Three Can Play That Game

I guess you can start wondering about what makes love ... love. How we should be behaving, how and what we should be saying to each other. Just be yourself you say? Well not according to this comedy - you apparently need an expert who is telling you what to do and to say.

It may not always feel like the right thing to do - but she is the expert isn't she? Of course it helps if you are playing both sides - or is it manipulating? One thing is for sure - you have to suspend disbelief, you have to endure the cliches and just roll with the flow - enjoy the jokes if you can and will.

Granted, as a retired aging hippie, I'm not this movie's target audience. It's not that I didn't like it, it's that I put me to sleep after about ten minutes (even the first ten minutes had me checking the clock to see how much more there was to endure) and I have no desire to go back and try to re-watch. There were plenty of beautiful people, nice houses, fast cars, everything nice to watch in an escapist romantic comedy. And I like Vivica A. Fox, but she couldn't carry this movie for me.

This might be a plot problem. I watched "Someone Like You" yesterday, another movie about the war of the sexes. That was dumb too. These movies prove one of my pet theories: if the writing isn't there, get up and go home … or in this case, nap on.

"Three Can Play That Game" picks up with Shante Smith (Vivica Fox) in Atlanta where she is now a couples therapist. Unlike the first film where Vivica was talking to the audience trying to solve her own relationship problems (and a few friends), in this installment Vivica is counseling Byron Thompson (Jason Winston George) and Tiffany (Jazsmin Lewis). It's the same formula, but by making Vivica a celebrity therapist, the filmmakers actually gave her a reason to monologue. And Vivica is great when she's addressing the audience.

Shante is the role Vivica was meant to play. I've never seen her as good as she is in this part. Every little inflection is dead on (remember this line: "trick ass bitch!"), and I guarantee that if you got a kick out of her asides in the first one, you definitely will in this one.

But the real treat here is Jazsmin Lewis, who has been steadily growing as actress and is getting better with each film. She was good in "Tracie Townsend," but she's even better in this. She's beautiful and a great actress and I look forward to seeing her in even bigger projects.

Tony Rock is also good in this as the best friend coaching Byron's character, as is Terri Vaughn.

Finally... Melyssa Ford as Candy. I had been looking to see her in this movie. To be honest, even though she's eye candy extraordinaire, I've never been that impressed with screen presence. But she did a nice job here. She looks incredible--distractingly so--but her acting chops are respectable.

This movie lacks the brisk pacing of the first one, but it's thoroughly enjoyable. I found myself re-watching several scenes for kicks.

A nice sequel. Should have been in theaters.

P.S. Mark Brown is a true talent. Hope to keep seeing his movies.

just promotes playing games and all the stupid stereotypes for African-Americans....does not even deserve a 1 rating, and anyone who worked on this movie & acted in it really should not be allowed to work in movies ever again, really should be in jail for this foolishness. Vivica Fox has constantly put out bad movies. She can not act, refuses to take any lessons, and really just does not have any skills. Sad part is she is not this so-called "dime piece" label that men want to add to her (sad term to use anyway). Just another attempt to make money. The premise to use the reality theme type just shows the lack of imagination, with the "backdrop" of Atlanta.

first 10 minutes are kind of boring; the plot is all over the place(i was afraid that might become something about a "reality" show, at which point i would have quit watching). but glad my fears were proved wrong))) Jazsmin Lewis and Jason Winston George are the couple. he gets "busted" (not of his fault ) of being caught with another woman. to any male that follows is obviously about CONTROL, and lots of ultra-feminists clichés follow.....OK why i do actually like this feature then? first of all,Vivica A. Fox as "her" therapist and Terrance L. Campbell as "his" best friend are awesome to watch having a "proxy" war by means of the couple. how far it gets i will not tell you here, but is FUN. secondly all those ultra-feminists issues goes to such extremes that they become clearly something to be ignored or laughed at hard with an open mouth.(more like teasing your girlfriend if watch this as a couple and her tease you back. as a matter of fact all vivica a.fox comedies are directed towards spicing up the bedroom atmosphere, especially if the viewers are having strong aggressive or passive-aggressive personalities). thirdly Vivica A.-Fox manages to take the meaning on "b...h" to higher levels.there are so many moments in the movie that all a guy could think as a male is if such a girlfriend is worth to have had in the first place( it becomes obvious that this is all about a power play about who will be the dominant "specie" in the relationship). more like those "girlfriends" that WANT you to make a step "wrong" so they can get the "moral" high ground. if this would have been a drama i would outright LOATH the whole clichés about men seen simply as "animals" that need to be "domesticated" LOL. but because it is a comedy , it is FUN to see all this aspects and yes i am sure anyone can relate to ANY OF THE 4 MAIN CHARACTERS. this should be popular with high school teenagers as well.

this has entertainment value as long as not taking it personal or worse, literally.if know anyone having a therapist "a la" Vivica A. Fox then PREY for them regardless of sex, hehehehe; i guess she likes to stay true to her name))))i give it a 7 for mood well defined eventually and good acting all around. 3 points taken for some clichés and ultra-feminist exclusive aspects, that even if done with style, they remain as such.

err..."sls5s"..."ust promotes playing games and all the stupid stereotypes for African-Americans"; what exactly is that supposed to mean!?