Two Can Play That Game (2001)

Here's a romantic comedy that doesn't devolve into utter stupidity or becomed mired in inanity. It moves along at a nice pace, and though it's basically a silly movie, that's entirely forgivable since it never takes itself seriously. The plot line is wafer thin in that it tracks the breakup of two affluent African Americans, but what is very funny is the strategizing back and forth; Vivica Fox of course has, or thinks she has, all the right steps in playing this game, but Anthony Anderson as the adviser to Fox's boyfriend, helps him counter a number of her moves.

The fact that Fox's character speaks directly to the character works as a plot device, it moves things along and really gives insights into the character that, inasmuch as she is always scheming whether with her boyfriends or girlfriends, is the only way we'd get that info.

The fact that this is a "black" movie is almost entirely irrelevant--there are a couple of scenes where Anderson and Chestnut are going back and forth with terms like "preach it" from what sounds like a black church meeting, but that just adds to the charm, it avoids all those awful ghetto cliches that seem to infuse Martin Lawrence style movies.

The movie is kind of a female version of a terrible Eddie Murphy vehicle from a decade ago called "Boomerang" about a womanizing ad executive, who has certain tactics when dealing with women. But it avoids the nasty aspects and plain stupidity of that movie.

This one isn't going to win any awards, but its a pleasant time, and everyone knows how what's going to happen in the end, the fun is watching the two go back and forth with their silly tactics--one of the funnier scenes involves some half baked philosophizing about "transferrence of energy." This one is worth the time.

Fmovies: In "Two Can Play That Game", an upwardly mobile Afro-Am professional woman, Shante (Fox), lays out the "rules" for playing the mating game as she takes the audience step by step, talking to the camera, through her own foible fraught relationship one rule at a time. Meanwhile her befuddled boyfriend (Chestnut) gets his own dose of rules and countermeasures from a know-it-all best friend (Anderson). The 95% comedy in this lively little romp comes from the interaction of the pair of protagonists with their kookie friends. The 5% romance comes at the end when the flick finally gets real. Fun stuff which gracefully straddles the black/white divide and avoids "ghetto", this flick will likely appeal most to females, particularly African-American females. (C+)

This film offers just a bit of insight to the relationship game. This is not really anything new, but it's still entertaining and the acting worked for me. So, don't run out of your way to see it, but if it's on, go ahead and you should enjoy it.

Two Can Play That Game fmovies. Come On People, This movie was fun for me. I'm not for girlie movies but Vivica Fox happens to be one of my favourite Black Actresses and she "SHONE" in this simple but classy role!

For the brothers out there dissing her, don't you wish you were the one slamming your girlfriend on your desk during lunch. She did what some smart women don't do, she planned and we(hate)her for being that smart.

Hey the babe didn't want to lose and her boyfriend was beginning to cheat on her, when you've got it all like THAT!! what more do you need? like Shante says men are like dogs, "you need to leash them" and her boyfriend proves her right.

Remember nice girls & boyz finish last.

Shante went overboard in her planning but in real life, her boyfriend when they get back together would respect her for it!! All of us guys like a woman who knows what she is doing and who can work around us so all we really have to is bring home the bacon.

Well! Wake Up Y'all!!!

This movies sizzles with excellent chemistry, laidback humor and on the spot comic delivery.

Fox, Chestnut and Anthony Anderson deliver standout performances !!! Not Oscar worthy but classic and enduring.

I'll be watching this movie 10 years from now and still having a swell time.

7/10...

This movie had the potential to do something great, but failed. Vivica Fox was decent in her first starring role (was it a starring role?) as Shante. She is a great actress who doesn't get great roles (like most black actresses) but she put accurate effort into the character. The problem was that the movie relied too heavily on Shante's in-your-face-dialogue. And the game itself was a bit too farfetched. Of course women play games, but the lengths Shante went to just to teach Keith a lesson wasn't realistic. And is it just me or was practically everybody from The Brothers in this movie? (Morris Chestnut, Tamala Jones, Gabrielle Union). Good note - Monique was hilarious in her role as she should be. I did like this movie, but it would be nice to see a black movie that doesn't always rely on humor and battle of the sexes-type themes. What I would give to see a serious movie about African-Americans again. Another Soul Food-esque film would be excellent.

This would be standard middle-brow entertainment were it not for three factors that I'll discuss in a little bit. The concept, that women can be as deft "players" of the field as men, is certainly not new to most. It may be new to A level films, and it probably is new to director/producer Mark Brown, the creator of HOW TO BE A PLAYER. But it is not a concept new to almost any B level direct-to-video thriller, anything on Cinemax after 11pm, or to any newspaper. Women have almost always been better players (see Anna Nicole Smith, Leona Helmsley, that maid that married the Johnson & Johnson fortune, and almost all of the guests on either Jerry Springer, Jenny Jones, or Ricki Lake). But, this movie does have an easy going pace and sound track that combine to make it as smooth as a ride in Shante's convertible Jaguar. What makes the film stay slightly above average is the presence of the three lead thespians. First of all, let it be said that Anthony Anderson does in fact walk away with this film. He simply owns every second that he is on screen (including the out takes at the end). His natural and easy manner combined with impeccable comic timing simply makes him the de facto owner of the material, the screen, and the film as a whole. Next, Morris Chestnut, whether given a lot or a little (like here) to do simply comes off as likable. And in the main role, few actresses - good looking or not - could carry off the part that Vivica A. Fox plays. The film would not be believable were it not for this particular actresses commanding presence and astonishing good looks. She, like her character, is someone who has worked her looks and her intelligence to get exactly what she wants out of life, and she is not afraid to show it. So, if you go in not expecting too much, you will come out pleasantly surprised. A 7 out of 10.