written and directed by Tyler Perry
starring Jennifer Lewis, Angela Bassett, Rick Fox, David Mann, Tamela J. Mann, Lance Gross, Sofia Vergara, Frankie Faison, Irma P. Hall, Tyler Perry, Chloe Bailey, Mariana Tolbert
A struggling mother of three receives a letter announcing the death of the father she never knew. After a period of hesitation she leaves the projects of Chicago for the plains of Georgia to attend the funeral.
This is quintessentially a Tyler Perry production. There is a man-shy woman and a stable, agreeable man who eventually sweeps her off of her feet. It’s wholly predictable as is much of this film and the end result doesn’t truly satisfy in the end. It’s clear as day that when Brenda (Bassett) first meets Harry (Fox) that sparks will fly and they will end up together. The utter lack of mystery here is almost offset by a number of find performances from a cast that draws their inspiration from Perry’s play of the same name. Still, the story seems pat and convenient without any sustainable energy propelling it along. We are left with personalities who just happen to be sharing the same living space for the duration of the funeral and the reading of the will. It’s a testament to the actors that this matters whatsoever.
Brenda is barely making ends meet. She loses her job at a factory and her lights are shut off. She has three children including a standout highschool basketball star named Michael Jr. (Gross). Michael Sr. (Philip Edward van Lear) hasn’t been around for the duration of the boy’s life and they’ve met a grand total of three times. Brenda can’t get any child support out of her ex husband and her only emotional support comes in the Hispanic stereotype Cheryl (Vergara) who is loud, obnoxious and puts on the classic spitfire act. Brenda is hurting immensely and finally decides to gather her children and take a bus to Georgia where she is immediately accosted by the loudest personalities in the clan. Prior to leaving she meets Harry who is believes that Michael has potential and could possibly play in the NBA. He also conveniently happens to live in the same neighborhood as the Brown’s and so the stage is set for the inevitable romance.
These two characters do seem to belong together and it is enjoyable to watch Brenda loosen up a bit but by the end of the film their stories don’t really add up to anything of significance. They are supposed to fall in love and so that is precisely what they do. It simply happens but there is no emotional weight behind their intimacy despite the strong performances by both actors involved. It isn’t necessarily a problem with the script either because the words and gestures are certainly in place to make it mean something but in the end it just doesn’t because the characters cease to matter by that time. The story is exceedingly predictable and the characters all turn out precisely as one expects. This is a story about a woman who has never truly allowed her self the benefit of the doubt. Naturally she realizes that she is indeed a fine person and that she deserves to experience love when it is given to her. The film leaves no questions unanswered and plays like a Hallmark movie of the week only there’s black people in it.
There are a couple of broad, comedic turns that keep the whole thing going for a while. These would be the characters of Vera (Lewis) and Leroy Brown (David Mann). Their characters both possess a vitality that stems from their larger than life personas. They both steal every scene they are in because they are designed to bring a certain sense of liberality to the proceedings and for the most part they do. Vera is a smooth, hyper-critical drama queen who is the type to feign a fainting spell if it means she can gain attention from the others present. She’s got a cruel tongue and its her lack of social graces that make her such an interesting character. She’s very well written and impeccable acted by the great Jennifer Lewis. David Mann continues his turn as Leroy Brown, a character who simply has to be seen to be believed. He’s part Amos and Andy and part Bugs Bunny and his clothes reflect what would happen if Wal-mart started a polyester Pimp line for the morbidly obese. Still, he’s got flash and tremendous energy and he brings the thing to life with every step. The man can flat out sing and dance which makes him worth seeing all by his damn self.
In this film there is little tension because one knows it’s all going to work out in the end. All that is left is a few standout performances that make the film as watchable as it is. Having said that Angela Bassett is something of a dream here. She possesses a quiet intensity that is a hallmark for female characters in Perry productions. Brenda is tough, beautiful, and deserving of whatever blessings might come her way. There are no weak women in Tyler Perry films. They all carry themselves with dignity that no man can tarnish and they all have learned how to take care of themselves. Still, there is a sense that having a man in the end is the ultimate goal and that this is perhaps the only road to their emotional salvation. Brenda is seen to be lacking something which is remedied once she allows Harry to melt her icy exterior and demonstrate his love for her.
This film is not entirely without conflict and this is actualized by the character of Michael. He is exceedingly gifted at playing basketball but he’s got another side to him that sees him selling dope for a friend. So, the stage is set for a life lesson and this comes on when Michael is shot by rival drug dealers who are defending their turf. This event is telegraphed early on because this type of behavior in the Tyler Perry universe has dire consequences. Drug dealers are presented as a scourge to society and Perry exploits the most vulnerable target to make his point. He shows in this scene how what seems like innocent, if not nefarious, fun can and does lead to an untoward outcome. Michael exemplifies someone who rises out of the projects and it’s important that he realize his aims. He is to serve as a role model who offers young men an image of someone who has succeeded despite the harshness of his surroundings.
As mentioned the performances in this film are manage to serve the script by creating believable characters who come off as natural and genuine. Angela Bassett conveys a wide range of emotions in this film as her character is thrust into a number of difficult environments that force her to react strongly. Rick Fox seems comfortable in the role as the caring man who convinces the woman of his sincerity and strength. Lance Gross carries himself with a vitality and a tremendous energy. Jennifer Lewis hams it up with style and grace. She’s a genuine force of nature in this film and every gesture is played up for maximum dramatic effect. David Mann gives everything he can to his role and the end result is a personality unencumbered by whatever obstacle might fall in his path.
Overall, this film in the end is diminished by the predictability of its story. It’s clear what is going to happen from the very beginning and its lack of mystery is a burden to its actualization. Still, there are great performances here and each actor brings something intriguing to their performance. Angela Bassett in particular is bold in laying herself open so nakedly as she does in this film. There aren’t any surprises so it’s difficult to invest in any of the central characters who seem to follow a set pattern that leads them to where they are fully expected to be. The end result is a film that does not challenge the audience and serves them up a easily digestible dose of candy-flavored placebo that tricks them into imagining they have received a tonic for their ills.
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