Shanté Smith: Vivica A. Fox	Keith Fenton: Morris Chestnut
Tony: Anthony Anderson	Karen: Wendy Raquel Robinson
Tracye: Tamala Jones	Diedre: Mo'Nique
Conny: Gabrielle Union	Writer/Director: Mark Brown

30 Second Bottom Line: A self proclaimed expert on men, who is enthusiastically endorsed by her girlfriends, implements a "Ten Day Plan" to get her man back on the right path when it appears he has strayed.

Story Line: Shanté Smith (Vivica A. Fox) is- as the title of the 1970's hit song implies, as it plays over the opening credits-"a bad mamma-jamma." She's gorgeous, a partner in a top ad agency and a most willing player in the game of romance with her very handsome boyfriend, Keith Fenton, an attorney. Life is good.

Shanté knows all the angles regarding men; and some are not particularly flattering to the guys. She eagerly shares her sister-wit by speaking directly to us, into the camera. Ever ready to offer advice and a shoulder to cry on, Shanté is always available to her best friends. We find Karen (Wendy Raquel Robinson) doing just that after boyfriend Michael (Bobby Brown, in a cameo appearance) dumps her. Forget the fact that she's the hottest, youngest engineer in her company; she can't figure out her next strategic move without Shanté.

Tracye (Tamala Jones) has put her boyfriend Dwain (Dondré T. Whitfield) to one of Shanté's tests, and he has failed. And Diedre (Mo'Nique), self-described as "ghetto-fabulous," can't seem to kick her "no job" man to the curb.

Here are four beautiful and talented women on a mission; get that man to act right. If not, according to Shanté, "The first time your man messes up, no matter how minor the infraction, punish him. Punish him hard."

As for Shanté, her nemesis in business, and in pleasure it seems, is Conny Spalding (Gabrielle Union). The glamorous and confident Conny is with a rival advertising agency and obviously has designs on Keith as well. Shanté maintains a cool front for her girls, until she spots, in fact they all spot, Keith out with someone else, after he has told her he's working late. The working late excuse is one that Shanté has warned her friends about. They all wait, with that "what you gonna do?" look in their eyes.

Leaving Keith sputtering on the dance floor after she casually says hello, in a wicked "gotcha" moment, Shanté implements her "Ten Day Plan," to get her man back in line. Inherent in the plan are certain rules, such as get him off stride. Shanté shows us day by day which tactics to take, from not calling to showing up at his door, looking good, under the pretext of perhaps returning some items he's left at your place.

Keith's player friend and fellow attorney, Tony (Anthony Anderson), has a handle on the situation. He seems to understand the ways and wiles of women, oddly enough, and advises Keith on evasive actions. You get the feeling Tony's knowledge comes from the experience of having been in the wrong so often.

Shanté and Keith each have their unique reactions to this ten-day ordeal. He goes crazy. She goes to church. Of course, Shanté's plan has its faults, but her intentions are good and she knows when to ease off. Most important, as she says of herself at the beginning, "I remember where I come from and I know where I'm going."

Tell Me More About It: Fox's character maintains "eye" contact and a running monologue with the audience throughout the film. I thought this might become an annoyance, but it did not. As a matter of fact most of us have probably wished we could stop the action occasionally and tell someone our brilliant ideas for handling a situation.

What does bother me with this film is the blatant product placement of certain types of products often associated (negatively) with the African-American community. Was this one way to get the film made? Am I naïve to even ask? Setting that aside, what we come away with is a very funny movie, with some over the top moments.

Vivica A. Fox is a joy to watch here. She displays her usual style and sophistication with humor and just the right vulnerability when things start to slide for her. Writer/director Mark Brown wrote the script with Fox in mind. Morris Chestnut is wonderful in this romantic comedy-and great to look at! Ladies, gather your girlfriends, or your boyfriend, and see how the other half survives the rigors of playing the game. But whatever you do, don't take it seriously.

Vivica A. Fox: Kingdom Come	Morris Chestnut: The Brothers, The Best Man
Anthony Anderson: Romeo Must Die	Tamala Jones: The Brothers
Raquel Robinson: The Steve Harvey Show (TV)	Mo'Nique: The Parkers (TV)
Gabrielle Union: The Brothers, Bring It On	Mark Brown: Directorial Debut