What Men Want: Film Review

Synopsis

Ali Davis (Taraji P. Henson) is a successful sports agent at the biggest sports agency in Atlanta. She is the only female in her boys club of an office. She is swamped with work, trying to sign a new client, Jamal Berry (Shane Paul McGhie), having to deal with his unbearable father, Joe Dolla (Tracy Morgan), and worried with not becoming partner at the agency. One night at a bachelorette party, a psychic named Sister (Erykah Badu) gives Ali a special tea to help remedy her problems with men. The next morning after getting her head banged, she can suddenly hear men's thoughts. With this new power, she realizes that she can use it to her advantage by getting into men's heads.

Review

First and foremost, we must address the script. The script is quite lackluster, with a few hearty laughs and small chuckles throughout. What Men Want relies on vulgarity and shock to provide the humor, and it seldom works. The story doesn't require the vulgarity that the script provides. In the film, there are three different storylines that involve Ali. She has a workplace story, a story involving her best friends (the one that seems the most wedged in), and a romance story. These three storylines are not handled well together. The acting was average. Tracy Morgan was not good, considering he is billed as the male lead, and the cameos seemed gratuitous to a negative extent. However, there are three performances that almost save the film by themselves: Josh Brener (Brandon, Ali's assistant), Taraji P. Henson, Erykah Badu. Erykah Badu and Josh Brener steal every scene that they're in, and Henson provides a likable character interpretation while trying to flaunt her comedic skills.