Rating: Summary: This "Game" of love and war just isn't very fun. Review: "Two Can Play That Game" operates under the notion that relationships in distress call for a set of rules used to keep the opposite sex under control, only to relinquish this concept by concluding with a shot of our two main characters embracing after ninety minutes of cloyed storytelling and little to no comedic relief. But it's perfectly okay for the movie to end on a note of heavenly bliss; after all, when it comes to love, their are no rules. So why have a game? Better yet, why have this movie? The story is carried by a narration from its main character, Shante (Vivica A. Fox), an advertising executive who believes basically that all men are scum. It would appear that she has every right to hold such a belief: each of her three best friends have lousy men in their lives, while she thrives in a trusting, affectionate relationship with wealthy lawyer Keith Fenton (Morris Chestnut). Minutes after her lesson in excuses to cover up cheating ways, Shante notices her knight in shining armor out with another woman when he was supposedly "working late," and so she begins her so-called "10-Day Plan" of games and trickery to bring him to his knees, begging her to take him back. They await phone calls from one another, make unexpected visits to each other's dwellings, avoid appearing somber in front of friends, and resort to drastic measures such as flirting and dating other people in their desperate attempts to win the other back without being the loser of the game. The movie hits a speed bump from the start with its characters, who lack any sort of charm or sparkle to keep us interested in what they have to say. Fox does her best in trying to keep a smooth flow to the cumbersome and cloyed script, but her character's narration is bothersome and intrusive, providing for long periods of dialogue that is mean-spirited when it should be funny. The sole humorous moments of the film come from the four women, who, when in one another's company, generate the kind of laughs and smiles that the film is badly in need of. Another question comes to mind when looking back on the movie: why should we care about whether or not these two people will end up together when we have no reason to embrace them as individuals? As they spend most of their time driving around in expensive cars, with Shante incessantly sneering at the camera and Keith getting his groove on with various women in a pathetic attempt to get over his lost love, we have no reason to suspect that their emotion runs deeper than their vanity. They spend so much time keeping each other at bay with their tactics, that when it comes time for them to reconcile, it's not so much a happy ending as it is just an ending, period. There are small glimpses of a better movie in "Two Can Play That Game," such as the wit of the supporting female cast members and Anthony Anderson as Keith's friend and mentor, but they are buried under a massive heap of battle-of-the-sexes cliché, moronic plotting, misguided narration and unlikable characters. Sure, their lives are nice to look at on the outside, and the actors are easy on the eyes with their suave looks, but when you get right down to it, this game of love just isn't very fun, and lacks the sense of humor needed to justify the movie's near-pointless plot.
Rating: Summary: Too much talking to the audience for me. Review: And what was up with those rules? Anyone operating like that is bound to get dissed. The ten rules was a bit much for me. This movie was no different from the laundry list of black predictable films. We want to be taken seriously in Hollywood, but movies like this are the best we can do? I dare any black director, producer, or writer, to take this movie, the likes of Brown Sugar, Baby Boy, Kingdom Come (what the Heezy?), Deliver Us From Eva, and ALL of the movies that follow this pattern to the Academy.
Rating: Summary: Ok but I expected more Review: First of all, I just could not picture Vivica Fox as a "Shante". For the most part, I'm not really one for THE RULES, but I expected a fun, more in depth movie given the cast. There were some (okay...just a few) funny scenes; esp. those featuring Bobby Brown.........Maaannn, what a transformation!! Morris Chestnut did a great job as the boyfriend (Keith) trying to stay one up w/Shante. Anthony Anderson did a good job as supporting actor playing Chestnut's good friend and "relationship coach". It was interesting to see the "game" played in the form of a Tennis Match so to speak. She does this then he does that. But as is evident, too much game playing proves to be childish, unwarrented and ultimately hurtful. Save your time and your heart...be real and be true... Communicate to one another. Either the relationship was meant to be or it wasn't.....PERIOD! Overall, no matter what, it's a pleasure to see movies where our peers are successful and competing in Corporate America. That part at least sends out a positive message to the viewing audience.
