What Men Want review: Gender-swapping escapade hits the mark

Taraji P Henson is a potent screen presence who takes What Men Want by the scruff of the neck and makes it her own.

Her character, Ali Davis, is an overpowering and formidable woman who competes with men in a male-dominated sports agency in Atlanta.

Although she is successful, she is isolated by her male colleagues and when she is overlooked for a well-deserved promotion, she questions what else she needs to do to succeed in a man’s world. But things change dramatically when she gains the ability to hear men’s thoughts.

With her new power, Ali embarks on an amusing journey to outsmart her colleagues as she races to sign up the next basketball superstar.

Her gritty determination puts her relationship with her best friends and a potential new love interest (Aldis Hodge) to the test.

What Men Want. Picture: Jess Miglio

Henson’s role fits her like a glove. Any man who confronts her is going to come off second best, but her tough exterior hides a tender heart.

The film is about a dynamic woman who needs to understand her own thoughts and feelings in dealing with men, a theme clearly conveyed in Adam Shankman’s comedy.

Nancy Meyers’ made What Women Want in 2000 with Mel Gibson as an arrogant advertising executive cut down to size. Shankman’s amusing offering is a gender-swapping escapade – and it hits the mark.

Richard Roundtree, a famous name from the ’70s, is Ali’s father, a little older and a little chubbier. He named her after his favourite heavyweight champion. Her long-suffering assistant is the effeminate Brandon (Josh Brener). He takes her bile on the chin, but comes up smiling.

Music diva Erykah Badu plays a hilarious psychic called Sister who makes her clients drink real funky tea. Sporting hair that resembles the bottom of a witch’s broom and with talon-like fingernails, this over-the-top character is instrumental in changing Ali’s life.

A strident supporting actor is comedian Tracy Morgan (of Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock fame), who is an over-ambitious father trying to get the best deal for his son, Jamal (Shane Paul McGhie), a basketball player.

Taraji P. Henson and Tracy Morgan in What Men Want. Picture: Jess Miglio

He’s so focused on acquiring great wealth that he even changed his name to Joe Dolla.

Hodge is Ali’s love interest and is effective as the single father with a cute son. The agency is filled with a cast of comedy all-stars who add to the mix.

Ensure you stay for the credits to see the cast improvising their characters’ visits to the psychic. Like the rest of the movie, it’s extremely funny.

Info

Rating: ★★★☆☆
Cast: Taraji P Henson, Josh Brener, Aldis Hodge, Richard Roundtree, Erykah Badu
Director: Adam Shankman
Classification: 18 DLPS

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