Tyler Perry Gets It Right

Tyler Perry's movies are a complex mix of humor, faith, social commentary and family. I wouldn't call myself a fan, maybe more a curious observer. A fascinating personality with a voracious appetite for work, he's just down right appealing. The production values can be sloppy, the directing is almost always uninspired, the scripts lack dramatic structure, the acting sometimes appears to be off the cuff (particularly his) but the work is so sincere and likable that you just say "what the hell" and forgive all that because you have a good time while you are there and feel good when you leave. He's a smart filmmaker despite his lack of polish. He knows that good music can cover almost any fault and if the actors are having a good time, it is likely that the audience will also, erasing any doubt by using outtakes over the credits which are often funnier than the actual scenes. They provide clues as to how he just lets the camera run while they improvise and mess around with each other, creating that joyful sense of "aren't we all just having the best time." And actually, maybe we all are.

His latest film, I Can Do Bad All By Myself , is based on a stage play of the same title, which marked the original appearance of Madea, a "God fearing, gun toting, pot smoking, loud mouthed grandmother," famously played by Mr. Perry himself. She is a force unto herself, a box office juggernaut, perhaps more suited to comedy skits rather than full length films that tackle serious subjects. But maybe the old show business rule, "give 'em what they want" applies here. We have already established that we forgive Tyler Perry a lot of things. I, for one, would like to see Mr. Perry begin to trust himself, and his loyal audiences, a little more.

The core of this new film is based on a subject that the filmmaker knows way too much about, based on his recent disclosure of severe childhood abuse. Because of that personal experience, he knew exactly how to write it and present it in the film. After the first 40 minutes or so of a messy plot set-up designed to give screen time to the Madea and Joe characters, both played by Mr. Perry, the film finally finds its footing. April is a night club singer who drinks too much and is involved with a married man who pays her bills. She also happens to be the aunt of three children being cared for by her mother, from whom she is estranged, and who has gone missing. Madea deposits the kids on April's doorstep. What follows is a somewhat formulaic story of April's redemption starring a dreamy good man, Sandino, and the Lord.

But it is the way that Mr. Perry presents the sexual abuse component of the film that deserves special recognition. He really got it right and that matters. April's married lover, Randy, is controlling with the potential for violence while she is a woman who doesn't think she deserves better. April's inability to acknowledge and open her heart to the pain of her dead sister's children, only adds to their misery and sense of belonging nowhere in the world. When the church sends over Sandino, a good man in need of a place to stay, who also happens to be hunky and wonderful in every way, April can't connect with him either, even though he comes to really care about the children. She shuts everyone out and cannot overcome her own pain. Randy shows a lurid interest in her 16 year old niece, Jennifer, foreshadowing the climax to come. In the dead of night, he attacks Jennifer in the kitchen as she prepares an insulin shot for her little brother. She is saved by Sandino who rushes in right on cue and gives Randy a good beating. April demands to know what's going on and Jennifer begs her to believe that Randy tried to rape her. At first she doesn't, and sends Randy up to the bathtub to clean up. There she experiences a rage, fueled by the flashback of her own sexual abuse and a mother who would not believe that her man would do such a thing. Just as April is about to dunk a boom box into the bathtub to electrocute Randy, Sandino rushes in one more time to save the day. April remains angry, even suggesting that Sandino's interest in the children must make him a child molester also. She lets the knight in shining armor get away.

But one Sunday morning, April begins to allow herself to believe that maybe she can have a healthy relationship with Sandino, and love the children, assisted by the powerful sounds of the gospel choir from the church across the street wafting into her kitchen right on cue. She begins to sway and sing along to a song her mama taught her, almost in a trance, and finally goes to the church to begin her new life, all before the song ends. This deus ex machina, or "god from the machine" dramatic technique, utilizing the "out of the blue" resolution to a character's unsolvable dilemma, is generally considered poor form. (As a fascinating side note, Euripides was criticized for his use of the deus ex machina, perhaps most famously in the case of Medea, with an "e".) But this, too, is a forgivable sin.

If you look at Tyler Perry's very personal website, you can read about his own abuse and how turning 40 made him feel grateful for his survival and willing to tell his story. You can even read about how his aunt held a gun to his father's head when she found out how abusive he was and her husband stopped her before she pulled the trigger. When you read that, you have to resist the urge to write about how most abuse victims don't get saved the way April did in the film, and will ultimately have to save themselves. To hear Mr. Perry tell it, that savior might be God. The fact remains that the abuse piece of this story is told with honesty, integrity, accuracy and compassion. And it stands out as the truest part of the film. I hope that Mr. Perry will have enough faith to know that he doesn't always need Madea. He can be serious all by himself.

 

 

Comments

[77bravo]

Can we simply allow Mr. Perry to have his own niche? Genre? I have watched all of his films. Some are very good, others not so good. The genres of film run the gamut from the trashy slasher types to the insipid comedies. Example" Saw IV how many ways can one dismember a person? It's really bad to have free movie tickets and there is NOTHING worth watching. Mr. Perry employs many talented Black actors that Hollywood cares less about. He has found a niche of moviegoers who are tired of never seeing their own on screen. Or if they are in a film they get perhaps 10 minutes of lines. There is always a few hot Black actors that appeal to the other side. What is ingenious about Mr. Perry is that he has realized that African-Americans spend money to see movies. They want to be entertained by their own. Tell a story, have a few laughs, perhaps a good cry with no need to dissect it ad infinitum. The alternative of what he brings to film is quite boring and downright insulting.

[Alice Singleton - Huffpost Blogger]

"Can we simply allow Mr. Perry to have his own niche? Genre?"

