I know the movie came out last weekend but I still feel the need to do a movie trailer review for it. Trust me, I have no plans on seeing this movie. I had to force myself to sit through the entire trailer. Now I know there will be some fans of the movie, Tyler Perry himself or the character Madea, who will say that I’m letting my bias keep me from enjoying a good movie and blah blah blah, but I don’t care. I have no shame in saying that not only am I not a Tyler Perry fan but I refuse to support anything he creates. Maybe I’m just bourgy, but I can’t relate to anything in dude’s plays or movies. Yes, a couple of years back I was forced to watch a few Tyler Perry/Madea plays and I could never understand the appeal. Dude made a killing off of creating one play and then Control-V’ing that play into different scripts, changing a few names and settings here or there and voila you have a Tyler Perry movie. There’s always some chick with man problems either cause she was too dumb to realize that dating an ex-felon or someone in prison wasn’t a good idea or she got pregnant out of wedlock. Then the thug/dumbass dude. The preacher, preacher’s daughter or some other overly religious person. Then there are the buffoons, Mr. Brown and Madea. How am I doing so far? If you’ve seen one Tyler Perry play/movie chances are you’ve seen them all. Sure, there are times when he changes it up completely (Family that Prays, Why did I Get Married) but even a broken clock is accurate and useful twice a day. I don’t know, maybe it’s me, but I’m starting to have a real big problem with “Black movies” because they seem to paint us black folk with the same broad generalized, stereotypical brush that some misinformed or racist folks do.
One of the last problems I have with Tyler Perry and his movies is the fact that he’s gay. Well, the problem I have isn’t that he’s gay but that he tries to act like he isn’t. Dude throws up more gay red flags than that story about Puffy tricking Xzibit and Superhead into going to a gay club with him. Come on, a black man with a rags to riches story that makes movies that black women love is the perfect “Getting tons of ass from women” model if I’ve ever seen one. But in Perry’s case, he’s 39, never been married and you barely ever hear about him dating anyone. That negro is gay. Plan and simple. Look, we went through this already with Star Jones and Terry McMillian. If everyone is questioning dudes sexuality, there is no question…he’s gay. Add in the fact that he’s using his plays/movies to fulfill his need to cross dress whenever he likes with little to no backlash and what we have here a closet homosexual. Again, my problem isn’t that he’s gay, its that he just won’t come out and say he is. We already know dude. Free your soul and come clean.
Now I won’t go so far as to call these movies coonery. I think that word is extremely overused nowadays. However, I have to add it to the mind rottenly stupid crap that gets regurgitated by Hollywood. Call me crazy but I long for the days when supporting a black film means I get to watch a regular movie, with black characters and a black director but not get force fed the same tired and recycled jokes and stereotypical punch lines. Sorry, this movie isn’t going break new ground for me and I can tell all that from the trailer.
February 27th, 2009 at 10:33 am
i love this movie its so funny and it gives a very important message of not letting something in your past take contral of your future.
February 27th, 2009 at 10:57 am
Kriss is right, I have never seen the appeal, and all his stuff follow the same outline with different characters and situations. Seen one of his movies, you seen them all
February 27th, 2009 at 11:09 am
I’m sorry. I can’t knock dudes hustle. And his “real” movies ARE good. Bottomline. Daddy’s Girls, Why did I Get Married, Family that Preys, even the other two Madea movies were O-K. Dude is just tryna get his Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence on. It’s old and tired but obviously it pays the bills.
On another note, Let’s look at Spike Lee’s Inside Man. I guaran-fucking-tee that “your” people weren’t really lined up around the block to see that. And if they did they were like “where are the negroes!?” We just gotta accept that the various degrees of buffonery and/or mega action/slap stick bullshit comedy is what gets black AND WHITE butts in the seats. All other movies are sleeper Oscar Hits or fail miserably.
February 27th, 2009 at 11:12 am
I hear you but we need more movies like Inside Man. I know this country is dumbing down and that’s why these types of movies seem interesting, intriguing and dare I say it “good” but that’s because our standards are so low. I’m still waiting for a black directed super hero movie. If someone made “The Black Panther” I’d be straight. As long as they don’t get Tyrese to play him
February 27th, 2009 at 11:13 am
I did forget to mention– dude makes good movies, but he can’t act. Or at least every time I see him in a movie I feel like he’s playing the same character, the closet homesexual…
February 27th, 2009 at 11:38 am
Well…you stick with what you’re good at…
February 27th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
Give me Djimon Honsou as the black panther directed by John Favereau and call it a day
February 27th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
I think I can live with that one.
