Madea (Needs To) Go To Jail.....For Life!

I have a major problem with film director Tyler Perry. I'll say that Tyler Perry is like Lil Wayne in the movie game. He's well-liked, gives the (mass) people what they want to see, and makes a lot of money while doing it. It should be hard to find a fault on the powerful Black man in the name of Cinema, right? Wrong. In the same vein of what makes him 'so popular', he is also an integral part to the support of Blacks continuing to make excuses for their shortcomings and take responsibility for their actions, inaction, and future. He is a sore in our culture, opting to entertain by exploiting the stereotypes of our race for comedic relief, subliminally bringing to light what is wrong with our culture but providing little to no viable alternatives to such a problem, and on top of everything else...he just plain sucks.

Last weekend, I went to see Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail. I've never liked any of the Madea plays and most of his movies were just doing too much for my tastes, namely because of his penchant for broadcasting the stereotypes of Blacks and blanketing them, making them much bigger and 'general' than they really are. I have a problem with that. A big problem. However, I went to see it anyway because my homies wanted to see it and I didn't want to be the odd one out. Plus the tickets were only six bucks so I figured, "why not?"*

I knew this film would be full of fuckery to the tenth power when not only was it the usual run-of-the-mill stereotypical "from Down South" Blacks speaking in broken English, partying with the "big red cup", and ultimately making a mockery of our culture by talking loud for no reason and being uncooperative. Sure enough, these stereotypes exist. But the whole film? I shook my head when everyone laughed at the stereotypes. I just didnt find it funny.


It's important to embrace our culture and 'be real', of course. My problem lies mainly with his character development in all of the works he's done with the exception of "Why Did I Get Married" and "A Family That Preys" because in those films, his characters were variant, diverse, and painted a more wholistic picture of our culture, marking our general social struggles but still not losing sight of the battle we as a culture face and also took note that...there ARE successful Black people in the world that work legally, aren't ignorant and uneducated, have families, and take responsiblity for their actions.

It's like Perry is doing this on purpose though. It's one thing to have that one film or two exploiting your race for comedic relief...and an entirely different animal altogether to have a portfolio of buffoonery as your main source of income. I can't knock him because he's made it work for him and he's now a millionaire...but damn all that! I can knock him for disrespecting our race time and time again!

I do wonder though: Do Whites see us like this? Do they 'blanket' us and think we're all this ridiculous? That we're all jokers with no goals and just getting by with Life? The theatre I was in was packed with Whites taking up about 85% of the seating. I understand that the movie is a comedy but I saw so much deeper than all that and I was heartbroken by what I saw....generally. We aren't all like that. See the Black attorneys in the film? We can be like that too (though I felt like he should have developed more into the story of those successful Blacks) and it isnt an anomaly. We're successful, driven, educated, and happy. Damn you, Tyler Perry!!!


Take all of these issues I had with the character development out and let's focus on how the film was completely underdeveloped. On one hand we had Madea on the brink of going to jail and profusely refusing help, by which case she ultimately loses her cool in a very extravagant (read: EXTRA!) way and is eventually jailed (no shocker there; we knew she was going to jail by the title alone). On the other hand, we have Candy, played by Keysha Knight-Pulliam (aka: Rudy from the Cosby Show) who is a prostitute that is sentenced to jail for an unreasonable amount of time because she is friends with an attorney who is engaged to a very jealous and outright ridiculously unfair and selfish woman to whom he works with. The fiance intentionally dallies with Candy's legal papers and makes her go to jail so that her and her husband-to-be can live their lives without Candy's interrupting. Basically, the movie was two stories in one film. It was obvious.

And even though it's titled, "Madea Goes to Jail", I personally favored the latter story.

I felt like the connection between the two scenarios should have been much more clear and well...developed. Instead, Perry waited until near the end of the film to bring the two (Madea and Candy) together and when he did, it was still clear that this was two movies in one.

Bad character development + Grossly underdeveloped plot + A few laughs here and there =

Ms_ Slim rolling her eyes and sitting at the film laughing sparingly instead of in a rukus like everyone else. I just saw so many errors and couldn't get past it for the sake of mere comedic relief.

