The romantic comedy is probably my favorite genre of cinema. Made for the masses and always predictable, it’s the perfect blend of mind-numbing entertainment, strategically placed eye candy (and advertisements) for all sexual orientations and not-a-one belly clenching laugh.

They’re cheesy and palatable. You just can’t go wrong with a chick flick (you most definitely can).

In my long list of romcoms, Two Can Play That Game is one I watch more often that most.

This romcom doesn’t follow the typical rom-com formula : boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl. Instead we’re in a direct conversation with Shante Smith as she must apply all her game (which she usually shells out to her girlfriends as advice for their man troubles) to her own relationship when her boyfriend cancels on her because he has to work late. Words, that according to Shante, are the number #1 excuse of a cheating man. So the game begins and the story goes on.

It also differs from most theatrically release romcoms as the cast is mostly back, including its start-studded main cast.

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Starring Vivica A. Fox as Shante Smith

Morris Chestnut As Keith Fenton

Anthony Anderson as Tony

Gabrielle Union as Conny Spalding

Wendy Raquel Robinson as Karen

Tamala Jones as Tracey

Mo’Nique as Diedre

etc…

SYNOPSIS

Two Can Play That Game tell the story of a successful career woman whose romantic advice is put to the test when she sees her man out dancing with a new woman.

If you are looking for a romcom to watch, maybe you should give this one a try. Especially if you like those from the early 2000s. It has the whole starter pack:

hot love interests

the white twink assistant

bad/toxic/might get you arrested love advice

a scene in a clothing store (no dancing here though)

main characters working as a partner in some firm (why are they always in business?)

There are a lot of things I like about the movie, here are a few:

Shante’s introduction – within two minutes, we learn a lot about her character, how she sees herself, how others see her and the tone of the movie is set.

Gabrielle Union’s stunning red ensemble – Connie’s a bad bitch and ho.

Morris Chestnut

The line “let me go holler at that negro”

Watch it.