Three Can Play That Game (2007)

Too much of everything

Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

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.

Carla must be a wrestling fan. I say that due to the fact that at the restaurant, when Byron said that Tiffany helped to get him into the game, she said that she WAS the game. Sounds very familiar to me. Anyone that watches WWE programming knows what I mean. But seriously, movies like this never cease to amaze me. Is it me, or do they all seem to have the same plot? Why are the roles always so damn stereotypical? Ford and Fox's roles were the most stereotypical. And what is it with these movies about relationships that always make the men out to look like lying, scheming jerks. Most, if not all movies in this genre are so one-sided. And what was with that lame attempt at a James Bond impression by Fox?

Two Can Play That Game caught me off guard. When I first started watching it I started rolling my eyes. As the movie progressed I was laughing and was enjoying myself. The way the movie ended threw me off completely but that is what made that movie special. It tricks you into thinking you can predict how the movie is going to end up then BAM! Nice surprise. Three Can Play That Game is a soulless, unfunny, and mean-spirited sequel that is just as corny and weak as you would expect a direct-to-DVD sequel to Two Can Play That Game to be.Story: Byron Thomson is caught by his girlfriend Tiffany(Jazsmin Lewis) in a compromising position with Carla(Kellita Smith), a TV executive. From then on Tiffany seeks the advise provided by Shante Smith(Vivica Fox) to help manipulate Byron and the relationship. Byron uses the advise from his best friend Gizzard(Tony Rock)to manipulate the relationship. Byron ends up using Shante's advise to help him manipulate Tiffany and Tiffany follows the advise of her friends, Linda(Terry Vaughn) and Monica(Rashan Ali) to manipulate the relationship.As you can see this movie is very confusing plus it doesn't even have the good intentions of its predecessor. Two Can Play That Game had a great message: You cant turn love into a game to be controlled because you will lose. Plus it was pretty clever in how it conveyed that message. This movie doesn't seem to have much to say plus its quite annoying to see these attractive brothers and sisters act like childish high-schoolers throughout the movie. I wouldn't have a problem if it were a means to an end but its not. Add that to the fact that this movie tries to use the same type of jokes from the first movie and fails.Vivica tries to inject some personality into her character but she comes across as a huge douche bag(if you can call a female that), whereas in the first one she was a likable person with a wayward view of relationships and men. And her performance in this movie is quite forced. Jason George, Tony Rock and Jazsmin Lewis all give forced performances and it shows. Did I forget to mention that this movie is boring? Lethally boring.In conclusion Three Can Play That Game is a direct-to-DVD sequel that will join the ranks of other bad direct-to-video sequels like House Party 4 and Home Alone 4. The humor falls flat and the movie doesn't even have heart(which the first movie has). Even if you haven't seen the Two Can Play That Game you wont like this one. This is Two Can Play That Game for the Lifetime crowd. Two thumbs down.

"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.