Simply Perfect

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

The acting in this movie is really good.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

It's been two years since we last saw the characters of 'Think Like A Man', which was based off of Steve Harvey's book 'Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man'. The first film followed a group of guys and girls falling in love with one another with all of the ups and downs of a relationship. It was funny, charming, and worth the time. Director Tim Story is back in the director's chair again for this second outing. Statistically and historically, if a film on a modest budget does well, more than likely there will be a sequel.'Think Like A Man' was made for under $12 million and ended up grossing almost $100 million at the box office. It seemed like it was the right decision to go ahead with the sequel, but in order to have a sequel, you need to have a thought out story, which unfortunately for this sequel, didn't have. It seemed like 'Think Like A Man Too' was just thrown together over a drunken night and a reason for everyone to get together in Las Vegas to have a fun few weeks. I was so disappointed in this sequel, because I enjoyed the first one so much, but this this sequel was more about Kevin Hart doing his slap-stick routine for 90-minutes than showing an entertaining story.The entire gang is back in again, this time all arriving in Las Vegas for the wedding of Michael (Terrence Jenkins) and Candace (Regina Hall). But the night before the wedding, the guys and girls split off and go all out for their respective bachelor/bachelorette parties, which plays out more like a 'Hangover' film throughout, complete with fights, strip clubs, and jail. You'd think that Jenkins would have a big role here, since this is his wedding in the film, but he receives the least amount of screen time, as I said above, its the Kevin Hart show with him dancing in his underwear, yelling at everyone, and poking fun at his height for the millionth time.Story also decided to put an actual music video in the middle of the film, where the girls sing 'Poison' by Bell Biv Devoe at their bachelorette party, complete with the music video credits and logo in the bottom left hand corner of the screen. There was just no need other than to waste time. But that's what the entire film seemed like, a big waste of time. Sure it was fun to see everyone on screen playing off one another and enjoying themselves, and everyone turns in fun and great performances, but when Story tries to create dramatic tension, it goes nowhere and rushes by to fast as to get to the next scene with Hart making a fool of himself.And of course, just like the first film, we had to check in with every couple for a nice pretty pink bow to wrap up everything nicely. It was all too forced, which made it unfunny. I really wanted to like this sequel, but 'Think Like A Man Too' fell off the cliff and lost the big bet. And yes, Adam Brody is in this film, but he is only in it for maybe less than two minutes and has one or two lines of dialogue. Why give him top billing?

Think Like A Man Too 4/10- Everyone knows Kevin Hart has really burst into the spot-light over the past year. His brand of humor appeals to many crowds which is why so many like his comedy, including myself. Since Think Like A Man got me nearly on the floor laughing last year, I had high expectations for the sequel. Sadly my expectations were not met, and I left the theater still wanting something more. Although Think Like A Man Too utilizes all of Kevin Hart's comedic talents, the film is still not saved from a under-developed plot and dragged- on scenes. Also, I don't know how else to say this, but in a lot of the scenes, it is painfully obvious that the other members of the cast are not as funny as Kevin Hart. Although this sequel has a knew twist to it, the movie still follows the "battle of the sexes" story much like the first one which starts to get old after a while. The original used this well, the new one, not so much. Instead of producing comedy from all of the dramatic scenes, what follows most of the dramatic scenes is really just more drama which a couple jokes thrown in. The storyline goes off-track so much about the personal lives of the characters and it takes away from the attention from the main plot: the bachelor party. I honestly thought a Kevin Hart movie that revolves around a bachelor party would be drop dead hilarious, but they barely even talk about the bachelor party. This is probably the main problem I have with the movie, but I am not saying it wasn't entertaining.As I said earlier, they used Kevin Hart in this movie as much as they could and this move may have saved the film. Kevin Hart is probably the main reason why I had a little bit of fun watching the Think Like A Man sequel. I am not saying the other actors did not contribute to the movie, I thought that Romany Malco, Regina Hall, and Gabrielle Union increased the level of their performances from the first film. The only time I thought they used Las Vegas to their advantage was in the gambling scenes which are in my opinion the funniest scenes. If they used more of the Las Vegas-Bachelor party concept to their advantage, I have no doubt that it would have been funnier than the original. I am not saying that this movie is not funny because it is still a decent comedy. I recommend though you see this film only if you are a die-hard Kevin Hart fan, otherwise I would wait till it comes out on DVD.For more of my reviews, go to my website at reviewsbywest.com

