Movie Scene
'Two Can Play That Game' is shallow, contrived romantic comedy

By Jack Garner
Gannett News Service

TWO CAN PLAY THAT GAME (Rated R for profanity, adult themes) One-and-One-Half Stars (Poor-to-Fair) A shallow, contrived romantic comedy in which a self-assured woman arrogantly instructs her "sisters" on how to win back a man who strays. Vivica A. Fox and Morris Chestnut co-star for first-time director Mark Brown who also penned the script. Screen Gems, 95 mins.

As such, it's a superficial shadow of such earlier romantic comedies as "How Stella Got Her Groove Back" and "Waiting to Exhale."

Like those earlier films, "Two Can Play" is set in the upscale world of high-achievers, at work and play, in corporate board rooms, penthouse offices, gorgeous homes, and posh nightclubs and restaurants. Shante Smith (Vivica A. Fox) spends a lot of the film bragging about it.

The lovely Smith is a successful advertising executive, in the midst of a passionate romance with the handsome, equally successful executive, Keith Fenton (Morris Chestnut).

Smith confidently gives out all sorts of advice to her women friends (Wendy Raquel Robinson, Mo`Nique and Tamala Jones) about the ways to get and keep a man. Examples of her "wisdom" include:

"Men are like stray dogs. You feed a stray dog and one day he'll come back."

"The first time your man messes up, no matter how minor the infraction, punish him. Punish him hard."

It's not bad enough that she passes on such advice to her friends; she spends most of the film passing it on to us, in the audience. The script by first time director Mark Brown (who also wrote the script) "breaks the wall" with Smith looking into the camera and talking almost constantly to us. I dare say, the majority of her dialogue is directed at us, and not other characters.

It's a device that tires quickly i she comes off as cocky, the advice is stupid, and you'll get tired of being preached to.

Smith somehow knows the rulebook to the game of love, for she's forever telling us "Rule No. 1 is . . ." and "The primary rule is . . ." And "Rule No 3 is . . ."

Trust me, you'll lose count.

Obviously, something as emotional as romance can't be guided by rules i so we all know where this film is going.

A few polished performances stop "Two Can Play" from being an utter disaster. Fox is an attractive, moderately talented actress, even if she's saddled with an unappealing character. Ditto Chestnut.

And Anthony Anderson nearly steals the film as Keith's best buddy, Tony. He's another person who foolishly thinks he knows the rules of the game of love, but at least he spouts them with good humor.

Brown's direction is adequate, and he gives the project a polished gloss. However, the long final sequence i a lawn party i is obviously a giant product-placement advertisement for a brand of beer.

Jack Garner is chief film reviewer for the Gannett News Service.