Artist

Tyler Perry

Artist Jaki Graham

Distributor

Lions Gate Home Entertainment

Record Label Cherry Pop Records

Release Date

Monday, 23 August 2010

Distributor Cherry Red

Track List

Why Did I Get Married?/Madea’s family Reunion/Diary Of A Mad Black Woman DVD (Liongate) I am of the generation that saw the first batch of African-American films later dubbed blaxloitation movies at the cinema in the 1970s. Although I’d studied film making, I look my interest in cinema until the likes of Marc Boothe started programming black films in London cinemas in the 1990s. However, I once again lost interest following the same-old, same-old diet of ghetto-centric movies from America. I seem to have read somewhere that there was a one man making films that was pulling in great African-American audiences outside of the usual Hollywood set-up. That guy is Tyler Perry. He gets his UK theatrical film release with Why Did I Get Married Too? Its predecessor is one of three Perry films – the others being Madea’s Family Reunion and Diary Of A Mad Black Woman - released in the UK to help establish his name here. His films come with the Tyler Perry’s obligatory possessory credit. Then you see his name a zillion times in the opening and closing credits, which include writer, producer, director, songwriter, actor (which in some cases is multiple credits as he also plays the matriarch Madea), Tyler Perry Company, etc. Was this some ultra talented person or a megalomaniac, I wondered? My antenna was up after a cursory check on Wikipedia highlighted criticisms from some quarters, which accused his film of building on old stereotypes. As the promo DVDs came without any sleeve notes or paperwork, I had no prior knowledge of the contents of the film. That was perhaps a blessing, because I was surprised and impressed with what I saw – in the midst of the unfolding stories of each film was a positive message – there was none of that swearing, gangsta and ghetto-centric imagery and language of the usual African-American films that make it over here. Instead, here was a series of family-friendly comedy films showing African-Americans outside of the usual ghetto, unemployed or working class vignettes. No one gets killed, there are no sex scenes, nor swearing or so-called street language, and the only time you see a gun was when the no-nonsense Madae pulls one out, and for good reason! So if you want to see a film about multi-dimensional black families and personalities occupying professional to working class spaces, where Christianity and old fashioned values sit within a modern context, which almost everyone can watch (the films are certified 12), these film certainly tick the right boxes. If you make your purchase in good time – each DVD is priced £9.99, you can avail yourself to a buy one get one free ticket offer to see Perry’s first UK theatrical film release Why Did I Get Married Too?, which gets its general release in cinemas on September 3. You can also find out more information and offers at www.lovefilm.com/moviesite/whydidigetmarriedtoo. By the way, Janet Jackson was one of the film’s stars who attended a special screening of the film at Brixton’s Ritzy cinema. Here’s the brief background to the three Perry films given a simultaneous UK DVD release on August 23. No matter the film, what comes across is Perry’s great observation and portrayal of relationships and its intricacies. Why Did I Get Married? is focuses on four married couples who go on a mountain retreat, which is supposed to give them time to work through their relationships. In spite of enjoying the America dream – the group includes a successful lawyer, doctor, architect, psychologist, and a businesswoman – problems within the marriages soon begin to unfold. It doesn’t help that one of the husbands flies in with his wife’s single girl friend, whilst the wife, played by Jill Scott, has to drive on account of being deplaned because her huge size meant she should have bought two tickets instead of one! We soon find her husband’s been cheating on her with her friend! Scott delivers one of the most emotional scenes, when starts to let go the hurt and determination to rebuild her life. She stays in the retreat town and finds true love with the sheriff, who marries her, after giving her a job, training with her and giving her lots of encouragement. Indeed the transformation in her is remarkable when she rejoins the group moths later. Although her ex-husband is still dating Scott’s ex-girl friend, he can’t help making a pass at the woman he had mocked and put down when they were married. Jackson also provides a creditable performance as the confident psychologist with a best-selling book on the four couples’ relationships. The highlight of her performance was when she breaks down at home after her husband forces her to deal with her pent-up guilt of not properly securing the car seat belt, which led to the death of their son in a car crash. Despite the twist and turns, it’s a feel-good movie. Even the sassy businesswoman who derides her ex-pro footballer husband who can only find work by working in her hair salon, finally decides to show her man some respect, and also promises go off the booze, but just as soon as she’d downed the wine that was in hers and his glass at the special meal she’d prepared for her husband. One of the things one realises