We have all heard the phrase, “Battle of the Sexes.” That is a consistent theme in the romantic comedy “Think Like a Man.”
The movie is based on the 2011 best-selling book written by actor, radio host and comedian Steve Harvey, which is entitled “Act like a Lady, Think Like A Man: What Men Really Think about Love, Relationships, Intimacy and Commitment.”
The film invites the audience into the lives of four men and four women who learn trying to out-maneuver their mates is not what leads to a lasting relationship. Honesty and communication are what form lasting bonds. This was one of the many lessons the movie offered men and women.
Another lesson is that women should not be so blinded by a perfect image of a mate that they miss someone who is clearly better than what they expected. That can also apply to men who carry checklists of traits their ideal woman must have before a relationship can form.
More than anything, the film is funny. It’s hard to expect anything less from Harvey since he has been delivering laughs for many years. However, what I took away from viewing the film was an educational component on just how differently men and women think when it comes to relationships. I also saw how women view themselves is of greater importance when it comes to this area of life. Though many women claim to know that, it was a constant reminder in the movie and should be an admonition women value in their lives.
Harvey essentially tells women a man respects a woman who has standards and keeps them. Seems pretty self-explanatory, right?
In the film, viewers see one of the character’s standards change and how hard it is for her and the man she’s dating to maintain those standards. Some of those standards include having the man open the car door for you and coming in after a date and only talking (no hanky-panky).
What I liked about that piece of advice is chivalry is something that should be consistent throughout a relationship, not just in the beginning of a courtship. I’m happy to report my fiancé still opens the door for me after we’ve been together more than a year.
Of the four couples, my favorite was that of a successful businesswoman who struggled to deviate from her vision of an ideal man. She was an editor of a high-profile women’s magazine, and her success had been intimidating to men she had dated in the past. Harvey’s advice was to somewhat relax her standards to allow true love to occur, even if the man’s income did not match hers. It was so hard for her to get past that. In the end, she learned what she needed most was not someone who matched her professionally but someone who respected her and always made her feel special. In the film, the man who provided that for her was not a media mogul but an unemployed and rising chef who had dreams of opening his own restaurant.
Harvey’s book serves as a guide for women to better understand their mates and how to determine if a man is the right mate for them. The types of men portrayed in the film and the book include those who fear commitment, the player not looking to settle down and the mama’s boy who needs to grow up.
The men, when they find out about the insight their women have gained through the book, attempt to get even by using Harvey’s words against the women. The whole “getting-even” attitude doesn’t work because it involves dishonesty.
It was predicted that “Think like a Man” would not do well at the box office. It proved many critics wrong. It is now the number-one movie in America, raking in about $33 million during its opening weekend.
While the interests of men and women vary, this movie is entertaining if nothing else. If you’re looking for a laugh while gaining some insight into the male species, give it a look-see. If anything, it might even make you want to go out and buy the book. That’s the first thing I wanted to do after leaving the movie theater.
