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Plot Summary

What Men Want (2019) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2019 · 117 min · English
Echo score 55
JustWatch #11,029 12
Directed by
Adam Shankman, Nancy Meyers
Starring
Pete Davidson, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Kellan Lutz, Jason Jones, Josh Brener, Phoebe Robinson
Budget
$20M

Ali Davis is a successful sports agent frustrated by the obstacles she faces in a male-dominated field. After being denied a promotion, she mysteriously gains the ability to hear men's thoughts. Using this unexpected power, Ali attempts to gain a competitive edge in her career, maneuvering through the challenges of the business world while also dealing with the intricacies of her own relationships and understanding the complexities of masculinity.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like What Men Want
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch What Men Want (2019)

Where can you watch What Men Want? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Hoopla, YouTube Free and Amazon Video: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in What Men Want: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of What Men Want (2019) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

Sports agent Ali Davis (Taraji P. Henson) begins her day early, driven to secure clients and outperform her colleagues at Summit Worldwide Management. With the help of her assistant Brandon (Josh Brener), she navigates the male-dominated environment in hopes of being promoted to partner. On an elevator ride, she catches a glimpse of her attractive neighbor, known as "Captain FKtastic**" (Kellan Lutz), and tries to spark a connection.

Upon arriving at SWM, Ali learns that her boss, Nick (Brian Bosworth), is set to choose a new senior VP. After mistakenly intercepting a football meant for another co-worker, Eddie (Chris Witaske), she confronts Nick about her lack of promotion. He acknowledges her hard work but explains that she struggles to forge connections with the male staff. Frustrated, Ali declares she will sign rising basketball star Jamal Barry ([Shane Paul McGhie]) to prove her worth.

At the boxing gym managed by her father, Skip (Richard Roundtree), Ali meets Will (Aldis Hodge), a bartender she finds attractive. Their romance takes a turn when Ali discovers he has a son, Ben ([Auston Moore]), and feels misled when she sees a picture of Will's wife. Meanwhile, during a deal with Jamal and his father, Joe 'Dolla' Barry (Tracy Morgan), tensions arise as an unexpected conflict with basketball legend Lisa Leslie escalates.

Ali later joins friends Mari (Tamala Jones), Olivia (Wendi McLendon-Covey), and Ciarra (Phoebe Robinson) at a hens party, where a psychic named Sister (Erykah Badu) offers dubious advice that involves drinking a foul-smelling tea. That night, fueled by alcohol, Ali ends up in a hospital after a wild night, awakening to the revelation that she can now hear men’s thoughts—most of which are inappropriate or indicate deep secrets.

With her newfound ability, Ali takes advantage of the situation to gain insights into her male counterparts, leading to significant developments at work, including a poker night where she competes with several high-profile men, including Mark Cuban and Shaquille O'Neal. As she navigates her career, Ali also maintains a façade of a family life with Will and Ben, deepening her bond with Jamal and striving to secure his signing.

However, personal and professional challenges arise, particularly when Joe hears about Ali's tactics, leading to misunderstandings. Following a series of unfortunate events, including a disastrous wedding crashing incident where her ability spirals out of control, Ali finds herself alone in a hospital, facing the consequences of her actions.

Determined to mend relationships and correct her course, Ali seeks forgiveness from her friends and Brandon. She realizes that listening truly matters, prompting her to reconnect with Jamal and convince him to stay in Atlanta. As the NBA drafts unfold, Ali's professional fortunes shift, and she ultimately chooses to forge her own path away from the boys' club by launching her agency with Kevin as her partner and elevating Brandon to an agent.

In a heartwarming conclusion, Ali celebrates Ben's birthday with the promised race car cake and begins to repair her romance with Will, who agrees to take things slow. The film wraps up with Ali, Will, and Ben walking together in a park as they discuss her future plans for the agency, embodying her journey of empowerment and resilience.

Last updated: October 27, 2024 at 16:55

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Plot questions answered

What Men Want Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about What Men Want (2019): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why was Ali denied a promotion at Summit Worldwide despite her hard work?

Ali was denied promotion because her boss Nick explained that she struggles to forge connections with the male staff. Despite her successful track record in securing clients, the male-dominated culture valued personal relationships within the boys' club more than pure performance metrics. This reflects the movie's commentary on gender discrimination in professional sports management.

  • promotion
  • gender discrimination
  • workplace
  • sports agent
  • Summit Worldwide
Q2

How does Ali gain the ability to hear men's thoughts?

After attending a hens party where a psychic named Sister gives her dubious advice involving a foul-smelling tea, Ali goes on a wild night out and ends up in the hospital. She wakes up with the supernatural ability to hear men's thoughts. The exact mechanism is mystical, the movie treats it as a whimsical, magical gift rather than explaining the science behind it.

  • psychic
  • supernatural ability
  • thoughts
  • hospital
  • magical gift
Q3

Why does Ali pretend to have a family life with Will and Ben?

Ali creates a façade of having a family with Will to maintain a polished image at work, believing it will help her fit in with the male executives who often discuss family matters. This deception stems from her desire to be accepted in the male-dominated workplace, though it ultimately creates complications in her genuine relationship with Will.

