Why Did I Get Married? Review
Posted by Bryan Kristopowitz on 10.15.2007
Tyler Perry presents his best movie to date!
Tyler Perry- Terry
Sharon Leal- Diane
Janet Jackson- Patricia
Malik Yoba- Gavin
Richard T. Jones- Mike
Jill Scott- Sheila
Michael Jai White- Marcus
Tasha Smith- Angela
Denise Boutee- Trina
Lamman Rucker- Troy
Directed by Tyler Perry
Screenplay by Tyler Perry
Distributed by Lionsgate
Rated PG-13 PG-13 for mature thematic material, sexual references and language
Runtime- 113 minutes
Website: http://www.whydidigetmarriedthemovie.com/
Tyler Perry's latest cinematic effort, "Why Did I Get Married?" (adapted from Perry's stage play of the same name) is a movie about four married couples and their problems. That's pretty much it. There's no real plot beyond that. It's a movie that hinges completely on the performance of the eight actors that make up the four married couples. Luckily for Perry (writer, director, producer, and a co-star of the movie) that cast rises to the occassion.
The four couples, friends since college, gather together every year and go on a group vacation. They started doing this years ago at the urging of Janet Jackson's Patricia, a famous psychologist who is about to get an award for her book "Why Did I Get Married?," which is a sort of chronicling of what goes on at these friendly get togethers (we find out just how dang famous Patricia is right at the beginning, as she's in the middle of a big hooha lecture about her book and her career and whatnot). This year, the group of eight are on their way to Colorado to a snowy mountain retreat.
First, there's Perry's Terry, a pediatrician, and his wife Diane (Sharon Leal), a laywer. Diane is a bit of a workaholic, having just been given more responsibility at the law firm she works at. Terry tries to be supportive of his wife's ambition, but he's annoyed by the fact that she can't get away from her job for any personal time (sex). They have a daughter, but, again, Terry is the only one spending any time with her as Diane is always away from home, working. And when she isn't in the office, she's on the phone or her Blackberry or working on her laptop. They plan on driving to the mountain retreat. Terry is immediately annoyed with his wife, who is on the phone through most of the trip.
Next, there's Mike (Richard T. Jones) and Sheila (Jill Scott). Their marriage is basically in shambles but neither one is willing to admit it. Mike and Sheila are flying to the retreat, On the plane, Mike will not sit with his wife. He forces her to sit a few rows in front of him. Mike will sit with Trina (Denise Boutte), Sheila's alleged friend and a hot to trot babe (she's the sort of polar opposite of Sheila, who is "fat"). When a lame white guy complains to the male flight attendant that Sheila is too big to sit next to him, she's told that because she's so fat she'll have to buy two seats. Mike tells her to get off the plane and drive to the meeting place, all the while calling her a fat slob (or words to that effect). Sheila agrees, trying to save a smidgen of her dignity as Mike ridicules her.
And then there's Angela (Tasha Smith) and Marcus (Michael Jai White), a couple that basically lives to argue. Most of the arguments are started by Angela, who won't let Marcus forget that she is his boss at the hair salon she owns and that he's basically a loser. Meanwhile, Marcus won't let Angela forget that she's a drunk. And this just goes on and on. Finally, there's Patricia and her husband Gavin (Malik Yoba). They appear to have the strongest marriage. Patricia is the marriage psychology professional, and Gavin is one of the most understanding husbands a woman could have. But there's something wrong with their union, something that is obvious to everyone but no one seems to know exactly what is so obvious.
And that's pretty much the flick. They all arrive at the retreat and start discussing, as a group of eight and as individual couples, what their issues really are. Like I said above, the flick hinges entirely on the cast and its interactions. Each grouping has its own chemistry that works throughout. I think the biggest surprise of the flick is Perry himself. Perry is probably best known for his multiple character bits in his "Madea" movies, where he's under heavy make up as an old woman or an old man. Here, he's a "real" person. And he's outstanding. His arguments with the equally outstanding Sharon Leal are breathtaking in their emotional levels. They both shift from a sort of low level hostitlity towards one another (it's almost like their arguments are supposed to be a kind of playful banter) to a "Why the hell are you so selfish?" yelling contest and it never feels contrived. The same could be said of Tasha Smith's and Michael Jai White's relationship, which has "cartoon" written all over it. Smith is hilarious as the motormouth insult machine, and Jai White is amazing as the sort of henpecked husband, but there are moments where it seems as though they're overdoing it a bit. But then there's a moment towards the middle of the flick, at a group dinner, where something both scary and funny happens between the two that makes Angela's and Marcus' all the more "real."
