What Men Want 2019

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.