Hollywood Sequel Syndrome is alive and well in this second installment of the black ensemble comedy Think Like a Man, based on the Steve Harvey book of the same name. The problem stems from the fact that the book -–which was the source of the fresh comedy in the first movie—has no advice on how to add humor to a wedding romp in Las Vegas that takes place after the main characters have gotten their man.
This time, the requisite mama’s boy and the single mom from the first movie (played by Terrence Jenkins and Regina Hall, respectively) are set to walk down the aisle, and the whole gang is back together for a wedding weekend in Vegas. But the formula is stale: the girls are trying to outdo the guys for one crazy night in Vegas and vice versa. The bride and groom, as usual, are reluctant to participate in the craziness because they love each other, and their friends are trying to get them to let loose and have a good time to mask their own relationship problems.
The freshest part of the movie is how far they take the ridicule of the token white characters. From the bumbling white husband (whose friendship with the rest of the group is unclear) to the groom’s frat bros Isaac and Terrell – played by Adam Brody and David Walton – who are the butt of jokes like “what kind of self-respecting white woman names their son Terrell?” and “Their frat must have been Abercrombie & Fitch Epsilon.” The two duds spend the rest of the movie muttering drunk nonsense to fit their drunk white frat boy stereotype. Sure it’s funny, but it offers the kind of laughter you’ll forget about as soon as the movie’s over.
Kevin Hart’s comedic delivery is as on point as ever, but the funniest scene in the movie might be an underwear and argyle socks dance he does to Pitbull’s “I Know You Want It.” And where there’s Pitbull, there can only ever be mediocrity.
The real tragedy of the movie comes from the fact that everyone in this movie can genuinely act, but they’ve been given subpar material to work with.
The ending is too neatly wrapped in a bow, the plot lines too predictable. Career woman picks man over job, mama’s boy finally stands up to his mama, womanizer finally ends his womanizing (again), guy finally gets over his daddy jitters, and Kevin Hart engages in general hijinks. The intertwined storylines become too heavy handed and they ultimately get in the way of the movie achieving any truly raucous laughs. The closest we get is the bachelor crew almost participating in a Magic Mike-esque amateur stripper contest.
If Michael Ealy’s baby blues, Meagan Good’s bodacious booty, and Kevin Hart’s generally funny presence are enough to satisfy, then this is the movie for you. Otherwise, you’re better off watching the first one over again.
Director: Tim Story
Grade: C
See If You Like: Cheap Laughs