(Gotta admit: The Madea and Dr. Phil scene was the funniest scene in the whole film)

Boo, TP, BOOOO!!!

Ms_Slim

*- I was nowhere near Chicago last weekend. Movie tickets in Chicago are anywhere from 9 bucks a ticket to 11 bucks downtown, with matinee being 7.50. Where I was, tickets for adults were only 6 bucks. If I was in Chicago and had to pay for my own ticket (or even if I didnt pay for it), I wouldnt have wasted any time, energy, or money seeing the film for 9 to 11 bucks. It isnt worth it AT ALL...in my opinion, of course :)

The Spike Lee Hater, Part 2 (final)

Background: This is the relevant IM thread from yesterday. We got on the subject of Spike Lee because we were discussing the outing I was to go on later on that night (last night) and I mentioned to him how I was going to go see The International with Clive Owen. For me, Clive Owen is most memorable for Inside Man, a Spike Lee movie. From there went this:

Ms_Slim: Have u seen Inside Man?

Spike Lee Hater: yup

Ms_Slim: Thats easily one of my fav films. I love Spike Lee. And I love him more that he isn’t Tyler Perry.

Spike Lee Hater: That might be the only Spike movie I can sit thru

Ms_Slim: (shocked face) …and why's that?!?!

SLH: I think other than Crooklyn, I never enjoyed the stories.

Ms_Slim: Those are fighting words, son. I mean not even Malcolm X!

…or even....even....EVEN Do the Right Thing?! …or Jungle Fever? I don’t know, man...I’m too blown away by that statement.

SLH: Documentaries are different, nothing to script as far as plots go. I enjoyed X

Do the Right Thing, School Daze--I just don't think if I had kids I'd want them watching them. There's nothing positive about them in my eye

Ms_Slim: Maaaaaaaaaaaan. I swear I never ever expected you to say that. You’re a predictable guy. No surprise about you at all. But that right there? That shocked me and I had to get up for a sec.

SLH: I'm not gonna lie, a big part of me is not a fan of black folks and Spike's one of the reasons

Ms_Slim: Not even Bamboozled though? Come ON man!!! I grew up on Spike Lee movies and Hip Hop so I couldn’t see any part of my childhood without those elements really.

SLH: Bamboozled... one of the worst pieces of cinema I've ever sat thru. It took about 5 years to stomach thru actually watching it.

Ms_Slim: OMG! I’m having a hard time with that statement. Why don’t u like Spike? I mean he isn’t like Tyler perry, who brings forth stereotypes to a comical screen much like Bojangles. Spike Lee educates. I’m totally outdone.

SLH: Tyler Perry itches my soul somethin’ awful also, but they're two different itches

Ms_Slim: There are a lot of things people didn’t/don’t know about that he brings to screen and opens eyes to them. See: Do the Right Thing…or Jungle Fever…and especially Bamboozled. Wow.

SLH: I suppose I just choose to get my education elsewhere. I won't knock anyone who follows any of the movies. They just didn't speak to me

Ms_Slim: I mean i can understand them not speakin to you (I’m basically telling him to respect the craft and acknowledge the greatness regardless), but you said you’re not a fan of black folk, which I knew, but then u said that Spike is one reason why…and I don’t get that, considering he's an educator.

SLH: As for being an educator, everyone is an educator to someone. Spike just happens to not be an educator to me

Ms_Slim: okay…..(a bit confused)…fair enough....I guess

SLH: I feel he pushes an empty point--stand up and say something--fight it--don't take it sitting down!

...Someone asks 'what are we fighting?' Nobody knows. Same with certain music of that era

“Fight the power!”

What power?

Why are we fighting?

Ms_Slim: WOW

SLH: Same with poetry. If it's not telling me anything substantial, I’d rather not bother with it

Ms_Slim: Ahhhhhh….

SLH: Same with reading books

Ms_Slim: Stop! Stop! Stop!

SLH: If I'm not gaining anything...I have to put it down

Ms_Slim: I’m gonna jump through the computer and wring a certain 18 inch neck for all this blasphemy! Now you’re on POETRY?!

