My movie requirements are less strict than my TV watching requirements. I understand that a filmmaker has to get a whole concept plus character depth into 90 (120) minutes whereas a TV dude generally has a whole season to sell me. So basically all I ask is that you make me feel something. Give me something that doesn't make me queasy, bore me silly or scare me to death. Why Did I Get Married Too did not bore me. Read between the lines.
Though I'm not the biggest Tyler Perry fan, I respect his hustle and try to support his work when I don't think it will be too over the top for me. I liked Why Did I Get Married. I thought it had a great message about hope and healing and honesty in relationships. There was just enough melodrama to be believable, enough romance to make you say "aah" and enough tragedy to make you sniffle. Though the characters weren't too fleshed out, you had enough of a sense of what they were going through to care what happened. The ending was expected if not a little too tidy. All in all, I gave it a solid B.
Me and two girlfriends saw the last one and promised to see this one together as well. Unfortunately, I had heard a few (read hundreds of) varying opinions on the film from Twitter and the blogosphere. So I went to see Date Night yesterday to cleanse my movie palate. Date Night was hilarious. It advertised itself as lightweight and funny and it delivered. So I was optimistic going into this one. Why Did I Get Married Too advertised itself as fun and entertaining. At rare intervals, it delivered.
I'm not going to give away the movie, but in two hours and 1 minute we got the following: guns go off, gay people jump out of cakes, someone gets ignant on national TV, random old folk drop knowledge, women cry, people die, someone's sick, someone's cheating, someone is going behind their husband's back, someone is smacking their wife around, next door neighbors kicking up drama, rooms get destroyed, people file for divorce, and someone gets a new romantic lead setting up Why Did I get Married Again.
Long story short, it's doing too much. It's just too much. It's just drama, drama, drama without any explanation of why. Why is that person still seeking solace outside the marriage? Why is this person still so out of pocket? Why is this person suddenly violent? Why did that relationship crumble? Why is that marriage even still together? Why isn't she appreciating her man's sacrifice? Why did ANY of these people (with the exception of one couple) get married in the first place? Great questions… none of which get answered.
We were at a theater where food and wine were served. We killed a bottle of Pinot and an appetizer tray just to make it through. Truthfully, it made my head hurt. I don't mind a rollercoaster ride when it's an action movie but a relationship film? Exhausting, especially when you are not given the opportunity to understand why things are happening. They just happen and you're stuck watching the fallout.
I just need Tyler to hire writers that can build characters and add context to his scenes. I want him to cozy up to the concepts of subtlety and innuendo. He tends to go for the easy thrill and quick laugh when I would watch a longer film that made me fall in love with the characters. I watched most of these characters with a blend of irritated astonishment and weary disdain. I can honestly say that Lamman Rucker's character (Sheriff Troy) made the most sense out of all of them, and I don't just say that because I love him and hope to bear his children. In fact, you wonder midway through why he doesn't throw up his hands at the lot of them and roll back to Colorado where his life was sane. Jill Scott's character was the next least worst (if that even makes sense). I have no idea what motivated the rest of them to act like they did.
On a completely shallow note, kudos to whoever got the curly weave wholesale for the ladies. The hair should've gotten its own screen credit, it was that prevalent. On another shallow note, I need Tasha Smith's trainer's number... she killed that bikini. Killed it! Moving on...
I need Tyler to get that having people behave in the most outlandish, out-of-pocket, over-dramatic way is not brilliant cinema. Tell me a story that has a beginning, middle and an end that fit together. Don't just put random scene (drama) after random scene (more drama) and then say oh – setup for next film and done. They clearly set the stage for a third installment but I'm done, son.
I get that Mr. Perry is an entrepreneur employing a lot of black people. I get it and I appreciate it. He's neither the devil nor a savior, he's an entertainment mogul. Acknowledged. He's popular. Agreed. But just because something is popular, doesn't mean it's good. This particular product simply is not good. Now if you think my review was scathing, my girl Sheri referred to this film as a "steaming plate of ass"... she was heated. She LOVED the first movie and felt that this ruined the legacy. She is married and she called bullshiggity so much, she was tired at the end of the movie too. We had to go get coffee to bring her back to life so she could go home and face her husband and child.
In my opinion (which is all I'm qualified to speak on) I give it… a D+. I added the plus because Sheriff Troy earned it.
Alright BougieLand, who saw it? Who plans to see it? Thoughts, opinions, comments? Feel free to disagree, I'd love to hear your thoughts...
WARNING: SPOILER ALERT IN COMMENT SECTION!
