What Men Want (2019)

Review

117min

Genre:       Comedy, Romance

Director:    Adam Shankman

Cast:         Taraji P. Henson, Josh Brener, Tracy Morgan…and more

Writers:     Tina Gordon, Peter Huyck, Alex Gregory…and more

-Synopsis-

Tired of being overlooked by the men at her sport management agency, a determined woman turns her life around when an accident gives her the gift (and curse) of hearing men’s thoughts, helping her move up the totem pole and snag a crucial client, but forcing her to reassess her whole life along the way—in this female-centric remake of the Nancy Meyers romantic comedy starring Mel Gibson.

At first glance it may seem like director and comedy/romance veteran Adam Shankman (The Wedding Planner, Hairspray) is jumping on the bandwagon of female perspective remakes like 2016’s ‘Ghostbusters’ and last year’s ‘Ocean’s Eight’ here, thereby turning the original on its head—but it gets more complicated when you look at the film this is based on, and realise they’re both two sides of the same cinematic coin. Lest we forget that that the 2000 original ‘What Women Want’ directed by Nancy Meyers was already a romantic comedy from a female perspective, which far from making women the butt of the joke, centred the comedy on its male lead Mel Gibson, the chauvinist who had to go on a journey of understanding and strive to empathise with women and their struggle for respect—particularly in the workplace.

Taraji P. Henson stars as successful and domineering sport agent ‘Ali Davis’, an ambitious woman with few emotional attachments struggling to climb the ladder at her male dominated agency, reeling from once again being overlooked for a deserved partnership and confiding in her trusty long-suffering assistant ‘Brandon’ (Josh Brener). But when a crazy night of drowning her sorrows gives her the ability to hear the inner dialogue of men, she takes advantage by breaking free of her professional shackles to try and secure young blue chip basketball client ‘Jamal Barry’ (Shane Paul McGhie) through his controlling father ‘Joe’ (Tracy Morgan)—but her new gift both giveth and taketh away, as her newfound success jeopardises a rare shot at love . . . and growing as a person.

Much like the film on which it’s based, ‘What Men Want’ is a romantic comedy designed to build a light-hearted bridge between the sexes, lifting women up to be seen in a society which has traditionally overlooked them in the workplace. But being a 2019 film from the #MeToo era, this is a far more risqué and irreverent comedic affair, with a more focused female empowerment message revolving around going beyond your ‘lane’, while adding an extra social dimension of representation by being told from an African-American perspective.

Yet despite having a bit of innocent fun at the expense of men, this is far from a third-wave feminism exercise in man-bashing, and like the 2000 original it often places the main character as the butt of the joke—trying and failing only to make amends and grow—but of course given its timing and social context, it was never going to be a complete reversal that makes women the subject of ridicule . . . only part of the fun.

‘What Men Want’ boasts the comedy stylings you might expect from a 21st century film of this type, often saucy and occasionally irreverent, with plenty of strong language and sexual references involving regular people in ridiculous and often awkward situations, plus a bit of old fashioned physical comedy too. The humour is uproarious when it does hit but struggles to overcome the moments where it doesn’t, more than occasionally misfiring—and the less said about the few attempts at genuine drama and poignancy the better.

Taraji P. Henson carries the film well on the strength of her solid comedy chops and sheer charisma, as the curt and controlling agent with few social graces but plenty of ambition, on an empowering journey of self-discovery and ultimately selfless human connection. Meanwhile the rest of the cast consists largely of popular American comedy performers—including the larger-than-life Tracy Morgan whose unique talents are somewhat squandered by being constrained—plus a host of American celebrity and sporting cameos.

Despite not having the burden of following and re-packaging a classic, or even a generational favourite, like most modern remakes ‘What Men Want’ sacrifices the charm of the original for often overbearing attitude, and needless to say it’s predictable and clichéd. Adam Shankman & co. deserve credit for trying to weave a socially inclusive tale about women striving beyond joining a boy’s club and pulling up their own seat at the table, but ultimately their efforts amount to a broad and safe ‘Jerry Maguire’-inspired modern comedy that’s occasionally saucy but with no real edge or originality—wrapping things up neatly in a bow and leaving nothing to remember it by.

The Bottom Line…

A moderately entertaining, gender-flipping female-centric remake with limited charm and little ambition, ‘What Men Want’ catches the winds of social change sweeping through Hollywood by weaving a comedic tale of inclusion and empowerment, only to deliver a saucy but safe, forgettable feelgood comedy which inconsistently tickles our funny bone and fails to leave a mark.

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