Of course we can, 77bravo. No one is denying Mr. Perry a right to make a living, and no one (to my knowledge) is standing in front of theatre doors attempting to block citizens from paying to see Mr. Perry's celluloid offerings (although I could while away the remains of the day listing off secular films that Christian groups have attempted to censor and shut down). The point is: we do have a inalienable right to openly criticize a work of "art" if we choose. This is not an abridged right that black folks only get if they're criticizing "outside the family".

And yes, ronspa, I saw "Why Did I Get Married" on cable - twice actually. Pretty, but mediocre. And stereotypical. Dark-skinned brother is the bad guy; career woman has her motives and even her child's paternity questioned by her husband. Same old theme that's not worth my paying good money at the box office for. BUT - a lot of folks like Perry's movies, and if it keeps them in clover, and Perry in financial riches, so be it - cool and the gang.

But I wish "we as a people" would get away from is this weirdo concept that 1) we all think alike, 2) never criticize a rich, black brotha, 3) and we're all moved in the same direction by the same wind for the same passions.

Just ain't so.

[honoursplendor]

I have not seen his latest film and cringe at remembering Perry's former films. You state "The production values can be sloppy, the directing is almost always uninspired, the scripts lack dramatic structure, the acting sometimes appears to be off the cuff (particularly his) but the work is so sincere and likable that you just say "what the hell" and forgive all that because you have a good time while you are there and feel good when you leave." -- I woud heartily disagree. Perry's films are not "feel good". They are 100% religiously oriented to the point where I feel alienated watching his films. His characters, in keeping with certain "Christian values", frequently practice misogynistic behavior that is not condemned in the universe of Perry films. See "The Family That Preys" wherein the spouse of the Sanaa Lathan character slaps her and flips her over a diner counter in retaliation for her "evil" behavior. His character's "values" are strongly steeped in the idea that black people that are educated and well to do are "bourgeoisie" and therefore represent a lack of values (read Christian behavior) or are considering acting contrary to black cultural mores. Besides the poor direction, horrible scripts and low production values, his characters are virtual buffoons to African American stereotypes. Perry may be highly celebrated, esp. in the black community, but his mediocrity is offensive esp as the maintstream press, intimidated by Perry's influence and popularity in the black community, hail him as a "great".

[Alice Singleton - Huffpost Blogger]

Well, honoursplendor, you've got a point, or twelve, actually.

Speaking as a regularly-attending Mass (being RC puts me out of the "Black Christian" mainstream - both philosophically and culturally), I've noticed (and had dozens of disheartened conversations with "members of the black bougie") the perpetual silver thread through Mr. Perry's movie - everything comes down to Jesus - not much room for free will, or issue/problem resolve via one's intellectual capacity. You can "pray it all away". A gospel choir sings, a passa' rants, problems go bye-and-bye. I got not problem with that POV, BUT I do have a problem with the message pushed through Mr. Perry's films that this is the POV we all must have or if not, then we're "fallen", "evil", somehow.

His POV on professional blacks, particularly women, stinks. Working in the Media, I do understand market share and audience manipulation, and black doctors, attorneys, engineers, journalists and all the other "fallen" brothas and sistahs ain't the ones packing the seats on opening (or closing) weekend for a Tyler Perry movie - he plays and writes to his sure-thing audience.

Promote more secular movies made by and featuring black folks. Mr. Perry can keep on keeping on - after all, "no buyer, no seller";

Does Mr. Perry cause more alienation between the classes in the black community? Who can say? After all, it's only a movie, and movies that are made and played tot he already converted looking for something to do after Sunday services.

[ronspa]

"HOURSPLENDOR AND ALICE SINGLETON" What I want to say to both of you is the fact that Mr. Perry made something of himself despite his upbringing and his movies are made for entertainment!!! The fact that Mr. Perry always has Christian themes is because he is a CHRISTIAN!!! Most black families do have a Christians history. No One is perfect including the two of you. when the both of you can come up from such a terrible background and make a success out of yourselves, than maybe whatever the two of you have to say will be worth reading. I came from an abusive background, I am not GHETTO either, I came from an upper middle class family and went to private schools. Yes, I love God and I am a Christian but I am not perfect and neither are the two of you. You both sound like film snobs, who can only live in your superficial environment and get off by dragging someone's films in the mud. He makes films that ordinary people like and that is no crime. But, I guess you two are Roman Polanski followers. Yeah, he's brilliant NOT!! Try getting down with the real folks, like Mr. Perry does and you will find that kindness to others goes a long way.

[honoursplendor]

LOL, ' "fallen" brothas and sistahs' my sentiments exactly! My frustration with Perry is not just the content of his films but that his films promote a certain "type" of black person that is okay and I find these stereotypes as harmful as some pushed my mainstream filmmakers. But what truly galls me is that the mainstream press, and individuals like the writer of this piece, are promoting him as "talented" even while openly admitted that he is not. It just seems quite odd and patronizing. I do not want a black film maker adultated just because he is popular (Michael Bay is almost universally panned by everyone as terrible and untalented while being obscenely popular). While I understand that there are virtually no black directors with Mr. Perry's popularity and success, just because he is one of the few does not make him one of the skilled.

[honoursplendor]

I have not seen his latest film and cringe at remembering Perry's former films. You state "The production values can be sloppy, the directing is almost always uninspired, the scripts lack dramatic structure, the acting sometimes appears to be off the cuff (particularly his) but the work is so sincere and likable that you just say "what the hell" and forgive all that because you have a good time while you are there and feel good when you leave." -- I woud heartily disagree. Perry's films are not "feel good". They are 100% religiously oriented to the point where I feel alienated watching his films. His characters, in keeping with certain "Christian values" frequently practice misogynistic behavior that is not condemned in the universe of Perry films. See "The Family That Preys" wherein the spouse of the Sanaa Lathan character