  • Will
  • Ben
  • deception
  • family
  • workplace relationships
Q4

What causes Ali to lose control of her ability at the wedding?

During a wedding crashing incident, Ali becomes overwhelmed by the chaotic thoughts of everyone around her. The combination of stress from Joe discovering her tactics and the overwhelming male thoughts in a crowded setting causes her ability to spiral out of control, leading to public embarrassment and straining her relationships further.

  • wedding
  • lose control
  • Joe
  • chaos
  • public embarrassment
Q5

Why does Ali decide to leave Summit Worldwide and start her own agency?

Ali decides to leave Summit Worldwide after realizing the boys' club environment will never truly accept her, despite her proven success. She chooses to forge her own path by launching her own agency, taking Kevin as a partner and elevating Brandon to agent. This represents her ultimate rejection of the discriminatory system and her empowerment on her own terms.

  • own agency
  • independence
  • career
  • empowerment
  • Summit Worldwide
Q6

Does Ali end up with Will in the end?

Yes, Ali ends up reconciling with Will. After learning to listen truly and mending their relationship, Will agrees to take things slow with Ali. The film concludes with Ali, Will, and Ben walking together in a park, discussing her future plans, indicating their romantic relationship is on the mend and heading toward a positive future.

  • Will
  • romance
  • relationship
  • ending
  • reconciliation
Q7

What happens with Jamal Barry - does he sign with Ali?

Ali works hard to convince Jamal Barry to stay in Atlanta, demonstrating her growth as an agent who genuinely cares about her clients. While the summary doesn't explicitly state the final signing outcome, her efforts and the resolution suggest she successfully retains Jamal as a client, which contributes to her professional success before launching her own agency.

  • Jamal Barry
  • basketball player
  • signing
  • client
  • NBA
Q8

What is the significance of the race car cake at Ben's birthday?

Ali promises Ben a race car cake for his birthday as part of her effort to connect with him and maintain her fake family façade. When she celebrates his actual birthday in the film's conclusion, she delivers on this promise, symbolizing her commitment to the genuine relationships she's built and her desire to make amends for past deceptions.

  • Ben
  • birthday
  • race car cake
  • promise
  • family
Q9

Why do Ali's friends forgive her after the wedding incident?

Ali's friends forgive her because she sincerely apologizes and demonstrates genuine change by learning to truly listen rather than using her ability to manipulate people. The movie emphasizes her growth in understanding the importance of authentic connections, which earns her friends' forgiveness and marks her character development arc.

  • friends
  • forgiveness
  • Mari
  • Olivia
  • Ciarra
  • apology
Q10

What kind of thoughts can Ali hear from men?

When Ali first gains the ability, she discovers that most of the men's thoughts she hears are inappropriate or reveal deep secrets. The thoughts range from inappropriate remarks about women to hidden business scheming and personal confessions. This revelation initially shocks her but also gives her insight into the true nature of the men around her in the male-dominated sports industry.

  • thoughts
  • inappropriate
  • secrets
  • men
  • revelation

Movie threads

More Movies Like What Men Want, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes What Men Want tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies like What Men Want with supernatural career twists

Characters gain a magical advantage to conquer professional obstacles and find themselves. If you enjoyed the blend of workplace ambition and whimsical fantasy in What Men Want, you'll love these comedies. Discover movies where characters use a supernatural boost to navigate professional challenges, leading to funny chaos and personal empowerment.

  • empowering
  • sassy
  • energetic
  • whimsical
  • competitive
  • self-reflective
  • Tone: light, humorous, empowering
  • Pacing: fast, energetic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a protagonist stuck in a competitive or unfair professional environment. A sudden, often whimsical, supernatural event grants them an edge. They initially use this power for personal gain, causing comedic complications, but eventually learn that true success comes from authenticity and integrity, not just the magical shortcut.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped by their unique mix of light fantasy, fast-paced workplace comedy, and a core theme of empowerment. They share a similar energetic and sassy tone, where the supernatural element serves as a catalyst for both laughs and meaningful character growth.

Romantic comedies about communication like What Men Want

Witty and energetic stories that explore modern relationships through a comedic lens. Fans of the witty banter and gender dynamics in What Men Want will enjoy these similar romantic comedies. These movies explore the complexities of modern relationships with a sassy, energetic vibe and a satisfying, happy ending.

  • romantic
  • sassy
  • energetic
  • frustrated
  • communication
  • empowering
  • Tone: light, romantic, sassy
  • Pacing: fast, dialogue-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The story centers on a charismatic, often frustrated protagonist navigating the confusing world of dating and relationships. A central conflict or unique premise (like a supernatural ability) throws typical gender dynamics into sharp relief, forcing the characters to confront their assumptions. The plot moves quickly through misunderstandings and romantic tension towards a resolution that emphasizes honest communication and mutual respect.

Why they belong together: This thread groups movies that balance a central romantic plot with a sharp, comedic examination of gender roles and communication. They share a light emotional weight, fast pacing, and an overall feel-good, empowering vibe that makes them both funny and thoughtful.

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Movies Like What Men Want

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Every angle

What Men Want (2019) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about What Men Want in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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