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Two Can Play That Game

Generally unfavorable reviews
Based on 21 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 10 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie >
Movie Info
Genre(s): Romance
Written by: Mark Brown
Directed by: Mark Brown
Release Date:
Theatrical: September 7, 2001
DVD: December 26, 2001
Running Time: 90 minutes, Color
Origin: USA
Summary
RATING: R for language including sexual dialogue
Starring Vivica A. Fox, Morris Chestnut, Anthony Anderson, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Tamala Jones, and Gabrielle Union
In this comedic battle of the sexes, Shante (Fox) is about to discover that not only are there no rules -- she's not the only one playing. (Sony Pictures Entertainment)
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Philadelphia Inquirer Carrie Rickey
A snappily fun Mantrap Movie, as films about husband-hunting gals are known, is that rare hybrid of romantic comedy and Super Bowl.
Read Full Review >Boston Globe Jonathan Perry
In addition to the film's two extremely likable stars, the strong supporting cast features a who's who of rising African-American actors.
Read Full Review >Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert
The movie does have charm and moments of humor, but what it doesn't have is romance.
Read Full Review >Miami Herald Connie Ogle
The movie still manages to unearth laughs, some of them pretty big, especially once Shanté's program is under way.
Read Full Review >Chicago Reader Lisa Alspector
Writer-director Mark Brown ruptures and restores the realism in this romantic comedy with ease, dispensing earnest wisdom with a little tongue in cheek instead of undermining it with a lot of irony.
Read Full Review >TV Guide Stephen Miller
A sassy romantic battle of the sexes with a refreshing African-American slant.
Read Full Review >Portland Oregonian Gary Dowell
An endearing romantic comedy that pokes fun at the ridiculous things people do for love.
Read Full Review >USA Today Claudia Puig
Women may appear a bit smarter here, but both sexes are portrayed as superficial and silly.
Read Full Review >San Francisco Chronicle Edward Guthmann
The best scenes are the ones that Fox shares with Tamala Jones, Wendy Raquel Robinson and the full-figured Monique as her sassy girlfriends. There's a ripe, crackling spontaneity when these women get together.
Read Full Review >Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum
Along comes Two Can Play That Game to demonstrate that antifeminist silliness is color-blind.
Read Full Review >Salon.com Stephanie Zacharek
Ultimately feels somewhat overprocessed, and its humor is a little too broad at times -- it probably crosses the acceptable threshold of penis and boob jokes.
Read Full Review >Los Angeles Times Gene Seymour
There probably isn't another actress anywhere who could make that corny self-advertisement work. And there definitely isn't another actress who could make such an overbearing heroine worth watching for an hour and a half.
Read Full Review >The New York Times Dana Stevens
A likable, featherweight romantic comedy that hardly asks to be taken seriously, but its very triviality is, in some ways, quite significant.
Read Full Review >New York Post Lou Lumenick
The characters are so cartoonish, it's hard to care on any level -- except that it wastes such talented performers.
Read Full Review >New York Daily News Elizabeth Weitzman
Aside from the shamelessly promoted corporate sponsors, nobody emerges from this game a winner. But the biggest losers are the ones who paid good money to watch it.
Read Full Review >LA Weekly Mark Olsen
Ultimately neither freewheeling enough to work as a diverting entertainment nor barbed enough to strike home as any sort of social commentary.
Read Full Review >New Times (L.A.) Luke Y. Thompson
Too bad very few of these high jinks are actually funny -- the outtakes at the end of the film suggest a more relaxed ensemble vibe that the film proper was unable to retain.
Read Full Review >Chicago Tribune Loren King
Throws its obvious predecessor, "Waiting to Exhale," into relief, making that 1995 syrupy revenge fantasy look positively Shakespearean next to the moronic Two Can Play That Game.
Read Full Review >Village Voice Mark Holcomb
It's the summer's most disingenuous movie -- a real achievement in a waning season that included Tim Burton's "Banana Splits" remake.
Read Full Review >Variety Robert Koehler
Few recent movies have conceived their central female character more contemptuously -- a fanatic for a lifestyle that appears to have come from the bestselling "The Rules."
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this movie is 8.5 (out of 10) based on 10 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Tsakani N. gave it a10:
I really enjoyed this movie....Totally rocked...Its one of my all time favorites
Sue I. gave it a9:
Loved it! It was HILARIOUS! I felt that the cast was very well put together.
Dee B. gave it a 9:
It's not exactly the classic cliché film. It's witty and a fun thing to watch. Plus, Morris Chestnut and Vivica A. Fox are great. :)
Ashleigh gave it a 9:
This movie was absolutely hilarious, maybe not for an adult but for a teenager it was one of those movies that just made you laugh and relax and realise that maybe love isn't just a game!
Christine S. gave it a 10:
An excellent 'feel good' movie with a 'must have' soundtrack. The film demonstrates that no matter who you are, rich, poor, black, white we are all searching for the same thing.... To love and be loved.
Dawn K. gave it an 8:
It's worth the change! It was hilarious, very entertaining! If you're in for a good laugh then it's a good choice.
