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Kevin Hart on Taking the Stigma Off Black Movies and Making Think Like a Man Too Univers

Kevin Hart continued a Hollywood hot streak with his third movie this year, premiering the sequel “Think Like a Man Too” Monday night at the TCL Chinese Theatre.

“We got every single actor that was in the first one to come back, but everybody came back with a different attitude,” said Hart. “And that was all about doing what people didn’t think we could do and that was to take the stigma off of what people consider to be black movies.”

The first “Think Like a Man” grossed $92 million in the U.S. “That’s not just a film that black people are going to see,” continued Hart. “We made a universal film.”

“Just because you put a predominantly black cast in a movie doesn’t mean you’re doing a black movie. It means you’re putting quality actors and actresses in a movie that can make a damn good film,” Hart said.

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Director Tim Story and producer Will Packer also returned for the sequel. Packer has worked on five movies with Hart. “I have made every Kevin Hart movie that was good,” he teased.

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On a more serious note, Packer said that it’s Hart’s time. “He earned his moment. Kevin is my guy. He’s got such a tremendous work ethic. When you get an opportunity to work with somebody that hustles as hard as you do — and I have a real real drive — to work with somebody that matches that, it’s amazing.”

This time around the characters head to Vegas for the wedding of Candace (Regina Hall) and Michael (Terrence Jenkins), but plans go awry with Hart’s character in charge of the bachelor party.

When Michael Ealy first heard the news about a sequel, his initial reaction wasn’t so positive. “What are we doing? Let’s not ruin the first one. That was my big thing,” the actor said.

But it was clear that the actors signed on partially due to the relationships they have with one another.

“Basically, we were getting paid to go hang out with our friends,” said Taraji P. Henson.

“It’s a family atmosphere. It didn’t feel like you were going to work,” said Meagan Good. “It’s just personality. Everyone is vastly different but shares a similar energy. We just get along. It works.”

Ealy echoed that thought. “We developed so much chemistry on the first one. When we get together I really feel like this is my crew of guys,” he said. “We know how to push each other’s buttons. We know how to have fun and still support each other.”

Adam Brody, David Walton, Dennis Haysbert and Wendi McLendon-Covey also joined the cast for the second film.

Jenkins, Hall, Jenifer Lewis, Romany Malco, Gary Owen, Jerry Ferrara, Gabrielle Union, La La Anthony, Michelle Williams, Kelly Rowland and Mary J. Blige also attended the premiere. The party continued at 1 Oak with guests including Floyd Mayweather, Ne-Yo, Matt Barnes and Keke Palmer.

Screen Gems’ “Think Like a Man Too” is set to premiere June 20.

(Pictured: Director Tim Story, Kevin Hart and producer Will Packer at the “Think Like a Man Too” party)

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