Rating: Summary: 3.5 stars... Review: Granted I wasn't expecting the setup. Fox moreorless narrates the movie. Men and Women playing games when they think MOTOS is playing out of the field that they are allowed to. "Shante" (Fox) finds her supposed to be well respected man on the dancefloor with another women when he said he was going to be at work late. From there Shante plays the waiting game, let's him call and moreorless begs to communicate with her, she leaves him hanging to make him keep calling back. Sooner or later, he gets tired and starts to really play the field-though it looks like only to get back at her. It turns out that he is just playing the game that she is. Do they meet up again in the end? Well that's something you will have to watch the movie for. Funny in some parts but overall just basic fact on what happens when men and women's emotions get involved when they think the member of the opposite sex is playing around. Or when they really are playing around. I give it a 3.5 stars out of 5. I, like many others, felt that there would have been deeper roles than this, given the actors and actresses playing the parts. But anyways-it's a relationship chick flick. It wouldn't hurt to rent it, if it interest you!
Rating: Summary: Ever have a significant other play with your emotions? Review: Have you ever screwed up unintentionally in a relationship? Why won't they answer the phone when you want to apologise? Are you still hung up on someone who acts like they don't care for you any more? Could it all be just a mind game? Watch as two masters of the mind menagerie duke it out in this twisted head game called a relationship.
Rating: Summary: Yawwwwnnnn .... zzzz ... snore ... cough ... etc. Review: I am part of an African-American book and media club. We try to support all A-A entertainment. I was told be another member to go watch this as a movie. Boy was I sorry. DVD is no better. I like Vivica Foxx. But she plays in some lame movies, starting with Booty Call. In this movie, her character kept talking to us (narrating) by looking directly into the camera. This was annoying but was sorely needed for a poorly scripted movie. Also, the upclose camera shots of Foxx showed her as an AGING actress, perhaps too old to be Morris Chestnutt's lover. When will Vivica be a producer/director of films instead of an actress/employee? This movie was supposed to be funny. But what was funny about Morris Chestnutt receiving [bad] advice from his thuggy friends? Also, I never felt that Foxx/Chestnutt are "successful" in this movie. All Chestnutt did was sit behind a desk during "working hours" gossipping with his "homies" about Foxx. Good example for young Blacks hoping to make it in the corporate world, right? Oh, and Foxx? She's wealthy for no reason. During one of her so-called corporate office scenes, she has to "sneer" into the camera again to TELL you she is an executive -- evidence that the script and acting and even background setups were all faulty in this movie. In a leading African American magazine with Fox and Chestnut featured on the cover, Fox mentions her attempt to "turn out" Hollywood by being the leading lady of this film. (Translation: Oh, please, please, Black moviegoers, I need a job so come see my otherwise stupid, little movie!) Well, with a poor script, overdone stage setting and Foxx's swearing, Vivica honey you will continue to be an aging actress. Please grow up professionally.
Rating: Summary: Cute and Funny Review: I didn't think I'd like this movie. As it takes real genius to pull off a "narrative" or the story teller aspect, which this director was obviously lacking the talent to do... However, putting that aside, I thought the over-all movie was funny, the acting was ok, the concept was great... and was well worth buying.
Rating: Summary: It was pretty funny Review: I enjoyed this movie. I Thought Viveca played her part well. Although, I do like Viveca. She's really convincing. Morris Chestnut, is soooooooooooo fine. I really enjoyed looking at him. But overall, i liked this movie. go get it.
Rating: Summary: hmmmmmm! Review: i guess ill give it 3 stars. the preview for this movie looked really good! but the movie did not match i dont think it was horrible, but it was not the hilarious wonderful movie i was expecting. i think those kind of misleading previews can really kill a movie. it was ok, but ill probably never watch it again even though morris chestnut is in it. some of it was funny but not really funny and alot of it just wasnt funny. maybe if i didnt expect so much from it i would have liked it more.
Rating: Summary: Two Can Play That Game Review: I liked this Film~ I thought it was full of fun and I found myself very amused with this Woman vs.Man thinking! I had to laugh during some of the 10 step's in this film~ Why? Because some of it I've played the Game that way myself~ and it worked, well to a degree~ If you are looking for a "Fun Film"~ buy this one ~ The whole Cast was nothing but perfection~ It was IMO a good Film~ Buy it yourself and "Enjoy"~
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