watching Madea’s Family Reunion is how the Americans don’t need to be millionaires in order to possess homes which huge grounds that can accommodate several generations of extended family. That’s something we lack in Britain, where the other societal events such as weddings and christenings often aren’t the right occasions for re-building those familial ties. The film centres around the relations of the fiancée of Blair Underwood’s cruel investment banker character, her single parent sister, their heart mother, and their non-nonsense aunt Madea. Underwood is a successful investment banker who beats his fiancée whilst professing love. She has a mother, who just wants their society wedding to go on at all costs, in spite of being told of the abuse her daughter was suffering. After initial disinterest due to her bad experiences with men and now a born again Christian, the other sister with two children to take care of takes a long time to see the good qualities of the bus driver that had been pursuing her. In the meantime Madea has been ordered by the court to take in a sassy foster child – within a very short time, following some straight-forward talking to and encouraging words regarding her school work, not to mention a few licks, the girl because very respectful, as she follows a straight and narrow path. Madea’s advice to her niece was not to stand for the abuse, and her solution was throwing hot grits over the abusive beau and whacking him with the frying pan! On the day of their gig, Paris-themed wedding, Underwood comes looking for his runaway bride. To cut a long story short, she puts into practice Madea’s advice. But not ready to waste the lavish reception and wedding dress, the bus driver proposes to the second sister, and a wedding takes place. As the couple are dancing, the social-climber of a mother and daughter make up. However, one of the most important parts of the film was when one of the all knowing grande aunts played by Cicely Tyson (the other was played by Maya Angelou) gathered everyone at the family reunion and gave them a talking to. First of all, she reminded them that they were children of slaves that had worked hard to buy their property and build a life. She admonished the girls for the sexual gyrations and skimpy clothing, and the boys for gambling and fighting. She urged them to take on the positive attributes of their forebears before asking them to give each other a hug! Sometimes it’s these little opportunities of having a wise, old person from the extended family on hand, that can make a positive difference to the behaviour of our youths. The final of the three DVD’s is Diary Of A Mad Black Woman. It’s Perry’s 2005 film debut, and one he did not direct. His acts as a lawyer in addition to playing aunt Madea, whom he has to defend in court. Here’s the quick story – successful lawyer turfs, his wife of 18 years literally unto the curb – he actual gets her stuff packed into a removal van, and when the wife refuses to leave, he drags her and leaves her outside the door, whilst he stays inside with his mistress! Having separated the wife from her family as the couple socially moved up - the mother-in-law was put into an old people’s home – the wife left with no money and nowhere to go, finally ends up on the doorstep of grandma Madea’s house. Grandma’s solution is to pack a gun and take her granddaugher back to her marital home to demand her half share. Firstly, they rip to shreds the designer clothes of the mistress, then cause more mayhem when Madea uses a chainsaw to rip into half the furniture! Not surprisingly, the culprits end up in jail with the Perry character having to defend them. Madea gets house arrest and a $5k bond. He also represents the wife at a pre-divorce hearing at which, against his advice, the wife decides not to ask her husband for anything, except that he pays her lawyer’s fees and continue to pay for her mother’s old people’s home stay. However, before the 30 days are up for the divorce to come through, the lawyer is paralysed after a gangster client grabbed the bailiff’s gun ad let rip some shots in the courtroom as soon as the guilty verdict was handed down. Although a relationship is slowly building between the estranged wife and removal van driver, she rushes to the hospital after seeing the news about her husband’s shooting. At the hospital, the mistress suggests they turn off the life support machine, however the wife asks for the hospital to do the best for him. In the meantime, the wife has been rebuilding her life and growing fond of the removal van driver – they were re-acquainted at a get-together at Madea’s house. However, before she can seriously commit to this driver, she has some devilish plans laid out for her now paralysed husband. How she deals with him, is best left for you to see. Perry touches on a number of serious issues, from drug abuse, gangterism, spousal abuse, infidelity, traditional values, familial issues, to not just presenting working class lifesyles but also that of African professionals, within a comedic context, without unduly hitting on the usual racial stereotypes presented we the African-American films we tend to see. Actually, his films are essentially about universal issues and about people, rather than just African people.

Release Date Monday, 23 August 2010

Parental Advisory	Certificate 12