BATTLE of the RomComs

Early summer produced two romantic comedies which seemed like they were both worth seeing. One a Judd Apatow produced film starring a go to comedic actor Jason Siegel. The other a "black" comedy starring the hottest stand up comedian on the planet right now, Kevin Hart. Now even though they have both their differences as just mentioned, they also have a few similarities. Such that Kevin Hart is actually in both of these movies. Starring in one and just being back up comedy relief in the other...though still, in both. You'll also find a charter in both movies both happen to open up a food truck in the end...UGH OH, I forgot to say SPOILER ALERT. TO be totally honest these movies are totally opposite in so many ways. Find out how in this summers BATTLE OF THE ROM COMS...

Tom and Violet the two main characters in 5YE are dull from the get go. They actually develop pretty well as far as who they are, but this is a comedy. We don't need to get to know the characters that well just to laugh. Chris Pratt from Parks and Rec plays the "comedy" wing man to Siegel yet fell flat on his face in the role. There was just nothing there, though I also don't find him very funny in Parks and Rec either. Alison Brie I liked in her role, but it was pretty small and couldn't save the film. If there was any positives about this movie it was some of the back up roles. Again Kevin Hart appears in the movie along with Brian Posehn. They both added just enough laughs to keep me in my seat through most of the movie. But through out most of the film it seemed like they weren't trying at all or were trying too hard. Such as when Tom had embraced his new life in Michigan and grew out the massive, tangly beard and was hunting and eating wild game and drinking dear spit. It was pretty pathetic.

Now even though Think Like A Man wasn't a fantastic film, it is a good watch. It does focus a lot of relationships, but you see the side of both the man and the woman. The battle, the struggle, the games played on both sides. Romany Malco always delivers, weather in Weeds, 40 Year Old Virgin etc... Seeing Jerry Ferrara in this movie was the perfect insert for the "token white guy" in the mix. What I really enjoyed was even though this movie was about relationships for the most part. It was kept light. It resembled a RomCom and a buddy movie. It was about relationships between men, women, friends and family. You got big laughs and sentimental moments. Kevin Hart was the only character not really involved in a relationship. So he was free to be the guy who could just focus on being the comic relief in the movie even when the tone was a bit on the serious side. It could snap quickly from one direction to another seamlessly.

In the end it's not hard to see that Think Like a Man wins the early summer Battle of the Rom Coms.

Recommendations & Ratings

5 Year Engagement: A Few laughs but nothing to really hold on to. I would recommend skipping this movie all together. For me it's not worth the money or your time spent even watching it on DVD. If you need to compromise with your girlfriend on a Redbox rental it might be worth the dollar to skip watching The Vow or The Lucky One. Other than that...STAY AWAY.
D+

Think Like A Man: It's a good theater watch, especially if you get the right people in the theater with you. Although I would say maybe wait until DVD or at least until it hits the $2 theater. A good date movie.
C+