I guess you can never judge a book by its cover, even if it is Steve Harvey's obnoxiously titled Act like a Lady, Think like a Man. Old-school gender politics aside, director Tim Story's adaptation is cleverer than your average rom-com, following the highs and lows of a group of guys and their respective women (spoiler: it's from the male perspective). Sure, they break their characters down into tropes like "Mama's Boy" (Terence J) or "The Dreamer" (Michael Ealy), but that doesn't mean authentic personal problems are left out. Relatable moments are easily the highlights of the movie, and they pop up frequently enough to make this boy's club believable. The ensemble cast (including Taraji P. Henson and Meagan Good) works to keep us hooked on the "love is a battlefield" mindset. Now, if only Harvey would stop attributing gender-defining behavioral habits to DNA, I could be more at peace.