Janet Jackson (who should really stop pulling her hair back because it looks like she's stretching out her forehead) is decent as the center of the group and the inspiration of the meetings, Patricia. It looks like both she and Yoba are sleep walking through their roles because, again, their relationship seems to be the one with the least amount of trouble. We find out that that's not necessarily the case, and it's the suspense and build up to their big issue reveal that make them interesting. And then there's Richard T. Jones and Jill Scott. This is probably the most infuriating relationship to watch, as Jones plays a total scumbag husband Mike to Scott's warm, caring, but lacking in self confidence wife Sheila. Mike is such a jerk you want to see him get his comeuppance. And you want Sheila to grow a back bone and stop demuring every time Mike calls her fat (you want to see her sit on him and crack a few ribs, actually. Maybe crack his spine). A fine movie could have easily been made out of this relationship (plenty of romantic comedies have been made on slimmer stories). In fact, fine individual movies could have been made out of every relationship on display here.
And I think that this flick showcases the leading man abilities of both Jones and Jai White. Jones was excellent on "Judging Amy," and the mere fact that he's still acting after "Soul Plane" is testament to his talent and screen charisma. Why the hell isn't he a full on leading man star? The same goes for Jai White, who could be the next Wesley Snipes in that he can do anything and do it well. He's a fine action star ("Spawn" is evidence of that) and he can do straight drama and be believable (why he didn't get more straight up leading man work after the HBO movie "Tyson" I still can't fathom). I know that I'm hoping against hope that this flick will get both Jones and Jai White noticed in Hollywood since the only thing a successful performance in a Tyler Perry movie leads to is another role in a Tyler Perry movie (like Tasha Smith, who played a skinny crack dealer in Perry's "Daddy's Little Girls" and who is back here in "WDIGM" as a hot babe). For whatever reason, Perry's movies get overlooked by the hip and edgy major studio heads. Perhaps the fine folks at Lionsgate, who have no problem helping produce Perry's movies and accepting the oodles of box office cash that each flick generates, should use their clout to get both Jones and Jai White other leading man roles. But then again, I think I'm hoping against hope on that one.
So what do we have here? A college lecture, gratuitous arguing, gratuitous fat woman sitting in the middle seat and lame white guy complaining about said fat woman, gratuitous flaming homosexuals on a train with a poodle named "Fifi," gratuitous gospel music soundtrack, praying to Jesus, gratuitous buzzing Blackberry, gratuitous "knowwhutimsaying," wood chopping, talking about STDs, sitting out on the porch in the bitter cold, a big snow storm, gratuitous black sheriff, chili eating, Tasha Smith in lingerie, making scrambled eggs, a scumbag white store clerk, book reading, pool playing, gratuitous "80/20 rule," dinner conversation, choking, breaking a wine bottle over the back of the head, I-pod listening, chopping asparagus, "steak or chicken," working at a general store, gratuitous "I Want You To Want Me" by Marvin Gaye, Michael Jai White walking down the street, breaking a Blackberry, gratuitous white waitress in a diner, an awkward diner kiss, gratuitous marriage test, gratuitous Bart Hansard, gratuitous award ceremony in Washington D.C., jealousy, forgiveness, and gratuitous dancing to a hip jazz band.
Best lines: "That's gonna cause a debate!," "You and your control issues," "Are you listening to me?," "I've been telling her big ass to lose weight for months," "It's hard to believe that a woman as educated as you would have a friend like Angela," "You ain't never heard of the underground railroad?," "Could you go to hell for a while?," "Do you mind? Fifi is trying to take a nap," "Hey, brotha!," "You are still the same pain in the butt you were when we were roommates," "There goes the peace," "With the hand you close the door with can you write a check?," "Don't you know colored folks and cold don't get along?," "I like the arguing because the making up is insane," "I need you to give me a shot," "Sheila is a big girl. Literally," "No, no, I don't like her. It's a good thing I brought my Vaseline and sneakers," "You drink to nouns," "Maybe one day I'll drink to you getting a damn job," "Yeah, get your ass in there," "Mike, are you hitting that?," "Look, what your wife don't know won't hurt her," "You're gay," "If your wife ain't giving you none, you got the legal right to get some," "I grew up in Detroit. I know how to drive through snow," "I've never been in a jail before," "So what is a black man doing up in the sticks?," "Are you kidding? One of my best friends is out there and you want to have sex," "You belong on a corner. Need a pimp?," "I will mop the floor with your behind!," "Hey divas!," "Terry, please prescribe her some Valium," "Sometimes he looks at me like I disgust him," "You look like you're wearing a damn tent," "Oh, so you got VD?," "You so damn evil!," "Why the hell was she at my salon?," "Don't play with me," "Oh, Jesus, Lord have mercy," "You want to piss a woman off, send her a text," "I love you, man," "I know your bald headed ass didn't bring her up in here," "Stay away from the wine bottles, okay?," "You're about to make me have a heart attack," "Another man's ex can be another man's treasure," "I thought God had given up on me," and "The greatest achievement for any human being is to love God, yourself, and others."
"Why Did I Get Married?" is Perry's best movie to date, a movie that should be seen. It's a blast from start to finish. Give it a chance.
Go see it.
The 411: "Why Did I Get Married?" is Tyler Perry's best movie to date. That's all that really needs to be said. It's a great comedy from start to finish. If Perry doesn't start to get more mainstream attention after this flick, I don't think he ever will. He deserves it. Give it a shot.
