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Bill Bellamy, Natalie Desselle, Lark Voorhies, Mari Morrow, Pierre Edwards ... see more see more... , Jermaine Hopkins , A.J. Johnson , Max Julien , Beverly Johnson , Gilbert Gottfried , Bernie Mac , Stacii Jae Johnson , Elise Neal , J. Anthony Brown , Amber Smith , Devika Parikh , Bebe Drake , Gillian Iliana Waters , Anthony Johnson , Jermaine 'Huggy' Hopkins

A man who's devoted his life to running around on his woman finally meets his match in this comedy. Dray Jackson (Bill Bellamy) is a ladies' man par excellence, who never lets the fact that he has a g... read more read more...irlfriend, Lisa (Lark Voorhies), get in the way of making time with as many other women as possible. As he spends a typical day going from house to house "visiting" a number of beautiful females, Dray fills his friends David (Pierre Edwards), Kilo (Jermaine Hopkins), and Spootie (A.J. Johnson) in on the finer points of the art of having as many ladies as you want without getting caught. Dray's sister Jenny (Natalie Desselle) and her friend Katrina (Mari Morrow) are at once disgusted and morbidly fascinated with Dray's cheerful, chronic infidelity, and since Jenny is studying anthropology, they decide that Dray's lifestyle would be a worthy subject for research. Deciding to see what would happen if Dray was really put to the test (and maybe teach him a lesson in the process), Jenny and Katrina throw a party, and they invite Dray -- and all the women whose telephone numbers appear in his address book. Max Julien, best known for his role as the ultra-smooth pimp in the blaxploitation classic The Mack, appears as Dray's lady-killing Uncle Fred. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

73% liked it

6,611 ratings

Critics

14% liked it

7 critics

R, 1 hr. 33 min.

Directed by: Lionel C. Martin

Release Date: August 6, 1997

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DVD Release Date: January 11, 2000

Stats: 326 reviews

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How to Be a Player mr. chestnut Lark Voorhies Max Julien
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Flixster Reviews (326)

  • ileo
    December 25, 2007
    ileo
    Crazy funny!
  • daynadadiva
    January 4, 2009
    daynadadiva
    "How To Be a Player" Had me rolling from beginning till the end..
    Bernie Mac was Hilarious.. and the story was cute and thorough. Bill Bellamy and Natalie Desselle "his Nosey sister were good as well.
    I'm gonna keep this review short. BUT BABY!!! Please don't have any soda or... read more food in your mouth when Bernie Mac
    Walks in right after his wife was creepin with Belamy and says.." Baby I smell somethin stank.. what is it ? and she proclaims she doesn't know what he is talking about.. so he say's it again. "I SMELL SOMETHIN STANK" by then I was already fallin out.
    Then he says it smells like BO-D-USSY in here .. You will find out what bodussy is and ROTF...
    It's always entertaining and good for some good laughs.
  • khalbone
    December 24, 2008
    khalbone
    this movie is real lame the only parts ilike in this movie the scenes with the late great Bernie Mac in them
  • AndySitzerFan
    June 7, 2008
    AndySitzerFan
    What a classic. Best thing Bill B ever did. Including what he's doing now. My brother lives by this movie... sad isn't it.
  • yarddog632003
    January 20, 2008
    yarddog632003
    Bill, whats the deal!! Great movie, you just had sooo many sexy ladies in this one! One of my favorites!!
  • kimc121
    July 21, 2007
    kimc121
    This here is the wildest, hottest, sexiest movie I've seen so far....Bill Bellamy is such a gr8 actor AKA hottie!!!! 4real tho this movie was good..lots of suspence
  • fearad
    June 14, 2007
    fearad
    A great comedy despite its very low budget and obvious lack of star power (other than Bernie Mac's cameo), defiinately not a movie you'd watch with a chick.
  • MovieGuruDude72
    June 8, 2007
    MovieGuruDude72
    Oh yeah, I remember Bill Bellamy. Glad you cashed in on your popularity now dude because where the hell are you now? Working at Taco Bell?
  • TAMIKASBABIENIRAYE10
    April 11, 2007
    TAMIKASBABIENIRAYE10
    YO DIS MOVIE IS MA FAVORITE MOVIE DIS MA SHIT I COULD WATCH DIS A THOUSAND TIMES AND NOT GET TIRED OF IT
  • bigboy160643
    February 15, 2007
    bigboy160643
    A lot of beautiful women but did men need another movie to make us look bad? lol I think not! Pretty funny though.

View All How to Be a Player Reviews

Critic Reviews

Scott Weinberg
July 26, 2002
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com

I watched the whole movie and am still not a "player." Therefore the film is a failure. Plus it's also pretty awful.

David Noh
January 1, 2000
David Noh, Film Journal International

Riddled with misogyny, glorifying slovenliness and brutish behavior, Def Jam's How to Be a Player doesn't even begin to come up with the nasty laughs of a Booty Call or Sprung. Full Review

Todd McCarthy
March 26, 2009
Todd McCarthy, Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Kevin Thomas
February 14, 2001
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Lawrence Van Gelder
January 1, 2000
Lawrence Van Gelder, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Susan Stark
January 1, 2000
Susan Stark, Detroit News

Click to read the article Full Review

Edward Guthmann
January 1, 2000
Edward Guthmann, San Francisco Chronicle

Click to read the article Full Review

Bruce Walker
January 1, 2000
Bruce Walker, Washington Post

Click to read the article Full Review

Emanuel Levy
August 14, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Chris Barsanti
November 13, 2003
Chris Barsanti, Filmcritic.com

No review available.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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How to Be a Player Trivia

  • In the movie How To Be A Player, how many girlfriends does Dre have?   Answer »
  • what movie is this saying from why did u let it go "why did u let it go " when the dre was going to see his nurse at her house for dress up and his to boys were peeking over the wall in to the window .  Answer »
  • This funny man, played the street bum in the movie "Above The Rim" he also starred in "Player's Club" , and "How To Be A Player" Who is he?  Answer »
  • Bernie Mac was in the movie 'How to Be a Player'.  Answer »
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