What Men Want: 2019

Okay, I know what you might say: What Men Want is not an Oscar-contender. Not even close. And you're right. It's not an Oscar movie, and I doubt it will be present in the Academy's minds when nominations happen for this year's films. But you know what? I don't care. What Men Want is fun, and sometimes, we need a little fun in our lives from the films we watch. At least I do.

The best part about What Men Want is the cast. Taraji P. Henson stars as Ali, a woman who after a wild night and concussion, gains the ability to hear what men are thinking. The premise of this film may remind you of 2000's What Women Want, but please stop that comparison. Stop it right there because What Women Want is far superior than that Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt film. That superiority comes from the actors. Henson is hilarious as Ali, firing off verbal barbs at her male co-workers, engaging in slapstick physical comedy that fits the scenes, and expressing her disgust at what she hears men thinking through her facial expressions. I saw Henson in Hidden Figures where she plays Katherine G. Johnson, the amazing mathematics genius, but that role didn't require Henson's comedic skills. And wow, does she have them.

Besides Henson, the cast includes an always enjoyable Tracy Morgan as an overbearing parent of a soon-to-be-famous basketball player and a mesmerizing Erykah Badu as a psychic. I found myself eagerly anticipating the psychic scenes--each one was funnier than the last. Badu embodies the role, and her interactions with the other characters are beyond funny.

What Men Want was worth seeing it in the theaters. When the weather is gloomy and the work stress is piling up, sometimes you just need a little fun, and What Men Want delivers exactly that.