Kevin Hart Think Like a Man Too

Cast: Kevin Hart, Gabrielle Union, Wendi McLendon-Cove
Director: Tim Story
Genre: Comedy
Rated: PG
Running Time: 106 minutes

Synopsis: All the couples are back for a wedding in Las Vegas, but plans for a romantic weekend go awry when their various misadventures get them into some compromising situations that threaten to derail the big event. The sequel to the comedy Think Like A Man based on Steve Harvey's best-selling book -Act Like A Lady'.

Think Like a Man Too
Release Date: August 14th, 2014

About The Production

Think Reunion

When Think Like a Man became an instant hit, grossing more than $96 million worldwide, talk of making a sequel was instantaneous – it simply had to be done. Director Tim Story says, 'Shortly after the first movie came out, probably even before, we found that everybody just loved these characters. They had a really good time in the movie. And before the movie came out, we figured, -Why not do this again?' We started to talk about the ideas and where we could take them. And it was kind of inevitable, just because of the way the project came together in post production. And even when we were filming it, we knew we had something that was kind of special, so we thought -Why not visit these characters again?'"

The original movie's screenwriters, Keith Merryman and David Newman, were quickly on board to find a new, funny and yet satisfyingly emotional situation for these characters. Knowing Tim Story was back made getting involved all the more appealing. 'What's great about Tim Story is he's very simpatico with us in that as much as we all love the comedy, for the three of us the heart moments and the emotion are as important as any comedy in the movie. It's great to work with a director like Tim Story. We just share the same kind of vision."

For the original ensemble of actors, there was no question of signing on. The entire cast was in as soon as they heard a second film was in the works. As Kevin Hart, who plays Cedric, observes, 'The best challenge in the world is trying to outdo yourself. We did such a good job with Part 1, coming back to do Part 2 was a no brainer-the same director, same producer. And all the cast members came back." He continues: 'Having the same cast is a bonus, you know? We're not co-workers – we're friends. Almost family. We've known each other for some time. When you have these relationships and you're in scenes with these people, when you're comfortable, it helps so much more because you're not afraid to take chances."

Gabrielle Union, who plays Kristen, concurs, saying, 'To be paid to hang out with your friends, I don't know anybody who would have turned that deal down. We just genuinely enjoy each other."

Working with Tim Story again proved especially appealing, says Regina Hall. 'Tim Story is the best," she says. 'There's just this freedom that he allows you, which makes you more confident as an actor, especially comedically. We couldn't ask for anything better."

At the heart of the first film's success, though, was how the chemistry of the cast–on and off the screen–really resonated with the audience. Says producer Will Packer, 'People came to the first movie and fell in love. They are invested in these characters, in their relationships, and in their journey. So now we've got a unique opportunity to take those characters–that our audience knows and loves–to a different place. That's what we tried to do with this sequel. Take the characters from the first one, that were based on Steve Harvey's book, and now put them in a more interesting backdrop."

Think Vegas, Baby

A new movie for these characters required a new location, especially since each of the couples has undergone some type of a transition since we last saw them. In the sequel, the narrative catalyst is that one of the couples is getting married –Candace, the single mom and Michael, the mama's boy. With that in mind, Will Packer and Tim Story flew to Las Vegas' world-famous 'Strip" to scout the lavish Caesars Palace and fun-filled Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino as central locations. Tim Story says, 'We were looking for the next playground to up the stakes and the visual presentation. When we knew we were going to have one of the couples get married, you think about a destination wedding. But Vegas gives you the best of both worlds, which is the beauty of what the wedding could be, but also the possibility of problems. So Vegas was that place that we thought this group would get in a lot of trouble."

It wound up providing the perfect setting for a weekend of anticipatory tension regarding the wedding's preparation, followed by the bachelor/bachelorette escapades which ultimately threaten the event itself. The sequel would take all the characters to Sin City and drop them in the middle of everything that it's known for–the lights, the gambling and the glitz. 'The first film was definitely a romantic comedy. It was about building relationships," Will Packer says. 'This one is an out-and-out romp, as they try to, literally, survive the weekend in Vegas." With Las Vegas set as the backdrop, it essentially becomes a character in the movie. Actor Jerry Ferrara, who plays Jeremy, says, 'Las Vegas keeps grabbing us and bringing us into its dungeon. As an actor and as an audience member, I like to see these big, sweeping wide shots of where we are. But then I actually like to know when they cut to the close shots that they're still there and they're not cheating it on the stage somewhere. Vegas has been crucial."

