Sunday, February 22, 2009

Tyler Perry's Movies


For a long time, I've wanted to write about Tyler Perry's movies. And this is one of those pieces that I never got to publish until I went a couple of days ago to watch his recent release which is currently leading the box office with $41.1million.
I just love Tyler Perry's movies. Yes, they're corny, seem like déjà vu but they have this thing that make them worth watching, they're purely enjoyable. The themes are very simplistic: Family, God, Relationships. Matters that anybody can relate to. His most recent chef d'oeuvre which is currently playing in theatre is "Tyler Perry's Madea goes to Jail", is a hilarious two tails story about a 6'5" granny that goes to jail after hauling a woman's car from a Big K's parking lot and a young woman (and this is the corny part) who finds the love of her life on the streets of prostitution. One poignant moment is a scene played by Derek Luke where he finally lets out the guilt that he has been carrying around for years and the defining scene comes where Madea (in jail) sermonizes another inmate about taking responsibility of one's actions (e.g. stop blaming your abusive father for your miseries) and forgiveness is first for oneself, then the other person.
Last year, one's of Tyler's Perry masterpiece was "Tyler Perry's The Family that Preys". Movie in which the beautiful Sanaa Lathan displays a wonderful performance of a bitchery character, a cheating woman ready to do anything to get ahead. I particularly love this quote from her mother played by the talented Alfre Woodard: "You can't find happiness by bringing deceit to other people, that's a road straight to disaster."
Perry's movies are all about essential life's values, values that serve of pillars upon which one builds their own character. They're a good kind of comedy, that anyone with a modicum of good sense would agree with the central message: God , Family (Madea's Family Reunion), Forgiveness (Madea goes to Jail), Love, Hope and Marriage (The Diary of a Mad Black Woman; Why did I get married?).


"The sadest thing in life is wasted talent, and the choices you make will shape your life forever"

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