March 23rd, 2009 at 1:20 am
Stop hating … if you dislike Tyler Perry so much and his work, pour all this negativity you have shown in this article and become a writer/actor/director/producer. All Spike Lee movies have the same themes, too. To be honest, Inside Man was one of his worst (in my opinion). This is what’s wrong with Black people … too critical of our own people. I am a fan of movies, do you actually think ‘white’ movies have better scripts … please! Stop hating …
On the gay issue … the only way you can say that someone is gay or not is to have been in their bed. If you’re saying that he’s gay, do you have firsthand knowledge? Whether he’s gay or not, what does it matters? That is one talented, paid Black man … stop hating and make your paper.
Stop hating …
March 23rd, 2009 at 5:24 am
*Yawn* The word “hate” has been so overused and misused over the last few years its ridiculous. Tyler Perry’s movies suck. They are extremely predictable and the acting is piss poor. I will admit its better than his TV show, House of Payne…that just might be the worse acting I’ve EVER seen on TV. If he was white we wouldn’t even be talking about this, but because he’s black I’m supposed to ignore the fact that the movies he makes suck? GTFOH. The argument that I should be an actor/director/producer because I don’t like his movies is a stupid one as well. I don’t want to be one so I won’t…but that doesn’t mean I can comment when I see a bad movie.
Oh and Inside Man has an 87% rating on Rotten Tomato. Spike Lee’s worse movie? Come on…stop reaching.
March 24th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
*Yawn*
[Again] It’s interesting how Black people always are critical of other Blacks, isn’t it? Tyler Perry didn’t appease Hollywood to make a ‘white’ movie like Spike Lee. Much of the good rating had to due with the cast, mainly Jodie Foster and Denzel Washington. By the way, Spike Lee made a lot of movies that sucked. With everything, it takes time to perfect our abilities. I’ve seen every Tyler Perry movie, and they are just as good as any Ben Stiller, Will Ferrell, Jim Carrey, etc., etc., etc.
You talk about Tyler Perry. What about Kenan Ivory Wayans? All his movies suck. Yes, Inside Man was Spike Lee’s worse movie. No, I take that back; it was better than “She’s Got To Have It” and “Girl 6.” However, the latter had a slamming soundtrack. A rating of 87% doesn’t mean it’s a good movie. Did any of Spike Lee’s movies dealing with a real “Black” issue get any good ratings? No! Talking about ratings, have you seen Slumdog Millionaire or Milk? These two movies ratings are off the charts and neither one of these movies were better than “Madae Goes To Jail” or “Inside Man.”
Stating you should become an actor/director/producer isn’t stupid at all. Only until you walk in the shoes of another will you be able to criticize. Regardless if you like or dislike his movies, you have to give Tyler Perry some credit. He’s smart enough to eliminate the middle man. He owns the studio where all his movies and television shows are filmed. He writes, directs, stars/co-stars, and produce “all” his movies. This man movies has grossed over $300 million, not including his plays and DVD sales. He is truly a rags to riches story without Hollywood’s help or stamp of approval.
One thing is correct, if Tyler Perry was white, you wouldn’t have wrote this blog. It’s just like all the scrutiny President Obama is getting about the economy and bailouts when the Bush Administration got us in this mess. My dissertation was on the lasting affects of Brown vs. Board of Education, integration and the Civil Rights Movement/Act on Blacks in education and society. In my profession, I come across too many Blacks that are too critical of other Blacks. Studying/Researching to achieve my doctoral degree and through numerous interviews, I have discovered many factors on why this occurs; a lot of it is subconscious, we simply don’t realize it. Instead of admitting it, we justify it by trying to rationalize our position, thus having others to come to the conclusion that we are “haters.”
One thing I like about this technological evolution, it’s easy to blog and voice your opinion. I always encourage my undergraduate and graduate students to partake in and research different blog websites/sources on a variety of subjects/issues. I want them to understand that everyone has an opinion.
