Movie review: What Men Want

W

hen I saw the title of the movie ‘What Men Want’, I thought they were going to give us an idea of the things men really want in terms of relationships and life goals. However, it was a bit different. This fantasy comedy features Taraji P Henson, who plays the role of Ali Davis, a woman in her 40s determined to get a partnership at her workplace. She works as a sports agent, so she is surrounded by men who always make her feel inferior. She doesn’t let them keep her down and she resorts to protecting herself as she likes to be in control.

When she doesn’t get a partnership at her workplace, it pisses her off. She meets a hot chocolate barman who ends up being her one-night stand because she doesn’t necessarily get along with men. In order to help her connect with men, her friends take her to a psychic who makes her drink tea which gives her the power to read men’s inner thoughts.

Ali takes advantage of her new superpowers to get the partnership at work and to sign the next basketball superstar, Jamal Barry (Shane Paul McGhie). Jamal’s dad (Tracy Morgan) was against the idea of having an agent who happens to be single because he believes ‘traditionally, a woman’s entire livelihood is dependent on the man she is married to’, which is so not true. Ali almost loses it as she uses her one-night stand who has a kid to meet Joe’s expectations. She pretends they are married and are a happy family. When her one-night stand learns that he was being used, he calls it off and regardless of the efforts she has made to sign the NBA player, she loses him to another agent.

Ali also loses her friends after revealing their husbands’ infidelities and on top of that, she also loses her superpowers. However, she eventually manages to get her friends back and opts to decline the partnership offer as she establishes her own company. Fortunately, she ends up living her happily ever after as she gets back with her boyfriend.

I am a big fan of Taraji P Henson, however, while playing a smart and funny woman, I don’t think it was her best character. Nevertheless, her outfits are the best. Another character that stood out for me was Erica Badoo who plays Sister, she nails her role as a freaky psychic that sells weed.

There are lessons to be learned from this movie, they highlight the experience of women who work in a male-dominated environment. While this movie was fun to watch, it felt too long. Please note that this movie has material of a sexual nature which makes it for adults. The production is directed by Adam Shankman, and because I laughed so much, I rate it 3 out of 5.