October 17, 2007
You must listen to our NPR sister-friend Teshima Walker's take on the Tyler Perry hit, Why Did I Get Married?
In her commentary for NPR's Tell Me More, where she is a senior supervising producer, Walker addresses stereotypes about sisters of generous size ... including in this movie.
Tell me what you think! And give a shout to Teshima...
I listened to the piece earlier this afternoon and laughed so hard. Not that I have the same issue but I have friends who are F.A.T (Fabulous And Thick)who share the same swagger. You go Teshima!
After hearing the commentary this morning from Teshima Walker, I was very disappointed. Not only did she pick out the negative in the movie, she didn't come back with anything positive. The movie was not about a big black woman being talked about and emotionally abused by her husband, it was about marriage and commitment. It not only portrayed african-americans in a positive light, because all of them were professionals, but it showed us in loving relationships where we can feel, and show emotion in not only negative aspects, but in positive aspects. Personally, I could relate to something in all of the women, and my boyfriend could relate to something in all of the men. And regarding Jill Scott's character, let's not forget that she found herself with a man who loved her for who she was, not for who he thought she should be or look like. Tyler Perry, in my opinion, did an excellent job once again.
I understand the sista. But you know the movie was so much more than the black woman who is "thick" getting done wrong and a victim. The man that was directing the insults at Jill Scott in the movie was playing the role of a ignorant fool and any man who is acting like that is creating an unhealthy relationship thats not going to last. Also it was refreshing for us to see a black movie that showed real emotions and that we can work it out put things back together by communicating and taking decisive actions. Also its alright to let things go that are unhealthy for us . I am not a movie going person but I enjoyed the entertainment and some of the messages in the movie. To each is own if Teshima loves herself and how she looks thats Al;right too.
I'd like to see more positive movies about black people - dealing with the ordinary trials and tribulations facing all of us, white or black. Unfortunately, it seems it's often about guns, gangsters, or stereotypical "Soul Plane" type movies (just a modern version of Stepin Fetchit, a guy who in one sense was smart, talented and made alot of money -but only by pandering to white folks' image (or caricature) of blacks). Why aren't there more movies about regular black folks dealing with life? White people won't attend? Black people won't attend? I suppose Tyler Perry's movies are sort of a clever mix of the two. I've actually only seen "Diary of a Mad Black Woman" - portraying the struggles of a woman trying to find herself after her long-time husband did her wrong - combined with the whacky (somewhat stereotypical) humor of Mother Madea (yet another black man dressed up as a fat woman)
When a film isn???t screened for the press before its initial release, there???s usually a very good reason why -- and often it???s because the film just isn???t very good, and the studio releasing it knows that very well, but doesn???t want to discourage potential audiences from seeing it after they read the probable bad reviews of the film.
In watching WDIGM, the very first thing that jumped out at me was just how much the black middle class is virtually invisible in film these days, because it seems like almost every black film that reaches wide theatrical release tells the story of either the poor/working class, completely marginalized black people, OR a story of the black bourgeoisie. Where???s the middle class? The class that actually makes up the largest percentage of blacks in this country??? we just don???t exist in cinema these days??? sure we get some crumbs every now and then, but probably since the early to mid 90s, that majority fall into either one of those 2 groups??? so-called hood movies, or the so-called buppie movies.
Tyler Perry???s film, WDIGM, does nothing to break the cycle. Just about every character in the film is a doctor, lawyer, architect, psychiatrist, or business owner -- they live in these super lavish homes, drive Benzes, Range Rovers, etc. Not that there aren???t black people who exist in this elite socio-economic layer, because there most certainly are and they should be acknowledged, but, I???m just making the point that there???s this other class of people, again, the largest in terms of numbers, who are being relatively ignored. I remember back in the 90s, post Boyz In The Hood, there were a lot of voices within the black community saying ???enough with the so-called hood movies, enough; there are black people in professional positions who are doing and living well, how come we don???t see those people on screen?
And then what happened? we then saw a proliferation of films showing upper class blacks who wore Armani shirts, and Jimmy Choo shoes, and Diane Von Furstenberg dresses, and drove BMWs, and Range Rovers, and lived in lavish pads, and ate at the daintiest of restaurants??? etc??? enough already??? let???s see the average black person on screen for once??? those working hard, at their 9 to 5 jobs, own modest homes in multiethnic neighborhoods, have kids in public schools, can afford to travel once or twice a year, living relatively simple, unpretentious lives. what about those people?
The world in which Tyler Perry???s characters exist is a rather conventional, traditional world in which men and women assume the most basic of gender roles??? women in the kitchen, cooking while gossiping, and men sitting in the living room talking about ???manly things.??? There were moments when I thought, hmmm??? even the elite of our society still maintain these very specific gender roles? She is an award winning psychologist, whose written several award winning books, and another is a partner in a top law firm, but at the end of the day, both of them come home to their husbands and right away make for the kitchen to cook for them, while the husbands lounge in the living room. I don???t know??? is that how it works, for those of you in that kind of environment? Again I don???t know, but it seemed a little odd to me.
It???s a message driven film -- much like the rest of Tyle Perry???s films but one thing I???d say is that Tyler Perry needs a lesson in subtlety because we are hit over the head with the message ??? believe in God, trust in God, and everything will be alright. I don???t know how many times some character, particularly Jill Scott???s character, referenced God in whatever it is she was saying??? so, probably not a film for you atheists out there??? I???m catholic, so I certainly don???t have any problems with the sentiment itself, but a little subtlety was in order, because after awhile, I found myself rolling my eyes and shaking my head whenever someone mentioned the power of God and God???s intervention in our lives???
It's aredictable??? you know exactly how it???s going to progress, from beginning to end??? we get the initial set ups of each couple and what their individual qualms are with each other, and then we get this climatic moment at the dinner table when secrets are revealed by all of them really, which was actually a little much, and a little too contrived because every single one of them, every man and woman, has a secret that they???re keeping from their husband or wife??? and I remember thinking, sheesh, I hope this isn???t how it is for most couples out there, because the film certainly doesn???t paint a healthy picture of marriages out there, if each person has some monumental secret that they???re keeping from the spouse. But of course, in the end, relationships are nicely patched up, and/or each person gets what???s coming to them.
If you???re going to see it, it???s a film you have to see with an audience, because it actually helped me while I was in there hearing women coo whenever there was a close-up of Richard T Jones???s face, or Michael Ajai White???s arms, or Malik Yoba???s lips??? the women just loved those moments, and made it very well known that they did and any time there was some dramatic moment, the audience reacted accordingly, taking sides when sides were presented -- and sometimes doing so quite vehemently -- so that was kind of fun. I think if I were watching the film at home, solo, I probably wouldn???t even bother. I???d likely fast forward a lot, and it likely wouldn???t have held my attention??? but I suppose you can say that about other films??? but in this case, seeing it with an audience certainly relieved me of those moments of either a certain boredom, or just apathy??? but it would be nice if the film itself held my attention so that I didn???t have to rely on the participation of the audience to keep me involved.
It's overly-sentimental, so for those of you who cry easily at the movies, bring your tissues??? it???s full of cheese ??? and by that I mean, lots of cheesy, mawkish moments???
I had some problems completely buying the portrayals of the characters by the actors who played them??? the acting was average, and cringe-worthy in a few spots??? but it was tolerable. One could say that the material didn???t quite help either??? some of the situations presented are so preposterous that I was taken out of the film a few times??? like the relationship b/w Richard T Jones???s character, and Jill Scott??? the guy was such a jerk??? he was despicable??? and the fact that the others would choose to have a human being like him as a friend discredits them as people??? because the guy was horrible to their friend (Jill Scott)??? I won???t give any story specifics??? but if you do see the film, I think you???ll quickly see what I mean.
