Inside Mr. Perry's House
Box office deliverer Tyler Perry's new film “I Can Do Bad All By Myself,” in theaters now, is just the latest in his library of films that have transformed from already beloved stage plays into box office hits.
It’s hard to tell if Perry’s films find a middle ground or a universal quality. It seems as though audiences either love them or they don’t. Each film follows a general storyline of struggle and redemption. When it comes to Perry's characters, there are people who are equally bad and good, unsure of which side to build on, some people who are just plain bad, some preaching, a change of heart and plenty of Madea, when you’re lucky.That might be what is so significant about Perry’s films. A talented director, writer/songwriter and actor, Perry’s fans don’t come to see his films in a search for such, sometimes pretentious notions – like to see his artistic progression or cinematography. They come for the story. For the characters. For the music. For the moment when the bad that resonates in a lot of us goes good, with a little help from some common sense, a not so subtle dose of religion and advice from a brazen, tell-it-like-it-ought-to-be woman in a big dress and with silver hair, a quick hand and a pistol in her purse.
The stories don’t shy away from the darker subjects, abuse haunts a lot of Perry’s heroes but he deals with them in such a way that allows those watching from their movie theater seats, or their sofas to survive the journey to a healed soul.
Perry writes what he knows, (pay attention screenwriters out there) and he writes it well. He may not appeal to all – but his fan base is devoted and they keep coming back for more.
And if they’re lucky – he’ll keep giving it to them.
A look at Mr. Perry's library:
Diary of a Mad Black Woman
‘Diary’ put Perry on the map and for an audience unaware of his stage plays. Helen (Kimberly Elise) is a woman trapped in world that is nothing as it seems only to be turned out and left with nothing when her abusive husband locks her out of her home and gets a new wife and family. With nowhere to go Helen seeks refuge, reconnecting with family, or namely, Madea (Perry). The film provides some classic Madea moments and a turn by veteran Cicely Tyson.
Madea’s Family Reunion
The follow up to Perry’s ‘Diary’, ‘Family’ was the first of his films that he helmed as director. There are some powerful names on the cast list including a return by Tyson, Lynn Whitfield, Maya Angelou and Blair Underwood. Perry also brings his Madea to this film and delivers some great comedic moments. The story is a little heavy following an abused woman, Lisa (Rochelle Aytes) who must face the decision of whether or not to stay with her abusive fiancé Robert (Underwood). Lisa finds that struggle runs in the family.
Daddy’s Little Girls
It was the first film of Perry's without Madea. Instead, Perry visited the story of Monty (Idris Elba), a single father struggling to make ends meet and keep his three daughters from suffering at the hands of their mother and her dangerous boyfriend. Monty fights for custody of his children with the help of the uptight, lawyer, Julia (Gabrielle Union). The chemistry between Elba and Union is light - but it works and Perry again showed his ability to draw big names with Louis Gossett Jr. in the role of Monty's boss, Willie.
Why Did I Get Married?
Though he was able to pull in some pretty impressive names with his first few films, Perry may not have gotten as much attention for his casting as he did with this ensemble, when Perry scored a Jackson. Janet Jackson costars in this film about a group of friends who take a yearly vacation together to take a good hard look at their relationships with each other and their significant others. It was a departure, in way from the films that focused on issues affected families as a whole. This time Perry took on couples. The issues were so defined and so resonate it's hard not to identify with all of these friends just trying to keep their marriages off the rocks.
Meet the Browns
For his next film, Perry's female heroine was embodied by Angela Bassett. In this tale, Bassett, a struggling single mother, finds that she has inherited a home from her late father and moves her children away from the dangers of the city for a new start. 'Browns' would come to expand Perry's endeavors into television. After finding success with one cable sitcom (House of Payne), he would reintroduce the Brown family to television audiences with their own show.
The Family That Preys
Starring Alfre Woodard and Kathy Bates, 'Preys' is about two very different families connected by friendship, business, greed and deceit. It was in 'Preys' that Perry cast Taraji P. Henson, who headlines 'Bad', in theaters now. With 'Preys', Perry again built a movie heavy on story about two best friends (Bates and Woodard) doing their best to lead their children, who struggle with money, adultery and corruption as they search for meaning in their own lives.
Madea Goes to Jail
After just quick glimpses of Madea in 'Browns,' fans were desperate for Perry to don the dress once again. And in 'Madea Goes to Jail,' he did. The story featured a relatively little known supporting cast, save for of course, Keshia Knight Pulliam (The Cosby Show) who starred in one of two story lines. In 'Jail', Pulliam plays Candace Washington, a young girl who has lost her way and ends up in jail. Where she happens to meet a recently sentenced Madea.