Vivica A. Fox And Morris Chestnut Square Off In Comedy Movie `Two Can Play That Game'

Jet, Sept 10, 2001

When Shante Smith's man, Keith Fenton, steps out of line, she has to give him something he can feel--the rules!

In a battle of the sexes about the dating game, Vivica A. Fox is Shante and Morris Chestnut is Keith, lovers who square off in the Screen Gems comedy Two Can Play That Game.

Shante is a confident top executive at a major advertising firm. Keith is a well-respected attorney. The two have been an item for some time and share a warm relationship that's virtually drama-free.

They are the model couple in the eyesight of Shante's girlfriends, Diedre (Mo' Nique), Karen (Wendy Raquel Robinson) and Tracye (Tamala Jones). And since Diedre, Karen and Tracye are striving for the ideal relationship as well, what better person to seek relationship advice from than Shante?

"For all of my girlfriends, their boyfriends don't have their acts together. I'm kind of the counselor for my girls," Fox tells JET. "I think I got me and my man all together. I don't have a problem with my man."

At least, that's what she thought. When Keith is spotted keeping company with Conny (Gabrielle Union), the one woman Shante despises more than anything, Shante realizes she must work "the rules" on Keith in order to show him why she's the only woman he should have eyes for.

The 10-day program Shante implements for putting her man back on the right track works like a charm--at first. But when Keith starts following the advice of his "playa" buddy Tony (Anthony Anderson), a partner in the law firm where they work, the outcome Shante is hoping for starts to turn bleak.

"Keith is a good guy at heart. He has his faults as does every individual," Chestnut says. "He was caught not in any compromising position, but she felt he was on another date with another woman. It depends upon whose eyes you're looking at it from. It's a woman's interpretation of how she can get her man in particular to behave like she wants him to."

Continues Fox, "Keith actually isn't a dog. He just got a little bit out of line ... Men see things one way and women see things another way. The rules sometimes don't work. You've got to play a couple, but not all of the rules work. You've got to play a little hard to get. You know the fellas love a good chase."

Chestnut adds, "It's a man's interpretation of how he should play the same game the opposite way. They're looking at it from two different perspectives."

Rounding out the cast are Bobby Brown, Dondre T. Whitfield and Ray Wise.

The movie was written and directed by Mark Brown, who wrote 1997's How To Be A Player. Brown also co-produced the movie along with Doug McHenry and Paddy Cullen.

For Fox and Chestnut, working on the comedy was a reunion of sorts. In 1992, as budding actors, the two worked together on the TV sitcom "Out All Night," which starred Patti LaBelle and Duane Martin.

"That was many years ago when we did that and we've done many things since," recalls Chestnut. "We've both matured as actors and as human beings. It was fun and great to work with her again and see how far we've come together."

Fox was equally pleased to have the opportunity to team up with Chestnut once more.

"It was wonderful to reunite with Morris, this chocolate, big Hershey kiss. I just love it!" she laughs. "It was nice to see how much he has really matured into a wonderful man who I believe is underrated in Hollywood. If I can help him go into the next chapter of his career as being a sex symbol, I'm glad I have a part in that."

Chestnut says his role as the favorite son Ricky Baker in the acclaimed 1991 drama Boyz N the Hood established him as a serious actor. But it was his roles in 1999's The Best Man and this year's The Brothers, notes Chestnut, that catapulted him into the leading man ranks.

"It is more rewarding when people come to me and say they really enjoy my work more so than people who say I look good," he laughs. "This movie is a departure from the seriousness of the romantic comedies The Best Man and The Brothers. I get to act silly with this character, which I enjoy. It is a departure from the normal way people have seen me."

Chestnut and Fox agree that while Two Can Play That Game will have you holding your sides in laughter, it will also send a powerful message.

"At the beginning of a relationship it's kind of fun to play a little game, but once you're at a certain point in that relationship, I think the games need to stop because you risk losing the person you really care for," warns Chestnut.

Concludes Fox, "If you really love someone, there is no need to play games."