Caesars Palace is definitely a focal location for the film. The majority of the film was shot all over the world famous hotel; from its restaurants (such as Nobu) to its decadent swimming pools to its teeming Casino floors. The film was even granted exclusive access into shooting in their extravagant and glamorous high-roller suites, generally reserved for A-list movie stars and dignitaries.

LaLa Anthony, who plays Sonia, Mya's best friend, says the Vegas location sparked some wild new sequences. 'It's Vegas, so you never know what to expect," says LaLa Anthony. 'There's a scene where we recreate -Poison'" – the Bell Biv Devoe hit from the 90s – 'and we do a whole karaoke thing, and we're dancing, and it turns into a music video. That's really fun. So many things happen, but none of them are far-fetched when you're in Las Vegas, because you hear about these kinds of things happening all the time. So it all makes sense but it adds to the humor and the layers and the depth of the sequel." The ladies had fun not only filming the fun sequence, but being in the recording studio together beforehand to record their vocals for it. The result is one of the film's most memorable moments.

With the women getting more screen time in the sequel, Kevin Hart saysit gives audiences a chance to better appreciate what they can do. 'We've got some talented women in this movie, and I think it shows. They hold their own in their scenes and you forget about the guys when they're on, and then the guys come up and it's a completely different thing, and when we all come together, it's another movie within itself."

Eventually, the craziness of Vegas becomes for the characters a trial by fire for their relationships. Says co-screenwriter David Newman, 'The theme of it is, Vegas is the greatest place in the world to come, unless you come as couples, even worse, a married couple, and the worst idea of all: to get married. And that sort of became our driving principle."

But as his writing partner Keith Merryman observes, 'The irony is really, with the temptations of Vegas, it ultimately brings everybody closer together and they realise what is really important through this night."

Think Relationships

When we last saw Kristen and Jeremy, Jeremy was down on one knee and proposing. Kristen said yes. Now they are newlyweds thinking of starting a family. 'She's very regimented and wants to have sex as often as possible, just to increase the odds of her getting pregnant," says Gabrielle Union. This presents a very interesting challenge for Jeremy, the lovable man-child, who is still somewhat of a child himself. Says Ferrera, 'They're at that point now that married couples get to where she wants to start a family and now he, being kind of the underachiever, doesn't really want to start a family yet."

Zeke the reformed player and Mya, who was tired of being played, are still together and have come quite a long way, but their future is unclear. 'Mya feels that he is pulling away, actually," says Meagan Good, who plays her. 'She's seeing that he seems a little bit freaked out by the fact that Candace and Michael are getting married, and he's worried that maybe Mya might want to get married. At least that's what she's thinking in her head."

Says producer Will Packer, 'When we last left them, Zeke was overcoming his player ways. Some people believe -once a player, always a player' and so that gets tested, because it turns out that Las Vegas is one of Zeke's old stomping grounds. So, when he comes back to Las Vegas, it's difficult because everybody that sees him remembers him for the -old Zeke,' so Mya is forced to deal with Zeke's past."

Consequently, Zeke is forced to deal with his retired ways and consider who he is now versus who he used to be. It causes him to do a lot of introspection. So the big question becomes, has Zeke changed? According to Romany Malco, who plays him, 'Zeke the Freak is at a place where he's been somewhat content in a relationship for a while. But what he's going through is he knows that it's time to bump this relationship up to a higher level and it's freaking him out. He's trying to discern whether or not it's an authentic move for him or if he's actually being pressured into becoming more or conforming to what love supposedly is. And so in the process of that, it's creating a lot of tension between him and Mya. And as a result of that, Mya is starting to have second thoughts."

Businesswoman Lauren and budding chef Dominic are madly in love and now live together in LA. 'Dominic found himself," says his portrayer, Michael Ealy. 'He found his passion. He found his courage. And his swag. He finally found his rhythm and that made him a bit more attractive for Lauren because the dreamer became the guy with potential." Their relationship is tested, however, because now Dominic and Lauren have to decide which they are going to put first–their love or their careers and dreams? Or, is there a way to figure out how to do it all? Taraji P. Henson, who plays Lauren, says, 'We've both been offered new jobs in two different states. So we're just trying to figure out how we're going to work that out. Now that they live together, they see less and less of each other. And then this whole drama about them both getting job offers in different states just complicates things."