43 comments:
I just found your blog today ma, and I can't front its dope.
With that said I agree with your review of this movie. My major problem was the forced ending with no resolution of the drama between the marriages. To have Janet's character basically cry and scream at the others to forgive.....and they do, was the most phoned in ending of all time.
The messed up thing is every time I finally am willing to give Perry a chance, he turns around and makes BS like this that reminds me of how wack he really is.
Just now saw this comment - thank you sir!
Ooohhh... I watch Diary of a Mad Black Woman frequently too. That was one movie with Madea that was not too over the top and Madea didn't take away from the storyline.
A Family that Preys... I almost want to watch it again to remind myself of what I thought. I guess I didn't dislike it a whole bunch, but I clearly didn't love it a lot either.
Similar to your disaster date the other night, I got hoodwinked into seeing this movie. I was mad going in and stayed mad the whole way through. You leave this movie wondering Why Does Anybody Get Married... Ever? I thought we were for promoting positive imagery of Black Love in film? Chele, when's YOUR book being made into a movie?
Yes, the Tasha Smith character is way over the top....going to the man's place of employment asnd acting out like that? Seriously? That is one of those stereotypical black female images that is not good for anything but ridicule and contempt. yikes!
Oh and another thing, I cringe to death to see Tyler Perry in anykind of kissing/romantic scene. I almost have to look away.
I didn't go see it. The previews seemed like a lot of complaining about your spouse. Like my mom says, "Are you going to stay with him? Well, shut the f*** up talking about him."
The scene on the jet skis is like watching glue dry, I get that he was trying to do the male bonding thing but either it was written poorly or edited terribly. Moved... so... slow...ly.
Man, you took so many of these words out of my mouth. So much of this movie made me cringe. It was hard to identify with any of the male characters and their actions and I would not have wanted to be involved with any of the female characters. And don't get me started on the ending. I was actually mad!
WDIGM2 was typical Tyler Perry fare and I enjoyed it. Now Tyler could use a little help with his writing ,continuity and the fighting couple was waaaaay tooo over the top, but all in all I enjoyed it.
Except for that first outfit, Jill looked great. Keeping it positive...
I went to the Sunday matinee (i.e. the movie that everybody and their mama goes to see right after church). I already had my reservations about Tyler Perry and his minstrel show type of movies but after seeing the first one during a TNT marathon of Tyler Perry movies - it seemed rather realistic so I decided to have an open mind.
Wrong idea.
Fifteen minutes in, I was ready to strangle myself.
Every objectification you could find in a marriage (moreso, a Black marriage) was thrown in and exaggerated to the nth degree. I found myself calling out what was going to happen next on several occasions. The whole thing had me thoroughly disappointed and if I wasn't of a strong mind, will and conviction - it would've had me contemplating marriage at all - at any point....
I agree with your assessments wholeheartedly...
The worst scene however involved Lou Gossett, Jr. and his Ja-fake-can accent.
Terrible.
This is exactly the same thing I have been saying about this movie. Enjoyed the first one, this one right here killed it for me!
Thank you! I thought I was crazy for a second, because I hated the movie, my date hated the movie, but everyone else I talked to loved it! Tyler just had too much going on in this movie. It got to the point where me and my date just started laughing when we saw the next plot "twist." I liked the first movie too but this one ruined in for me.
Ok I've been hovering for about two months but I have to comment. I COMPLETELY AGREE with your review. The whole time my date and I were just like WTF?!!! There were no transitions, no explanations just dramatic confrontation scenes. It was so awkward. I really liked the first one and this one was a disappointment. No shade to Tyler Perry, but I just was not feeling this at all. I also felt it was too long....after the 8th big drama scene I just waiting for a resolution of some point to call an end to this.
I'm concerned about the fact that there will be another one, there is such a thing as too many sequels. And we all know Tyler Perry knows how to beat a concept to death. Le sigh....cosign on Tasha's trainer tho.
Love the blog Chele! :-)
How much of a waste of great talent was that? I would like a whole movie of Lou and Cicely, that might have been interesting.
Yes sir. Even worse, me and the date had beef over the movie (I hated it, she loved it) and she stormed out of dinner. Said she couldn't someone who wasn't "evolved enough" to understand the film. If that was evolution, you can call me Neanderthal... I'm straight. That movie sucked for air.
I still don't see what the Fuss was over the first movie. was it the best Tyler Perry movie of the group? Sure. ONE of them has to be. IT was still pretty....TylerPerryish.
I don't know for sure what yall expected. The trailer was doing three much. ButThanks for sitting through it for me.
