Rollercoaster Feelings for Tyler Perry

If you think Acrimony is a good film, know that I know you are Crazy or Hate Black Women. Take Your Pick. But with the same brain, I will say that when you heard "I Hope You Dance" sung at a funeral didn't at least make you say, "Awe" and make your heart smile, you might be cold-hearted.

*sigh*
Tyler Perry and his work may be good examples of why I have a blog. Most think-pieces don't represent my voice about this topic. Most hear only the voices of the lovers or the haters of Mr. Perry. Then there is me in the middle, liking some of him and disliking some of it. Praising him and wanting him to do better at the same time.

Applause goes to Tyler Perry for putting actors & actresses on the screen that we didn't know or saw very little of. How often did we get to see the faces of Lamman Rucker or Tasha Smith before they were on a Tyler Perry show? Who outside of Gospel music knew who David and Tamela Mann were before a Tyler Perry production? And everybody praises that grand studio he built. I do too. It is beautiful. In my grandfather's sister, V's voice, "It is Nice"! Wait you may not have ever heard her voice. Imagine Ms. Hattie from "Love Thy Neighbor" saying that in an outfit like her outfits and I promise you that character is my Aunt V to a tee. I almost thought he actually knew Aunt V. *still wonders sometimes*
I praise Tyler Perry for putting characters on screen that look like people I knew and tell their stories too. My Aunt V was married to a man, Uncle H that could screw the English language like Mr. Brown of "Meet the Browns". Most of my life, I lived next door to a curmudgeon like Curtis Payne from "House of Payne" Those people helped color my world. I could still have a cracked ankle trying to walk home had it not been for Uncle H. Mr. Flowers(blog name) may have fussed at people picking up his pecans that fell onto the sidewalk. But I also know a few churches' youth departments that that non-church going man donated to. These people exist and all of us are not embarrassed to see them.

Now with the good compliments, I must chastise Tyler Perry. *sigh* Maybe chastise is the wrong word. But let's talk about what needs to be worked on. I know Oprah said, "Writing is Cathartic". It is! But at what point does he truly heal from his mother & father's marriage? He has saved her several times and the story is done. Stop picking at that wound. And when black women aren't helpless, we are very wrong. I remember watching " Why Did I Get Married Too" and the ladies were leaning on each other in Patricia's house and all of them were wrong in their marriage. Only one of the husbands, Gavin was wrong. It is like he only knows two types of modern women. And I watch his show, "Sistas" (the only drama series of his I watch) and I think he might be trying to do better. But since he insists on writing everything and filming a fast pace, can he at least get a few random focus groups in to help with realistic dialogue & situations? I know he wants his audience to hear his voice, but his audience can see what he doesn't know also. And he needs a wig consultant! I will say he has even donned a dumb wig himself a time or two. But Madea shouldn't be the only character in a decent wig. Stop That! And I want him to keep up the good work at not playing the good guy. I was tired of him doing that. "A Fall From Grace" was a start. Rory should have been told off, at least once.

Again Writing is Cathartic!!! Tyler Perry will probably never read this. But my story, words, & thoughts matter. Maybe the future will see that there weren't exactly two opinions on his stuff.

As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms!