Life could be perfect for the mates of three sisters if it weren’t for Eva. She’s the wicked, evil, man-defying, statistic-quoting, male ego-crushing fourth sister who tells her siblings how to run their lives. In Deliver Us from Eva, Gabrielle Union plays Eva like a bronzed pincushion impossible to prick. A harsh, uppity woman, she doesn’t want her sisters (Bethany, Jacqui, and Kareenah) to be happy because she herself can’t find a soul mate. And since Eva raised the girls after their parents died, the sisters think everything she tells them is the gospel truth. Which only annoys the sister’s mates (Darrell, Mike, and Tim) to no end and sends them plotting to find a solution.

Tim (Mel Jackson) loves Kareenah so much he can’t bear to put her in her place. But, when Mike and Darrell reveal they’ve had enough of Eva as well, the guys spring into plan B. They hire Ray, an old friend, to seduce the ice princess, make her fall for him, and then take her out of town.

Used to playing a tough guy being chased by sharks or killers, LL Cool J was ready to try a different kind of role. "I get to play someone who’s cooler and more laid-back," said the actor about his role as Ray. He certainly surprised me here with his sensitive take on romance, his easy manner and appealing acting skills. Although Ray spouts, "I’m a lover not a con man," he’s a little strapped for dough – so the plan seems tempting to him. But after a few disastrous dates with the steely Eva, Ray informs the guys he’s changed his mind. Eva is more trouble than the plan is worth.

Something about Ray keeps Eva interested, however. She pursues him, and he becomes as intrigued as someone working a difficult Chinese puzzle box, hoping to find a hidden treasure inside. And as Eva begins to thaw, Gabrielle Union does a commendable job of making the audience pull for her.

Director Gary Hardwick worked with Union before on The Brothers. "She’s a wonderful actress, very gifted and with marvelous comedic timing," he says about her. "She’s sexy, and she can make you laugh or she can make you cry. She has all the tools of a leading lady, and at a young age too."

I found the film’s lack of violence and profanity a plus. The movie is also a wheelbarrow full of laughs that never stop, especially in scenes showing the beauty salon where the sisters meet every week to get fancied up and of course, talk about men and Eva. In this delightful film, smart characters are played well by a brilliant cast. In addition, Deliver Us from Eva offers a clever story with great dialogue (from the script by James Iver Mattson, B.E. Brauner and Hardwick) that makes everything work just right. Its viewers are in for a very good time indeed!

(Released by Focus Features and rated "R" for sex related dialogue.)