After seeing how (surprisingly) well Think Like a Man did at the box office its opening weekend, highly beating out the much more marketed The Five-Year Engagement, I knew I had to see the film that broke so many peoples’ expectations. And so, I went to go see the Tim Story (Barbershop) ensemble picture and helped contribute to its second weekend opening spot as well.

Based on the real-life Steve Harvey (yes, that Steve Harvey) best-selling relationship self-help book of the same name, Think Like a Man follows a group of friends as they figure out that their lady partners have started using Harvey’s relationship advice against them. The plot is ripe with conniving twists as the men attempt to outsmart the women, both parties using Harvey’s book as a battle guide. Like a He’s Just Not That Into You meets a How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days meets a regular bromance like Barbershop, Think Like a Man was just what you expect from this type of movie.

And thank God for that. I went into the theater wanting to watch a funny and light-hearted Battle Royale, if you will, between opposite sexes as they secretly plot to manipulate their partners into doing things their ways. And that’s exactly what I got.

While Think Like a Man had a pretty credible cast, made up of Chris Brown, Gabrielle Union, Jerry Ferrara, Meagan Good, Regina Hall, Michael Ealy, Kevin Hart, Romany Malco, Steve Harvey, Wendy Williams, and Sherri Shepard, what really made the film stand out among a mass of self-help books turned ensemble cast films (uh, What to Expect When You’re Expecting, anyone?) was the film’s light humor and entertaining take on relationships.

Think Like a Man isn’t an Oscar winner, but it definitely succeeded in exceeding my expectations. Well done.

SEE IT/RENT IT.