (A Walk To Remember, Hairspray, Rock Of Ages), takes a shot with lead star Taraji P. Henson (Baby Boy, Hustle & Flow, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), in recreating the magic and mishaps that hilariously points out the differences between the male and female of the species in What Men Want.

As how formulaic comedies go, viewers can see the storyline a mile away but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the ride. Thanks to Henson’s good comedic timing, her character Ali is funny and at the same time believable as a confident and competitive agent trapped in the masculine world of sports.

The story revolves around Ali’s adventures after drinking a magical potion that allows her to read men’s thoughts. She uses this to create an advantage over her egoistic male counterparts at work in landing a contract with a basketball star. The catch to her new found power however, is that her relationships with the people who really matter get tested along the way.

Of course the film immediately screams girl power even just by looking at the movie poster, but guys can enjoy how funny the film is too when it comes to conveying Henson’s thoughts about ‘how men really are’. The more dramatic parts of the film are pretty much forgivable and forgettable because the true joy is how Ali goes from a bypassed 40-something lady into a powerful corporate player fed-up with the all the stereotypes.

If you are a woman who has had it with your fair share of a misogynist workplace, then this one’s for you. If you are the very definition of an alpha male, then you might want to watch this in support of your girl instead. Just make sure you’re ready for some cringe moments from time to time.

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