I have been curious about WHAT LOVE IS since 2019 because it stars some fine actors I follow and I love to give every movie a chance, including this that has 5,1. But when I saw it last January I could see why it has such a score.

Tom (Cuba Gooding jr) returns home the night before Valentine's Day only to find a letter outside the door and seeing his long term girlfriend leaving him. Soon Tom decides to invite his best friends Sal (Matthew Lillard), George (Sean Astin) and Ken (Mars Callahan, also the film's director) and spend most of the first half talking about women and their experiences. In the second part some women come and after a strip show they'll make our guys think like real men, and Tom will finally learn what love it (nice reference to the title).

At the beginning I was liking it but as it progressed it became so loud that I was even torn for the score to give when it was over. I especially disliked Lillard's character because he not only was loud, but said the crassest of things and the most absurd things (I can't even report them here because they'll violate IMDB standards). And towards the end it seemed confusing that Gooding' character had to learn what love is only after he is left by another woman with which he was trying during the evening.

Overall, a confusing mix of drama and comedy that certainly needed a re-write. Recommended only to fans of the stars of for folks with very low standards.

Tom (Cuba Gooding, Jr.) arrives home all eager to celebrate Valentine's Day with his girlfriend Sara. He even plans on asking Sara to marry him and has gathered four of his closest buddies to witness the occasion. Much to his dismay, however, he discovers upon entering the house that Sara has packed her bags and left him a Dear John letter, effectively putting an end to Tom's vision of eternal marital bliss. Further complicating the issue is the fact that one of Tom's friends, mistakenly believing he's going to a party, has invited a bunch of hot young ladies from his bar to join in the festivities.

You could be forgiven for assuming that "What Love Is" began life as a theatrical work, since writer/director Mars Callahan has filmed it in the form usually reserved for stage-to-screen adaptations. It all takes place on a single set, with the characters declaiming at one another in that histrionic way that stage actors alone are wont to do. The result is an inert, talky, claustrophobic work riddled with heightened dialogue, pseudo-profundities, long-winded speechifying and manic performances. Each character is given his moment in the spotlight – whereupon he proceeds to air his grievances concerning women, gays, straights and each other - then hands the microphone off to the next person, who pretty much does the same.

Then we get the distaff view of things, as the ladies who arrive for the party barricade themselves in the restroom to discuss at exhausting length the outrageousness and inadequacies of men.

Finally, it all comes down to the mixing of the sexes as the party moves into high gear and the characters engage in verbal jousting about the problems and pitfalls of romantic relationships.

The movie indulges in any number of requisite stereotypes, ranging from the loudmouthed, homophobic misogynist to the lisping, swishing homosexual (played by Callahan himself) and just about everything in between.

In the final analysis, a game cast – which includes Matthew Lillard, Sean Astin and Anne Heche, among others – is let down by inferior filmmaking and material.

(Credit IMDb) Tom plans to surprise Sara with an engagement ring, and he's asked his four best friends to witness the popping of the question at his place on Valentine's night. Trouble is Sara's left him a "Dear John" letter and will be by soon for her suitcases; plus, thinking it's a party, Tom's friend Sal has invited five women who were at his bar to come too. First the men talk - about women, sex, love, and homophobia (Tom's pals include a happily married guy, a gay man newly engaged, a metrosexual, and Sal, an inveterate player). Then the women arrive and argue in the loo about men and sex before joining the boys for talk, alcohol, and hookups. But what of Sara, and what of love?

What point were they honestly trying to make here? All I got was a few well known actors swearing, and trying to make things out on what love truly is. Not to mention, all of the characters pretty much grated my nerves. Cuba's character is a whiny person, Mathew Lillard is rather despicable for most of it, and Andrew Daily is overbearing as the gay man. The end also infuriated me. Yeah, I get it. Move on from your mistakes, but are we really supposed to believe Cuba moved on that suddenly? It ended abruptly just like that. Love is about communication, love is pure form. And most importantly love comes from the heart. I'm not an expert but I know that much.

Performances. Cuba Gooding is a favorite of mine, as I have stated numerous times, but here is character is overbearing, stupid and overly whiny. He deserves better material, and his talents are far above this. Matthew Lillard is too cocky, and unfunny for my liking. His crude ways were difficult to get through. Sean Astin has virtually nothing to do, but stand around and offer advice. Andrew Daly is overbearing as the gay man, I wanted to slap him. Mars Callahan is basically the "Cool through it all" type. Gina Gershon and Anne Heche are wasted in their roles.

Bottom line. Mediocre is an understatement. It wasn't painful, but I certainly got annoyed far too much for my liking. Look elsewhere for a romantic film, because this certainly isn't your ticket.

4/10