The new movie “Two Can Play That Game” is a movie full of catchphrases and pop phenomenon that builds up to the basic “player gets played” type of movie. You may have seen it before when it was called “Boomerang” (the 1992 flick starring Eddie Murphy).

It also has the added influence of the popular HBO show “Sex and the City” to deal with. But instead of writing her thoughts to us, as Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) does on the show, Shanté (Vivica A. Fox) talks directly to us.

Shanté finds out her man Keith (Morris Chestnut) was hanging out with another lady after work after he had called her and said he had to work late.

She gets angry and implements her 10-day plan to lock her man into a solid commitment. But let me get this straight - Keith did work late, the girl was working with him, they decided to get a bite to eat and a drink or two, and Shanté goes to the same spot. Now, Keith is not stupid - they went to Shanté’s favorite place, where he obviously knew they could be spotted. They weren’t making out or grinding or anything, and he even apologizes for not telling her he was done at work, etc. But she’s angry (or insane) and decides to put him through hell.

So now we watch her go through her “rules.” Any guy who has ever had a set of dating rules used on them will tell you this: The only thing that rules do is piss us off.

It’s lighthearted enough and it’s obviously not trying to be too serious, but the lack of steady flow in the story just drags it down. The rules Shanté hits us with are just too random, and her 10-day program almost seems too cruel. It gets a little difficult to actually root for her.

If you don’t like the lead character, you’re not going to like the movie. Just ask Andrew Dice Clay.

Of course, when Keith intelligently finally gives up on her and starts fooling around with another woman, she gets knocked for a loop and doesn’t know what to do. But you don’t have to be a genius to know they love each other enough to come together at the end and forgive and forget, promising not to play any more games and focus on their relationship.

I could also mention every main character in the flick is in their mid-20s, rich and a high-level executive in their respective fields. Keith even wears a designer T-shirt to work out in.

All in all, this could be an enjoyable movie for some people. It’s very much in the genre of 1997s “How To Be a Player.” By all means, if you liked that flick a whole bunch, check this one out.