Act like a Lady, Yes... But Should You Think like a Man?
By Penny Paige for BounceBack.com
Last weekend I joined the masses and checked out the film Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, starring Oscar Nominee Taraji P. Henson and Gabrielle Union. The film was based off of New York Times bestselling book Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, by comedian Steve Harvey.
In summary, I found the movie to be extremely funny with a hit of brutal honesty. It raised so many issues that women deal with (i.e. Dating a man that won't commit, dating a mama's boy, dating a player, and setting boundaries to name a few). Here's the breakdown of the types of men (and the women involved with them) featured in the film:
"The Player" - This is the man that is smooth as silk. He gets what he wants (sex without a commitment) from any woman he desires. He is the epitome of charming, suave, always knows what to say, and is sexy as hell. He has no problem stringing women along because he's only out for a good time. In "Act Like a Lady…" the "Player" meets a new love interest, a woman who wants more out of relationships. She's tired of the usual one-night stands and she wants more from the next guy that approaches her (who happens to be "The Player). She poses a 90-Day rule in which they will not have sex before 3 months go by. The journey to 90 days is both comedic and entertaining; you'll laugh and definitely want to take notes.
Related: Is Staying in a Relationship for Sex Okay?
"The Mama's Boy" - This guy is self-explanatory and in my opinion pathetic. He lives with his mom and bends over backwards to keep her satisfied, as she is the #1 woman in his life.Things change for the Mama's Boy when he meets a woman with a young son. He falls for her immediately and realizes that as long as his mother is his #1, he will never be able to keep a healthy adult relationship.
Related: When Is the Nice Guy Enough?
"The Dreamer" - This man is a great guy, perhaps the guy that I saw the most potential in. He is romantic, sensual, sexy, and intelligent - but, he's broke! This man changes jobs every few months, as he's sorting his life out to get to know himself. He is on a quest for his passion and doesn't want to stop until he finds the career that he is destined to be in.
In walks the highly sophisticated, highly successful, highly intelligent, and HIGHLY independent woman (and COO of a Fortune 500 company), played by Taraji P. Henson. She doesn't believe in the rationale of women thinking like men to get what they want. She feels that she should uphold her standards and not settle for men who don't have what she has (a nice vehicle, property, and six-figure salaries). She soon learns that money and material possessions aren't the only things to consider when dating men.
"The Non-Committer" - This man has the Toys 'R' Us syndrome; he doesn't want to grow up and be a man. He is stuck in the yester years of life when all that mattered was doing well in college, drinking every weekend, and smoking any chance he gets. Sure he makes good money, but he's complacent and doesn't feel the need to apply himself at work for raises or apply himself in his relationship. He feels that his girlfriend of 8 years will always be there as "one of the guys" because she's always been.
The Non-Committer's girlfriend, played by Gabrielle Union, eventually decides that she can't wait anymore. After reading the book she learns how important it is to set precedent to get what you want out of a relationship. She learns that it isn't always easy, but she does learn that settling is definitely not the way to go.
Related: Is Forcing Monogamy the Right Way to Achieve Trust?
This film is definitely a feel good movie! It also evokes stimulating conversation amongst friends and couples - as it did with my girlfriends. After exchanging our personal views on the film, we do see how important it is to sometimes be flexible with our standards (re-evaluate them; are they too high? Are they too unrealistic), to stand our ground (to know our worth and not settle for games and being strung along), and to recognize, value, and appreciate a good man when you meet them, even if they aren't who we conventionally thought we'd end up with.
I HIGHLY recommend this film for girlfriends, new couples (going on dates), and for guys (as it wasn't a chick flick - I PROMISE). And once you see it, you can determine if you should think like a man or not!
Penny Paige is a native New Yorker that currently resides in the burbs' of Queens. She is lover of music & dancing, summertime in NYC, lives for traveling, is a die-hard hopeless romantic, and loves to try new cuisine at the drop of a dime.
BounceBack.com helps people find happiness in the right relationship. If you've been through a breakup, divorce, or just haven't been able to find happiness in your love life, come to BounceBack to tell your story, get community support, and find the confidence and strength you need to move forward. Check out our Facebook page.
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When It's Time to Say Goodbye
What Can We Learn From Our Failed Relationships?
