It received US$17.3 million at the box office [2] 30-year-old elementary school teacher Alex discovers that his girlfriend Carolin has an affair with their neighbour, photographer Jens, and is forced to move out of their shared flat.

He moves in with his friend, animal welfare activist Nele who has a long-distance-relationship with her French boyfriend Etienne who lives in China.

Aaron Coleman of Backstage found "copying its American counterparts" made the film "warmly endearing".

[5] Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter judged that despite "its slavish adherence to familiar genre conventions" the film provided "reasonably fun viewing" because of its "off-kilter humor" and the "chemistry exhibited by Schweighofer and Kekilli".

[7] Andy Webster of the New York Times conceded What a Man possibly quoted some well-known patterns but added "its sureness of tone" made Schweighöfer "a talent to watch".