Tyler Perry?

[MisterRussell]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 2:36pm

Just saw the movie of "Diary of a Mad Black Housewife" last night. I thought it was okay. Anybody else seen more of Perry's work and care to share any critical assessments? Thanks.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 2:37pm

It's "Diary of a Mad Black Woman."

I have seen almost all of Perry's plays, and although they are by no means theatrical masterpieces, they are highly enjoyable with good messages.

[harris007]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 2:41pm

100% agree something wicked.

[MisterRussell]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 2:43pm

My bad on the movie title. Anybody else?

[Funny Face]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 2:57pm

I abhor Tyler Perry's plays. My cousin's watch the DVD's all the time, and my father, who loves them, even dragged me to one when it came to my city.
I think they're atrocious. Yes, some parts are funny, but for the most part the comedy is dumb and insulting to the audience. And as far as good messages, yes he does have some good messages, but it's sooooo PREACHY. Seriously, when I saw one, I thought I was at church. They never relate the message through a good stroyline, either. The characters just sit around and spout out their philosiphies on life, which is a total bore. And he just grinds away at that one stone. There are identical situations and characters in common with all of his plays. He even borrows dialogue from himself to put into his new plays. And don't even get me going on the fact that they are complete minstrel shows.
I'm not trying to offend anyone who likes them, since it's obvious that a lot of people do, but I hate them. It's too bad that there are such truly good black playwrights whose plays do not insult the intelligence of it's intended target and they never catch on with mainstream audiences.

[maybe1day]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 4:35pm

i think they're good for a quick laugh and a little moral lesson. like people said before, they're not masterpieces, but they serve their purpose. as for them being preachy, they are advertised and intended to be modern religious theater. for a lot of blacks, this is how religious conversation goes in our homes. it's very prominate and straightforward. and i don't really think it's insulting anyone's intelligence, it's just a different kind of humor. some people (gay and straight) think movies like to wong foo and precilla queen of the desert are unrealistic and insulting to the gay community. others think they are (near) acurate representations of themselves or the people they know or take them for what they are, comedy.
...wow, that got long. like Funny, this isn't a attack on anybody. just my opinion...

[soapguy17]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 4:42pm

Something Wicked took the words right out of my mouth. Yay!

[cheezedoodle]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 6:16pm

I think Family Reunion was a bit better than Diary, but Medea goes to jail is my favorite of the plays so far. Especially when Perry starts to ad lib and becomes Maya Angelou - I fell out!

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 6:20pm

I didn't like "Diary" but I loved "Reunion." It was totally entertaining from start to finish. Plus I think Tyler is adorable.

[jimnysf]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 6:22pm

The previews to the movie version of "Family Reunion" were dreadful. It did not get one laugh in the packed theatre I was in when I saw it.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 6:24pm

You never know, Ms. Winfrey and Tyler are TIGHT. Her next Bway endeavor could be "Madea Takes Manhattan." Halle-lu-yer!

[morosco]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 6:33pm

Not my cup of tea but Tyler Perry has certainly tapped into a huge audience who enjoy his work. His plays sell remarkably well on tour. Sure it's full of cliches at at times a little preachy but his audiences tend to eat it up. My only gripe is that he tends to recycle some of the same punchlines in his productions.

[cheezedoodle]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 6:35pm

I found it interesting how he took the character of the foster child from Medea/jail and put her in the Family Reunion film. The play of Family Reunion was a heck of a lot heavier on subject matter than the film was - at times it made me sick. Especially the molestation and selling of the children. Very scary.