March 25th, 2009 at 6:09 am
So tell me…when is it appropriate to say something a Black person does sucks? Why can’t it just be that I think Perry’s movies suck? If I was truly just hating on my fellow black person simply because they are black, then I wouldn’t limit myself to just Perry. I’d hate on someone like President Obama. But, I don’t. I don’t like Tyler Perry’s movies, that’s it. Yes, he deserves credit for the hustle he’s put together but that’s not what this post was about. It was about his movies and how they are predictable. If you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. Yes, he cut out the middle man, pulled himself up by his own bootstraps and is making a shit load of money. Congrats. His movies still suck to me though. Again, I don’t want to be beat over the head with “black” issues that are in essence, stereotypes when I go to the movies. If its done cleverly, then maybe I would feel different…but there’s nothing clever about a Tyler Perry movie. If a white person made a movie like this we would all be offended. It’s like Big Momma’s House with Martin.
And you’re wrong about “One thing is correct, if Tyler Perry was white, you wouldn’t have wrote this blog.” Jesus I hate “smart idiots” like you. Congrats on the doctoral degree, next time, research. I’ve done other movie trailer reviews and posts where I’ve talked about movies I think sucked and SURPRISE, there have been white people I talk about too. This site is equal opportunity. If I think someone is stupid or their product sucks…I will talk about them.
March 25th, 2009 at 11:42 am
Wait wait, Slumdog is on the same level as Madea Goes to Jail?! Additional points go to Slumdog for 1) visual style (colors, lighting, etc.), 2) depth of character development (i.e. not fitting to steretypical models), and 3) a soundtrack that has gotten the Western world interested in Bangra/Bollywood music. What does Madea Goes to Jail have on that?
Giving credit where it is due is certainly important and I give Tyler Perry respect for his money-making abilities and independent spirit. But, if we’re giving credit to those that deserve it, let’s not break down Slumdog just to make Madea look good; give Slumdog it’s due credit.
March 25th, 2009 at 11:52 am
“NC Chris, You’re white…you can’t possibly understand”
LOL…yeah but I saw that comment about Madea being better than two movies that won Oscars and chuckled. Granted, while winning Oscars doesn’t necessarily make a movie good, to put Madea up in the same level is absurd. That’s like saying “Super Bad” was better than “The Dark Knight” and I laughed my ass off to “Super Bad”.
March 25th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
First of all, you stated that if Tyler Perry was white we wouldn’t have this conversation. I just elaborated on it.
Secondly, now this is comical: “Jesus I hate “smart idiots” like you.” Are you a “dumb idiot”? Like I said before, everyone has an opinion. If you can’t take constructive criticism, please limit your comments. Intelligence has nothing to do with educational levels. If I only had a GED, would you still refer to me as a “smart idiot” or something else?
Comparing Tyler Perry’s movie(s) to Oscars winners is no different than you comparing it to a seasoned director like Spike Lee. Apparently, you (and NC Chris) missed the point.
Note: The themes in Tyler Perry’s movies are universal, not just Black. You are either bourgie or living/grew up in a bubble. Domestic violence, drug abuse, prostitution, marital problems, sexual abuse, greed, child neglect, parental/sibling rivalry, corruption, outside children, and extra marital affairs have no color. We all can relate to some of these issues. You may not be personally affected by any of these, but I guarantee someone in your life has at some point.
Thanks for the congrats. It was almost ten years ago. On researching, it’s generally scholarly articles and websites. This exchange is part of an experiment that I’m conducting for an article and later book. You’re turning out to be suitable material and a discussion in one of my courses.
March 25th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
You’re not offering “constructive criticism” You’re bitching about me saying Tyler Perry’s movies suck and then that somehow it’s because of some misguided form of self hate. That’s actually what I have a problem with. You like Tyler Perry’s movies, fine. I don’t. I think they suck. Not because he’s black but because I legitimately can’t stand his movies. Again, I’ve shitted on other people’s crappy movies as well.
As for “smart idiots” I’ve used that term in other posts. A “smart idiot” is someone that has an education and is intelligent but is really a dumbass when it comes to common sense. You didn’t come to this site to do research. Your first comments were “Stop Hating”. Now all the sudden you have a doctorate and you’re writing an article and I’m subject in your social experiment. Really? You don’t think there’s better subjects for some shit like that (especially after going through a historical Presidential campaign with real examples of self hate?) I wasn’t hating, I was stating how I truly feel about Tyler Perry movies. You came out the woodworks like some kind of “fanboy/fangirl” that just got told their favorite superhero was lame.
We get it…you like Perry’s movies. Get the box set and be merry.