What Men Want
What Men Want is a solid comedy, in which Taraji P. Henson shines as the star, that also manages to somewhat compellingly explore bias against women.
In late years , Hollywood has taken to producing gender - swapped remakes of beloved and/or successful property - at least in part in an effort to release more female person - led films . The latest of these isWhat Men Want , a on the loose remake of the Nancy Meyers movie , What Women Want , that starred Mel Gibson and unloosen in 2000 . Like 2016’sGhostbustersand 2018’sOcean ’s 8,What Men Wantswitches out the male person lead(s ) for a distaff character , flip out the playscript in full term of what TV audience can expect . WhileWhat Men Wantstill has the same basic premise as the original movie , it capitalizes on the current social mood to undertake sure hot button theme in a funny elbow room . What Men Wantis a solid comedy , in which Taraji P. Henson shines as the star , that also manages to somewhat compellingly search bias against women .
What Men Wantfollows fun agent Ali Davis ( Henson ) , who ’s fought and finagle to wax the ranks of the " boy ’s club " delegacy where she work . In fact , she ’s mold so hard that she ’s sure she ’s getting promoted to partner by her political boss , Nick ( Brian Bosworth ) . However , when Ali is go over for partner , with the honor rather going to fellow agent , Eddie ( Chris Witaske ) , she ’s furious . When asked for an account of why Ali was fade over , Nick severalize her that she does n’t touch base well with the other men in the bureau . to prove herself , Ali vows to sign rising basketball star Jamal Berry ( Shane Paul McGhie ) , despite his way-out and over - involved Church Father , Joe " Dolla " Berry ( Tracy Morgan ) .
Then , at her friend Mari ’s ( Tamala Jones ) bachelorette party , Ali encounter a psychic named Sister ( Erykah Badu ) , who has Ali tope some strange tea . partner off with a minor pass injury receive later in the night while the bachelorette party is out at a club , Ali gains the ability to understand the interior thoughts of men . Once she discovers this with the help of her supporter Brandon ( Josh Brener ) , Ali decides to use her newfound abilities to avail her sign Jamal Berry and get a leg up on the other men in the function , including her coworkers Kevin ( Max Greenfield ) and Ethan ( Jason Jones ) . Ali also becomes romantically involved with a individual father , Will ( Aldis Hodge ) , who gets wrapped up on Ali ’s system to deliver the goods over Jamal . Between her big businessman and her drive to win , it remains to be seen if Ali will be capable to chance a balance that will make her well-chosen in the long term .
What Men Wantwas directed by Adam Shankman ( Hairspray,17 Again ) from a book by Tina Gordon ( Drumline ) , Alex Gregory ( Veep ) and Peter Huyck ( Veep ) base on a story by Gordon and Jas Waters ( This Is Us ) . Because of the basic premise ofWhat Men Want , the motion-picture show is intrinsically link to issue about sexuality and racial preconception in the workplace and the handwriting tackles those topics head on . The picture show is n’t precisely deft in its treatment of Ali ’s coworkers ' racism and sexism , but the bluntness ofWhat Men Wantis refreshfully reliable in a way other movies and TV show - that couch addressing racism and sexism in metaphor - simply are n’t . Still , the gravid - handedness ofWhat Men Want ’s substance can be gawky at times , undercutting the more authentic and sincere moments .
The directness ofWhat Men Wantalso allows the movie to derive sense of humor from sensitive subjects . However , there ’s less smart comedy than viewers may be expecting from Gregory and Huyck , who ’ve both worked on HBO’sVeep . Instead , What human being Wantaims for the low - fall yield of cringe clowning , putting Ali in uncomfortable situations apparently to just watch her - and the audience - squirm . Certainly , there ’s an argument to be made that these aspect somehow serve the secret plan or Ali ’s character arc , but for viewers that ca n’t stand cringe humor ( this referee include ) , there are too many of these scenes and the act get sometime fast . However , whenWhat man Wantinstead tilt into address its more serious issues with other kinds of humor , the motion-picture show excels .
Of course , sinceWhat man Wantis all about Ali ’s journey , the film for the most part rests on Henson ’s shoulder and she carries it well . The actress goes all out for the movie - playing up the film ’s raunchy mo , over exaggerating Ali ’s rage in a way that feel like indirect request fulfillment , and reining it all in for the more quietly earnest moment . Henson has testify herself before to be a talented female tip and she once again prove that inWhat Men Want . In addition to Henson , Morgan offers a fun number as Joe Dolla , playing another far-out fiber that fan of his will likely enjoy . The rest of the cast , though , has much less to work out with . Bosworth , Witaske , Greenfield and Jones play the different shades of interchangeable office bros to great effect - though the moving-picture show does offer some brainstorm into each character . Further , Brener and Pete Davidson have a fun secondary patch . But ultimately , What Men Wantis Henson ’s star - turn and the movie for the most part ferment thanks to her comedic endowment .
in the end , What Men Wantis a somewhat interesting look into the psyche of men and womanhood alike within a male - dominated work force . However , while it deal those topics through the lens system of wit , the picture is much potent as an escapist phantasy - comedy . It ’s a fun time at the theater of operations that may make viewers think a bit about diagonal , but mostly allows them to head for the hills into a world where those biases are tackled in a way that ’s well wrap up up in two hours .
Trailer
What Men Wantis now playact in U.S. dramatics across the nation . It is 117 hour long and is rated radius for language and sexual content throughout , and some drug material .
aim by Adam Shankman , What Men Want is a Comedy and Romance cinema starring Tracy Morgan , Taraji P. Henson , Richard Roundtree , Wendi McLendon - Covey , and Aldis Hodge . The motion-picture show revolves around a young distaff sports agent that make headway the ability to hear the thoughts of the men around her .
Josh Brener and Taraji P. Henson in What Men Want
Tracy Morgan, Chris Witaske, Jason Jones, Mark Cuban, and Taraji P. Henson in What Men Want
Aldis Hodge, Taraji P. Henson, and Tamala Jones in What Men Want