'What Men Want' Review: Taraji P. Henson Brings Life to a Dead Storyline

If you’re looking for laughs, a likable cast and a subtle message about letting your guard down in relationships - you’ve found it.

“What Men Want” is no incredible storyline. In fact, the narrative is quite reminiscent of many movies in the early 2000s. The premise is quite like that of the 2000 comedy "What Women Want," which featured Mel Gibson. 

If you’re in search of a film comparable to 2018’s “Girls’s Trip,” starring Queen Latifah and Jada Pinkett - please keep looking.

Taraji P. Henson is joined by the likes of Tamala Jones, Erykah Badu, Aldis Hodge, Josh Brener, Richard Roundtree and Tracy Morgan in Tina Gordon’s new film. This is simply a cast that moviegoers will support.

We’ve come to expect complete performances from Henson and she definitely doesn’t disappoint in her role as sports agent Ali Davis.

After being denied a promotion within her sports agency because she's told, "you don't connect well with men," her fortunes become unhinged during a bachelorette party encounter with a psychic (Erykah Badu) and then a sharp blow to the head while on the dance floor in an underdeveloped club scene. Ali wakes up with the ability to hear men's thoughts. Initially she is completely turned off and slightly threatened by her newfound gift. The psychic helps her to realize just how useful such a power might.

Knowing what men want helps Ali in both her profession life, as well as in her personal life as she begins to embark on a relationship with single, widowed father Will (Aldis Hodge).

Despite the many celebrity cameos (Shaquille O’Neal, Mark Cuban, Adam Silver, Grant Hill, etc.) - “What Men Want” is not very memorable. The attempt at an authentic comedic gender-swap falls short.

Henson’s journey both through and around her preconceived notions about what men actually want is both appreciated and entertaining, but this is not by any means a movie that you’ll repeatedly watch.

Rating: 3/5