SLH: I'll easily say I learned more from the Lion King than any Spike Lee movie

Ms_Slim: Are u aware of who you’re typing to? lol

SLH: I learned more from Forrest Gump than any Spike Lee movie. There's ways to tell a story so you instill lessons in it... and there's way to put out a film that you feel is deep. Spike Lee puts out what he feels is deep (I saw that point. One point for the SLH!) Unfortunately, he and I share a different level of depth apparently (meh)

Ms_Slim: I’m sorry. I had to leave the screen for a second because you were talking from the crevice on the side of your neck. ah well :) (Our insults are said jokingly)

SLH: Understandable.

Ms_Slim: I feel so violated right now

SLH: Male coworkers staring at you too hard?

Ms_Slim: I’m guessing you have a problem with Maya Angelou too (He said ‘same with poetry’, so…)

SLH: She's never done anything to move me, but I did hear her speak

Ms_Slim: (referencing the ‘male coworkers’ statement).....considering there isnt a drop of testosterone on board, I'm gonna have to go with no

SLH: She's a very moving speaker

Ms_Slim: So she HAS done something to move you!

SLH: I was seated at the time

Ms_Slim: LMAO. Congrats, [SLH]. You prompted a blog from me! :)

** Now I'll admit that after his explanation, I saw his side of things. He made a lot of sense. The conversation continued and we expanded into the dynamics of music of the 90s (namely: Public Enemy, McLyte, Sister Soldja, and KRS-1). We even discussed the influence that music had on the Black race in the 90s (his argument saying that it stemmed from the 80s--which I agree with). We discussed Forrest Gump and its lessons as well as the Black mentality and how (as a race--collectively) our race has slacked on the part of taking responsibility for our own destiny, downfalls, and life in general and have resorted to blaming "The Man" for the bulk of our shortcomings. We also discussed psychology, the church, and the importance of parents in a child's life. All of this...spawned from the Spike Lee discussion...and he doesn't see Spike's depth. HA!

The Spike Lee Hater, Part 1

"Spike Lee itches my soul. Tyler Perry itches my soul something awful also" -The Spike Lee Hater

Normally, I wouldn't get up in arms over this. Heck, I try to respect everyone's opinion, no matter how ridiculous it may come off in my head. But this--this statement took the cake on all ridiculous opinions made. It really did.

As if that weren't enough, TSLH* continues with:

"Bamboozled...one of the worst pieces of cinema I've ever sat through. It took about 5 years to stomach through watching it."


I am genuinely outdone. Like--mouth hanging open in complete confusion and perplexity FLOORED! What can any man do to be put in (nearly) the same vein as Tyler Perry?!

Smh,

Ms_Slim

*TSLH- The Spike Lee Hater

UnbelievaView Terrace

Last weekend I saw Lakeview Terrace. Before even hitting the theatre, I had reservations on it because from what I heard from various sources, the movie A. wasn't as good as a typical Samuel L. Jackson film usually is and B. wasn't really believable when compared to real-life schematics on the issue at hand. The issue, being interracial marriages and its effect on Blacks.

After hearing these things about the film, I'll admit that I wasn't really looking forward to going to see it. I'd have rather waited until it came out on DVD to be honest. However, I was with my girls AND we were in Quincy. The girls wanted to see it AND there were no other desirable movies left to see in Quincy as Miracle at St. Anna hadn't even hit Quincy at all. This didn't shock me because when Dream Girls came out, it never came to Quincy either.

[brief sidebar]

Quincy, for those not in the know, is a rural town that is primarily comprised of Caucasians. For this reason alone, a lot of "ethnic" oriented things (food, clothing, and media outlets) are completely non-existent in the area. It's comparable to going to the land of Pleasantville (remember the movie) because there are so many things that the town lacks as far as what the rest of society is kept to speed on. Quincy, Illinois just got a Starbucks last November for crying out loud. Starbucks, one of the fastest growing franchises this side of McDonald's, just got to Quincy, Illinois and you wouldn't believe the amount of people I've come across in the area who had never ever even tasted anything from Starbucks….except for the cold frappucinos sold in grocery stores. It's a mess.