Bennett, the happily married guy, is back as the voice of reason amongst his pals. 'In the first movie, I put a button on it at the end when I told Cedric I'm going home to my wife, because, you know, I'm doing it because I want to," says Gary Owen, who plays Bennett. 'In this one, you get to meet my wife. You get to see our relationship, and it's funny. I think Bennett, he's kind of like, in the clouds. He thinks he's in the perfect marriage, where maybe his wife is like, -Eehh, I'm a little bored.'" When we finally get introduced to Tish, she's brilliantly played by Wendi McLendon-Covey, a new addition to the cast. Says Wendi McLendon-Covey, 'When I first came on, it was a little intimidating because the cast is so close, and it's such a big cast, and they have all their inside jokes and they're a big, happy family. But they were very nice to me, so I appreciated that." Tish is the mom who is all about her family. She doesn't get out much and isn't into fashion, but that changes over the weekend when she is introduced to her husband's friends' significant others.

'When you see them together–Bennett with his fanny pack and her with her twin sets–they are the last people that you think would have fun in Vegas," says Will Packer. 'But they turn out to have some of the most fun of any of our couples."

Candace and Michael, meanwhile, are engaged, about to get married, and the reason everybody's back together, since with a wedding comes a merging of families and friends. So the happy couple's dynamic is further complicated by the fact that Michael's mother, Loretta, continues to be an intrusive element in their relationship. 'Loretta is over-possessive and obsessed with her son, which is dangerous," says Jenifer Lewis, who plays Loretta. Regina Hall lays down the stakes for her role: 'My character Candace, and Loretta still have drama because she has a problem thinking any woman is good enough for her son. So, the fact that Candace is divorced and has a child and is older gives her all the reason in the world to think -I do not want this woman married to my only son." But Michael is a lot stronger now. Says Terrence J, who plays Michael and takes a uniquely optimistic approach to his predicament, 'Michael's a lucky guy. He has two women that are vying for his affection."

Think Cedric

Then there's Cedric: hyper, confused, bold, well-meaning Cedric, once again played by the irrepressible, one-of-a-kind Kevin Hart. For one thing, Cedric's relationship issues with Gail continue. Packer, the producer, says, 'Gail was dragging all 4-foot-7-inches of Cedric through the food truck park at the end of the last movie. They got back together, but it didn't quite work out so they are having a trial separation, as advised by their marriage counselor. Cedric has been allowed to come to Vegas, as, technically, 'a free man." He's separated from Gail so he is ready to have the time of his life."

Cedric is the best man of the wedding, and according to Kevin Hart, he sets out to be 'the best best man in the history of best men." With that goal in mind, he spends way more money than he has on Caesars Palace's lavish, ultra exclusive Constantine Villa–the multiroom mini-mansion that he has rented for the weekend, and disastrous consequences for the posse ensues. Says Will Packer, 'He thinks that it is $4,000 a night. In typical Cedric fashion, he's thinking, -I got my gold card. I got Triple A. I got points here, points there. I got my frequent flyer miles.' He thinks that all of that has given him this unbelievable suite for $4,000 a night. The suite is $40,000 a night. So that's $80,000 he's in debt." His efforts to recover the money results in a string of events that threaten to derail the wedding. As Kevin Hart explains, 'I'm trying to go above and beyond to give Michael the best send-off that I can. But in doing that, I get in a little over my head and don't realise how deep I'm in. Not only am I in debt, but I'm causing other people financial stress."

Kevin Hart likens Cedric's motivations to those behind a bachelor party Hart once threw for a friend. 'I didn't really throw him a bachelor party, I threw myself a bachelor party, but disguised it through him. In actuality, I want everybody to go -Man, Kev, you did it, this was crazy.' Cedric is that guy. He just wants the guys to look at him and go, -Man, Cedric you are amazing.' It's all coming from a selfish place for him."

For the writers, returning to the character of Cedric was especially rewarding. 'When we wrote the first movie, we didn't know Kevin was going to play Cedric," says co-screenwriter David Newman. 'So to write toward him, and to lean into that voice more, and put him in these situations, was really fun."

Think Like a Man Too
Release Date: August 14th, 2014