So, was it a horrible movie? No, absolutely not. Was it a good movie? Eh??? in circumstances like this, I don???t know if one should take intent into consideration, because it???s a film with obviously very good intentions??? it???s technically sound, it looks nice??? Bottomline, if you???re a Tyler Perry fan, you???ll probably love it, and have a lot of fun watching it. If you???re not, then you probably won???t like it??? so, I don???t know??? I feel like maybe I tolerated it more than I actually liked it??? and I???m wondering if I???m giving the film and Tyler Perry more credit than they might deserve because I really wanted to like it??? and also because it???s a black film with good intentions, and maybe I???m willing to give it a pass when I ordinarily wouldn???t do that for a non-race specific film.
Of course, they packed in all the trailers for every upcoming ???black film??? prior to the feature presentation ??? there was one for a Martin Lawrence film which looked incredibly silly, and there was another for yet another "stomping the yard" type of flick.
But say what you will about Tyler Perry and his films... one thing you really can???t do is ignore what he???s accomplishing within this studio system that many others have spent years trying to crack, and haven???t been able to, or have hoped to have gained some degree of autonomy, and haven???t. He???s doing it all??? I don???t particularly care for his work, but...
That's it!
:o)
Man! To come from such heights to THIS?. How is it that we celebrate/support the drivel that is "urban films" (Soul Plane/Trois *Madea *Pick One) or "Urban literature" Zane or countless others)Its utterly astonishing how we allow our tastes/perceptions to be altered to eat the social & cultural "GUTS" That the wider(whiter) populace throws in our trough for consumption.Cultural Chitlins is what these movies/books are, plain & simple-and we line up time & again for our feeding. Our ancestors must be tumbling in the grave! I sit astonished as we continue to court (& actualize) the masses perception of us as thugs(Denzel), buffoons(Flavor Flave) Insatiable hotentots (I love New York) When will we meet our potential with dignity & diligence to honor those who died to have us here?If you have not had as animated a discussion about James Baldwins body of work or Dr John Henrick Clarks body of work, Dr Cress Welsing Gordon Parks/Hell! Spike Lees Work! i grieve for you...Its a wrap for us people! Its a wrap! we give our promise, genius, pride & honor at the alter of the hollywood machinery that chops us up into some sort of perceived Frankenstein, part this/part that or some domesticated dog to shuffle out upon the world stage to jump run or do tricks to be viewed in the lights of their choosing. Quiet as kept and on the hush, guess what...we are better than the actions we take in contemporary america. Let us use our resources to create the stories that edify us and stop providing the ammunition to annihilate our glorious yet waning self images domestically & internationally. We owe Our foremothers/fathers more, & our children even more. Serve God with Dignity, serve Community with Devotion, & serve yourself from the previous.~Afrikan proverb.
Tambay: First, your fingers must be worn out after typing that lengthy treatise. Secondly, why do you have a million question marks in your statement? It's very distracting and makes it more difficult to grasp what you're saying.
Last weekend I went to see WDIGM and I enjoyed it. As for Shelia I actually saw past her weight and tapped into the true flaw of her character, she was weak. There are people of all sizes and shapes can relate to that, myself included. For a few years I allowed myself to be treated in a disrespectful manner without speaking up. I wasn't obese, quite the opposite. The issues with my man were driven by the fact that I did not have the confidence in myself or the love for myself to require the respect that I deserved.
Don't be too harsh on Mr. Perry. I have never seen any of his plays, and I live in Atl, and I am not a fan of his movies. However, I did enjoy this movie and I think that the attributes that people could relate to in every character lay deeper than their physical presence on screen.
This was an excellent movie and I think he hit the nail on the head by stressing that all of the couples in the movie had communication issues. Each couple was in a different situation but lack of communication or poor communication (in Angie???s case) was the thing everyone had in common. It was recently stated that communication, not money, was the #1 cause for divorce in this country. I also think it is a major factor in the division of black men from black women. I don???t feel it???s too often that we get a movie with real (simple) solutions for real problems as opposed to feel good stories. Perhaps we should watch this movie with an open mind as opposed to cop attitudes based on personal feelings.
Tyler Perry, flaws and strengths aside, is setting a standard that other black people have failed to do - owning your own and calling the shots. What will the next black generation do to make it better for us as a people and redeem us from the mental slavery that needs to broken completely firstly from ourselves and then the rest of the world.
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