(Real world is in color. Quincy operates in Black and White, smh)

[sidebar over]

But back to the film. Did I enjoy? What did I think of it? What was my reaction?

Two words: Three stars. That's it.

Why only three? Well, as stated before, I walked in the theatre with a preconceived notion in my mind already. I already had a perception of said film before the opening credits so when it came on, I was actually looking for certain things to prove my perception wrong.

Things I was looking for:

1. Entertainment
2. Believability

I can't say that I wasn't entertained, because I was. However, I also can't say that it wasn't a "positive" type of entertainment. I was entertained in that I was watching a popular movie that featured one of the most popular actors and I was with my homies, but I was terribly bothered by the antics that were taking place. Sitting with my girls with Caucasian faces all over the small theatre, I was livid.

[Spoiler here; don't read anymore of this review if you haven't seen the movie yet. You have been warned.]

Samuel L. Jackson was tripping. Hard. Did anyone catch just how ridiculous his antics had become? It was one thing to have the big beaming light on the couple's house and another thing entirely to have a convicted felon tear into the couple's home, break in, and then shoot (and intentionally kill) said felon when the felon had gotten caught by Kerry Washington's character just to cover his own ass. I was so thrown off by just how much hate Mister Jackson had for the couple that I was about ready to walk up out of the theatre and just wait out in the lobby for my girls to come out when it was over.

And why was I so upset?

I have never been in an interracial relationship. I have had boyfriends and dated men that were of mixed race, sure, but never have I dated a man that didn't have any African-American in his blood so I can not relate on a severely personal level. However, I do have friends that are in interracial relationships, I have family that are married to people outside of their race, and my paternal grandfather was an American Indian. In addition to this, interracial couples are extremely common in Quincy alone.

However, being that I am no stranger to seeing or even being close to interracial couples and how they make things work for them doesn't take away from the fact that Samuel L. Jackson's character was completely unbelievable in my opinion. Sure, I understand the underlying method to his madness when he addressed his hate for the couple because of what happened to his late wife and how a white man killed her. I understand that completely and I'm really glad that that scene was added otherwise I'd have really been in a whirlwind of emotions over the film but…let's be real here. Black men just don't act that way. Period.

If given a choice, Black women are the ones that'd have more of a problem with interracial marriages, especially if the couple featured a well-to-do Black man and a seemingly average White woman. Black women can be up in arms and throwing a fit because "a good Black man is hard to come by" and to see him hand in hand with a White woman is grounds for teeth-gritting, protests, and curse words. Women are more emotional than men by default. This is no surprise. Save the Last Dance was a lot more believable.

White men would also have more of a problem with interracial couples as well, specifically older white men. It bothers white men to see a white man with a black woman at times. "Why can't he find someone on his level" are some things that can be said, as us Blacks are considered equivalents to our White counterparts (though that theory is being more and more disproved and this election alone proves it).

But a black man? Seriously? I don't buy it. Sorry.

I understand he had reservations and no one is saying that his disgust wasn't real. It happens. But to that degree though? Not so much. A black man can be a little peeved by the sight of a sista with a White man, but he isn't going to come scaling skyscrapers on some superhero "Stop the Madness" bull. Please. It just isn't going to happen. He's too cool for that. He'd most likely say a snide comment or three, joke in serious jest* with his buddies and maybe his mother, give a side eye in their direction, and keep it moving. He's got more important things to do and he can't risk losing cool points for going off the handle for any amount of time at an interracial couple he doesn't even know. His swag game is a bit more pressing.

(Getcha hatin' ass on, Mista Sam and work on your swag game, homie!)..

On another note, I did not like Kerry Washington's character at all either. Am I the only one that found her a bit too assimilated to White culture? She wasn't a sista--just a White woman with a deep tan. And there's nothing wrong with that, I suppose. I just needed her to be a bit more "real", ya know? I feel as though she kinda lost herself in her marriage and had fully assimilated to her husband's culture. Does anyone agree?

So as a result of all of this, the film got three stars from this critic. What did you think of it? What were your views?