So, Monika and I decided to do a written addendum of our reviews of “Think Like a Man,” after the positive response received to our broadcast on “Now In Session With Bruce and Monika” in which I was a very special guest star! *Li’l Magic smile*
Monika opened the show with the aptly timed news that not only had our local Urban Adult Contemporary station KBLX been sold, but they had fired our beloved morning Radio Personality and Program Director, “Cousin” Kevin Brown. And who, who had they replaced him with? Why, none other than Toothy Magee himself – Steve Harvey! *cue My Little Pony gasp*
But back to the subject at hand. This movie was funny, and it had a good moral. “You get what you give.” Simple. I could have done without the pop-ups of Steve Harvey, selling his book “Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man,” that purports to give women an inside view into the male mind-set to better equip her in the dating game.
The ensemble cast was wonderful, the absence of ratchet a breath of fresh air. And Michael Ealy was in it. Definitely a bonus. If you can separate the movie from the book, you’ll find more redeeming quality in the cinematic work. Which works to make you laugh – that’s it!
Steve Harvey is a comedian. (At least that’s what he says is on his business cards.) Comedians often extract humor from painful experiences; failed relationships, lack of success in careers, and other everyday life experiences. Given Mr. Harvey’s marriage track record and from what he’s told us about his life, and the fact that he dresses like a clown - you would think that Steve Harvey would be funny. I don’t find that to be the case, but his book was not terrible, and the movie an undeniable hit. (And I can at least get a few giggles from his lack of edges.)
But I do think he makes a valid point in his book, and in a roundabout way in the movie: Men are just men. Take them or leave them. They aren’t that deep. (Hence, neither is the movie. *MESSAGE*) They’ve never been much better or worse than the ones you run into today. Steve Harvey’s book gives broad ideas for women about what a man is usually striving for, a reminder sorely needed. They live to Profess, Provide and Protect. That’s it. It was like that in your daddy’s day, and not even your granpaw was much better. I’m sure that he probably gave your grandmother a bit of hell before you were even here for him to spoil and absolutely ruin your expectations and view of what a man is supposed to do for you. Men and women love differently, and not all of us have been exposed to these different loves - and this has made both men and women intolerant, unfulfilled and confused.
But love is nothing but tolerance, along with acceptance and compromise sprinkled liberally. It’s not a dumbing down, it’s a calming down. It’s knowing your worth and your power. So today, he’s wearing skinny jeans or glitter pants and you simply can’t date him. You know what? Don’t. The next woman will. And she’ll love him and accept him buy him jean shorts and polo shirts. And they’ll buy a Toyota Sienna and have kids and a life. And you? You’ll have cats and toe socks. Not because you weren’t offered more, but because you didn’t recognize or know how to accept what you were offered. (Then tweak it. There are always tweaks. But you can’t be afraid to be tweaked yourself! You aren’t perfect, either.)
Look, I get it. Love is hard. Hard to find. Hard to keep. And even harder to believe in. But just because you don’t believe it exists doesn’t mean that it’s imaginary like bottomless salsa dip. You just have to know what you’re looking for and be ready to find in the most unexpected of places, and even the most inconvenient of times. And yes, sometimes you might even be able to glean advice from an asshat to get to your goal. Or at least a few laughs. And if you came to this movie for anything other than laughs, you already lost.
Monika opened the show with the aptly timed news that not only had our local Urban Adult Contemporary station KBLX been sold, but they had fired our beloved morning Radio Personality and Program Director, “Cousin” Kevin Brown. And who, who had they replaced him with? Why, none other than Toothy Magee himself – Steve Harvey! *cue My Little Pony gasp*
But back to the subject at hand. This movie was funny, and it had a good moral. “You get what you give.” Simple. I could have done without the pop-ups of Steve Harvey, selling his book “Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man,” that purports to give women an inside view into the male mind-set to better equip her in the dating game.
The ensemble cast was wonderful, the absence of ratchet a breath of fresh air. And Michael Ealy was in it. Definitely a bonus. If you can separate the movie from the book, you’ll find more redeeming quality in the cinematic work. Which works to make you laugh – that’s it!
Steve Harvey is a comedian. (At least that’s what he says is on his business cards.) Comedians often extract humor from painful experiences; failed relationships, lack of success in careers, and other everyday life experiences. Given Mr. Harvey’s marriage track record and from what he’s told us about his life, and the fact that he dresses like a clown - you would think that Steve Harvey would be funny. I don’t find that to be the case, but his book was not terrible, and the movie an undeniable hit. (And I can at least get a few giggles from his lack of edges.)
But I do think he makes a valid point in his book, and in a roundabout way in the movie: Men are just men. Take them or leave them. They aren’t that deep. (Hence, neither is the movie. *MESSAGE*) They’ve never been much better or worse than the ones you run into today. Steve Harvey’s book gives broad ideas for women about what a man is usually striving for, a reminder sorely needed. They live to Profess, Provide and Protect. That’s it. It was like that in your daddy’s day, and not even your granpaw was much better. I’m sure that he probably gave your grandmother a bit of hell before you were even here for him to spoil and absolutely ruin your expectations and view of what a man is supposed to do for you. Men and women love differently, and not all of us have been exposed to these different loves - and this has made both men and women intolerant, unfulfilled and confused.
But love is nothing but tolerance, along with acceptance and compromise sprinkled liberally. It’s not a dumbing down, it’s a calming down. It’s knowing your worth and your power. So today, he’s wearing skinny jeans or glitter pants and you simply can’t date him. You know what? Don’t. The next woman will. And she’ll love him and accept him buy him jean shorts and polo shirts. And they’ll buy a Toyota Sienna and have kids and a life. And you? You’ll have cats and toe socks. Not because you weren’t offered more, but because you didn’t recognize or know how to accept what you were offered. (Then tweak it. There are always tweaks. But you can’t be afraid to be tweaked yourself! You aren’t perfect, either.)
Look, I get it. Love is hard. Hard to find. Hard to keep. And even harder to believe in. But just because you don’t believe it exists doesn’t mean that it’s imaginary like bottomless salsa dip. You just have to know what you’re looking for and be ready to find in the most unexpected of places, and even the most inconvenient of times. And yes, sometimes you might even be able to glean advice from an asshat to get to your goal. Or at least a few laughs. And if you came to this movie for anything other than laughs, you already lost.
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