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.

Entertaining As I like to say, this movie is very entertaining. It is not as great as Rainforest Classics "Stomp the Yard", "the Gospel" or "This Christmas", but I only asked to be entertained when I sat down to watch this film. I was glad to see a film that cast the hilarious Tony Rock, Vivica A. Fox, Jason Winston George, and Jazsmin Lewis all in one film together. I am a fan of Fox, Rock and George although this proved to be a big role for George to carry at this point in his career. Especially under this director whom I must say is over his head with this job. By the way, his movie stands on its own independent of "Two Can Play...". If you want to get in the Rainforest spirit, get your hands on the aforementioned "Stomp the Yard" Stomp the Yard (Widescreen Edition) and "The Gospel" The Gospel (Special Edition).

But despite any shortcomings of the film not being a masterpiece of cinema, it was well worth price paid as an entertaining comedy that I enjoyed. I was pleasantly surprised to see the film acting debut of Hot 107.9 Atlanta's Rashan Ali in the movie in a supporting role as one of Jazmin Lewis' character's best friends. Rashan has a bright spirit in the radio studio and as an Atlanta Hawks announcer and she does well in this movie. I'll be looking for her in upcoming projects.

Vivica does her regular "thing" in this movie with grand style and her fans will be pleased to see her go through the paces.

Another odd but pleasant surprise for me was the prominent placement of Upscale Magazine, one of my favorite magazines. I've been reading that magazine almost every month for many years and it was funny to see it on the big screen as almost a co-star of the movie. Big ups to the Affluent Lifestyle! If you only buy one film every 2 years, this may not be the one for you. But if you like funny, entertaining movies and you like the work of any of the cast members featured, this movie is an easy choice. at the end of the day, this is a movie that is now a part of my collection right next to its predecessor, "Two Can Play That Game". "Hollywood" Will Packer and "Big Time" Bernard Bronner put their stamp on it so I had to check it out. I know I'm on point because I got mine through Amazon Prime but both of my daughters each bought one this week too, one at Wal-Mart and the other at Best Buy.

danceability-1, Amsterdam Holland

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.

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.

"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.