### **Overview**
Released in 2019, *What Men Want* flips the script on the 2000 Nancy Meyers romantic comedy *What Women Want* (which starred Mel Gibson). Directed by Adam Shankman, the movie stars Taraji P. Henson as Ali Davis, a fiercely driven sports agent constantly boxed out by her male colleagues in a male-dominated industry. After a bizarre encounter with a psychic involving some strange herbal tea and a concussion, Ali suddenly gains the ability to hear men's inner thoughts.
An honest assessment of the film reveals a predictable, formulaic comedy that manages to stay afloat almost entirely due to the magnetic screen presence of its lead actor.
### **The Good: Taraji P. Henson and the Charm Factor**
* **A Force of Nature:** Taraji P. Henson is the absolute glue holding this film together. She brings immense energy, physical comedy, and sharp timing to the role. Even when the script relies on low-hanging fruit, Henson’s charisma makes it genuinely difficult to look away.
* **Fun Supporting Dynamic:** Josh Brener shines as Ali’s anxious, well-meaning assistant, Brandon, and her chemistry with Aldis Hodge (who plays her love interest, Will) brings a refreshing, grounded warmth to the romance side of the plot.
* **Fresh Perspective:** Unlike the original 2000 film, injecting an intersectional element—a Black woman navigating a corporate "boys' club"—gives the tired premise a bit more bite and structural relevance at the start.
### **The Bad: Formulaic Writing and Missed Potential**
* **Predictable and Clichéd:** From the minute the premise is established, you can map out the entire three-act structure. It follows every paint-by-numbers rom-com trope in the book, complete with a forced third-act misunderstanding.
* **Overstuffed Subplots:** The movie tries to juggle too many things at once—signing a draft prospect, managing an overbearing basketball dad (played by Tracy Morgan), dealing with childhood trauma, and sorting out friend groups. Because of this, none of the subplots get the depth they deserve, leading to a rushed, messy ending.
* **Uneven Humor:** While some of the internal thoughts men have are genuinely hilarious and relatable, a lot of the jokes lean heavily into lazy stereotypes and broad, juvenile physical gags that miss the mark.
### **The Verdict**
*What Men Want* is far from a cinematic masterpiece. It is loud, messy, structurally bloated, and entirely predictable.
However, if you view it for what it is—a harmless, recreational weekend comedy meant for easy background viewing—it delivers plenty of laughs. Henson’s star power single-handedly elevates the material from a total miss into a moderately entertaining ride.
**Rating:*
* 2.5/ 5 stars
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