The first Think Like A Man was dumb. It was barely funny, the cast was okay at best and it was just sort of ho-hum and didn't even come close to rising to the level of some Tyler Perry films. I thought it was the definition of average. So I figured that a sequel would be about the same. I mean, I don't know why they did a sequel but it couldn't be any worse could it? Resoundingly yes. This was the definition of a dud. There wasn't anything I could put my finger on that I "hated" about the movie because there was nothing in the movie I cared enough about to even have any emotions towards it. I was bored, I didn't care, I just wanted it to be done and over and have this horribly vapid, empty characters off my screen. I couldn't be paid to sit through another instalment so hopefully they are done. This was obviously forced and dredged out of material that barely made a first film. They are trying to ride some cash out of Kevin Hart's inexplicable popularity and it doesn't work. It is a mind-numbingly boring, unfunny, silly story about a group of people who are completely unlikable. They would literally show a gag and I'd look around the room and think...was that honestly meant to be funny? Poorly slapped together is being generous to this.I don't even want to waste everyone's time by talking about these characters. No one was good period. I'm sure at least some of them are good actors but the characters are so poorly written. I mean they were one dimensional in the first film let alone to try and milk more material out of them a second time. Two of them are getting married I think...and they are competing with the women for the wildest pre-wedding party...I think...I don't know...I just didn't care. Kevin Hart is irritating as he always is, Michael Ealy looked like he knew this was bad and didn't want to be there, Taraji P. Henson, Meagan Good, Regina Hall and Gabrielle Union are retched representations of women in relationships and they are all awful. Romany Malco (who I have enjoyed in other things) almost looks like he wants to be good but the script gives him nothing so he is left in the dust with the rest of the cast. Wendi McLendon-Covey (a very, very talented comedian) is reduced to be an irritating shrew of a character. Gary Owen is a doofus white guy who is used to represent doofus white guys everywhere. He gets a few lines if that. The one maybe redemptive performance is that of Jenifer Lewis as the overbearing, screeching mother and she does that well. Dennis Haysbert makes an appearance and he looks bored too.There is no way around this. They made this with one goal in mind, to suck some more money out of the demographic who would see this. It was so poorly made, I can't even begin to forgive them for misusing the movie going public like this. There were a few (and I mean a FEW) funny one-liners despite the rest of the bad script. Tim Story is enough of a mainstream director that he should be better than this but honestly I think everyone involved in this just didn't care. Maybe they were contractually obligated to do it. It tries to throw together gags from the first film, The Hangover, Why Did I Get Married and its sequel (two superior films in every way!!) Think Like A Man Too was the kitchen sink goulash of pasta night. Got some people coming over? Throw a bunch of crap in a pot and serve it up and maybe some people will think it was okay. This is a pass and please stop making this series. It is based on a comedy self help book and doesn't translate well AT ALL!! It barely passed the first time. 4/10

In the second of the Think Like a Man series, the boys are back in town as they return to Las Vegas to celebrate some nuptials but also one last chance to live a night of debauchery. Not to be outdone, the girls and are there with them and they are armed with Las Vegas excitement as well. White folks have hangover, old folks have Last Vegas, now black folks have Think Like a Man Too. The it guy, Kevin Hart makes for a fun character that leaves not joke behind as each of the fellows brings their own game to the town. Some parts are silly, some are funny, but in the end this makes for a fund night in the city that never sleeps. It makes you realize that what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. I enjoyed the movie, I was expecting a few more cheesy predictable scenes but overall it has some funny bits and is a fun movie.