The reason you got a jig last night when you said this post was coming was mostly because I KNEW you'd be spot on with my personal feelings in describing your own.
I actually get a little irritated with the same folks clowning Tyler. While many arguments are fair, he's made too many movies for people to STILL be going and STILL say the same stuff. His dialogue is as in need of help as it's always been and any movie with Madea is as over the top as they've always been. These are facts -- stop going to see his stuff just so you can go on a mini-twitter rant/post your disgust on your blog. Be for real. I could go on forever on that one topic, but I'll stop.
However, I was SOOOOOO disappointed in him with WDIGM2. One of my friends asked me if maybe I was disappointed because I loved the first one so much and was just expecting a whole lot. I told her that was plausible, but Tyler totally missed the mark by, imo, trying to be JUST like the first one, instead of accepting that the sequel is never as good as the first. That one scene where all the guys are on the beach talking? PAINFUL... as in I had half a mind to turn to my mom and ask if she thought we could catch another movie.
Perhaps Tyler didn't realize what everyone liked about the first one. It was realistic, it wasn't over the top and it was rooted in a good and relateable idea. This one, though? Completely the opposite. Not believable, so over the top and rooted in... well, I'm not sure. There were some interesting plot twists but he had so MANY plot twists he couldn't flush them all out well enough to make a point.
If there is a 3rd installment, as apparently there will be, I'll wait for it to go to DVD as I do with most movies, anyway...
Saw it hated it. Onto the next.
LOL! Me too!
I hadn't planned on seeing it... this confirms it.
I must say Chele, I am more and more inclined to agree with your grade rather than the inflated grade I assigned. TP's faith and business acumen combined with some very good writers could be a match made in heaven. That's a marriage that needs to happen.
This sort of movie will not come to my town, so last Friday on girls nite out (4 of us) we watched the movie in Cincinnati. We all agreed it was not his best movie...actually it was disappointing! Janet had wayyyyyyy too much hair. We were shocked that Gavin was killed!!! And we all agreed that having the "Rock" in the last segment was for future WDIGM. I'm all for supporting Black work, but Tyler needs to branch out and seek more stars. Seeing Janet in all his movies is getting to be a bit much. She's a singer, not an actress!
My husband is still not speaking to me for dragging him to it. I liked the first one and even though the trailer made this one look a bit "extra", I wasn't expecting all of that. I was exhausted too.
Oh gosh... at one point, he just gave up on trying to fake it. I was like -- wait, didn't he have an accent 2 lines ago?? OH man... RIDIC.
Ok I am totally on board with your review. I made the mistake of taking a woman who was getting married the next day to see this movie....poor chile was ready to run from the building screaming by the time the movie was over. She was utterly horrified. It took a drink lots of fast talking to get her to understand Tyler was taking WAY too many liberties where this movie was concerned. I am sure without a shadow of a doubt the lady sitting beside me wanted to tell me to shut up. I know because I heard her tell her friend as much. I said "are you serious?" "WTH" and "somebody take the wheel" so much it could have been apart of the movies script. How can you make a movie that involves issues in and about marriage and NEVER TELL WHAT THAT ISSUE IS...I bow my head and just HOPE that he leaves it at this. No more Why did I get married, again,before, for the 3rd, 4th or 5th time...spare us all.
I do agree at this point that it's perfectly reasonable to expect more from TP but like Ola said, I'm not sure TP wants to make movies for art a la Spike Lee. It would be great if he did but it seems he's more interested in being an entertainment mogul. I also agree with his plot twists. He did the same thing in The Family That Preys (which is the only other movie one can put on the WDIGM1 level imo). It was just soooo many story lines going on and not enough time to dig a little deeper.
I haven't seen WDIGM2 yet so I can't comment on it. Was actually excited to see it this upcoming weekend but One Chele's post and these comments are giving me second thoughts man!
oh wow. THAT right there? hilarious.
I haven't seen WDIGM2 yet either (and probably will be waiting for redbox) but I'm glad you mentioned The Family that Preys. I seemed to be the only one among ppl I know the was disappointed in all of the storylines and the characters not being fleshed out. But I do rank that one as one of the better movies. I liked Diary of a Mad Black Woman too. for some reason I have to watch it every time it comes on TNT. lol.
I haven't seen WDIGM2 and after reading here and some other blogs...I will wait until it is on DVD and I can use a discount coupon for the rental. The first one was decent so I hoped this would be better than most TP films.
The funny thing is that I had a friend call me on her way home from the theater to tell me that the film was really good and I needed to go see it with my DH.
She is an educated woman with the degrees to prove it, so I guess the fact that she is having relationship drama is why she loved it so much.
What got me was him (TP) trying to be funny. I mean, it's Tyler. He's funny... but his Terry character? Not so much. It was awkward everytime he cracked a joke.
Oh, and when they were on the boat trying to point out how you can tell when Marcus is lying? Lord HELP me, I thought I was going to scream. Like even the SLOW people got it at this point, man. Let it GO!
Me for one, I like my humour dry almost sacarstic.. but not too sacarstic. I like intelligent movies ie Proof with Anthony Hopkins and Gwenneth Palthrow so I really knew it was not going to meet my mark so I didn't go to see it. Oddly I have a beau who likes corny romantic movies le sigh and wanted to see it but I talked him out of it. I too like his hustle, some people loved it, different strokes for different strokes. i.e I like my sermons quiet focused on the word of God some people like shouting and hollering and nothing to do with the word of God... Like I said different strokes fancies different folks. Oh yea this I am posting as a guest because I am at work lol
So my bad. I haven't watched a lot of TP stuff. Date night this weekend (albeit not as tragic as yours) and I generously say - You pick the movie. She picks this one. Midway through I'm like - are they kidding me with this? I actually don't like a lot of drama, not in my life or my movies. I like things simple, straight forward. Blow something up, take the money, get the girl, ride off into sunset. That's a movie.
The Ja-Fake-An accent did come and go. I thought it was just me. You know when the characters played by Lou Gossett and Cicely Tyson appeared on-screen, their presence was to add a deep moral statement. That is fine, but it is soooooo predictable.
I am not really a TP fan, however, I went to see this movie with 2 of my friends, and her mother (we are all married) and her younger sister. OMG!!! They seemed to enjoy it, I just thought it was WAY.TOO.MUCH!!!
Oh, you REALLY didn't like it. I didn't love it but my expectations were pretty low. I gave it a C.
I had actually forgotten Diary of Mad Black Woman where *ahem* the mighty Madea was introduced on film (Not that I don't find her funny sometimes but he's made her appear in too many of these movies and be over the top).
And I think me forgetting Diary of a Mad Black Woman is a testament to:
1. How many bullshiggidy Madea movies we've had since then that I couldn't even remember!
2. How good it was that I even forgot it was directed by TP!
I didn't completely hate the movie, but I am certainly glad I went early Saturday morning and only paid $5! I am less and less impressed with Tyler's movies the more he puts out. Angela and all that damn screaming made me become over-stimulated like a child. Janet and Malik's story should have been explored more. I left with all of the same "why" questions that you did. Tyler was still having intimacy issues with his wife, which will never change. I will bet money we'll never see him do a love scene with a woman. The movie was same stuff from the first movie with a bunch of drama added to try and make you think you saw something different. The one scene I loved was when the Sheriff went to Mike's home and Jill kept trying to get his attention by clapping her hands. Loved that! Something my grandmother used to do. I'm still in awe of anyone I hear say they loved it or it was "excellent". As we say back home, fa true? I co-sign on the D+. And that is only because of Jill and Lamar. Otherwise it would be an F.
I didn't go in expecting much more than eye candy and shout out to Lamman for delivering it. I kept looking at Tasha Smith's character and thinking, what woman really acts like that and if they exist, what man stays with someone that acts like that. Oh, and I liked Jill's ensembles. (Looking for the positive here).
PS: I actually thought the first one was the best of the TP movies. As you said this one pretty much ruined that.
This needs a 'Spolier Alert" attached. Some of us have not seen this yet, and with these reviews, I think I will wait for Nexflix. Thanks ya'll.
Well. . .
I love TP, but I don't view him as someone who makes movies for art. There are some artists who feel that the message is the priority (i.e. Spike Lee) and there are others who feel that they only want to entertain and make money(i.e. mostly everybody else). I think that when it comes to movies, TP falls into the latter category. His plays are awesome! They are the perfect balance of humor, drama, love and tragedy. I don't think it's that he CAN'T write wonderfully, it's that his agenda is different. We (society) is a little numb to basic drama and therefore need more of it. If TP wants folk to go see his movie, he has to give them what they want. We LOVE drama, as evidenced by all the tabloid media outlets that we patronize (i.e. Tiger Woods, Whitney Houston, Sandra Bullock). If TP hadn't put all that drama in the movie, he would have flopped at the box office. You sometimes have to have commercial success before you can create and release the art you REALLY feel passionate about. That may be where TP is at right now. I don't think it was the best movie out, but it was entertaining.
Entertaining = Not bad, but not great.
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