Review: I Can Do Bad All by Myself
Filed under: Drama, Lionsgate Films, Theatrical Reviews, Religious
The latest movie from writer-director Tyler Perry, I Can Do Bad All By Myself, may strike you as being another comedy featuring Perry's big bad old lady Madea. However, Madea has only a small role as comic relief in this melodrama/morality play. The credits tell us that the movie is based on Perry's 2000 play of the same name, but after reading summaries of the play, the two seem to have little in common apart from the title and a moral awakening on the part of the lead characters.
April (Taraji P. Henson) is a mess -- a nightclub singer who rarely sees the light of day, an alcoholic, a woman heavily involved with a married man (Brian White) who pays all her bills. Suddenly, she has three children foisted upon her -- caught trying to break into Madea's house, they confess that the grandmother who has been raising them has gone missing. Madea sends them to Aunt April, who is unwilling to take them but can't find another option. In the meantime, the local church sends April a handyman to help fix her crumbling old house in return for room and board, the optimistic and caring Sandino (Adam Rodriguez). How will April deal with these disruptive people in her life?
It's hard to care about April or anyone else in I Can Do Bad All by Myself because for the first hour, nearly every character is unlikeable if not downright abrasive. I didn't want to spend any more time with these horrible people. Although many of them improve, by the time I left the theater, I felt as though I'd been shouted at by a particularly abrasive preacher for two hours. Perry apparently believes in taking every opportunity in teaching a lesson, and he seems never to have heard of words like "subtext" and "subtle." Everything is on the surface.
I also caught a whiff of the same sexist message that came through in Tyler Perry's earlier film Daddy's Little Girls: single women just can't lead a decent life until they marry a Good Man and get themselves some children to raise, whether those women are successful lawyers or boozy singers. In Perry's movies, everybody needs a supportive and loving spouse, a family, and a healthy church life. Otherwise, you might end up dead, or worse yet, like Madea.
Even the music has to carry some preaching, with all the songs serving as messages to the characters about how they need to improve their lives. If you can get past these blatant messages, however, you might enjoy songs from Mary J. Blige, who plays April's best friend; gospel singer Marvin Winans, who plays the local preacher; and especially Gladys Knight, who plays a church friend of April's mother.
Henson also performs a song in the beginning of the film, and her singing is nearly as good as her acting. Most of the acting in this film is first-rate -- I particularly liked Hope Olaide Wilson as Jennifer, the oldest of the three children -- but the actors are saddled with heavy-handed dialogue. Sandino comes off as the "magical Latino" of the film. Tyler Perry himself shows up to play Madea and her brother Joe. I was hoping for some fun comic moments with Madea, but her character seems to be limited in this film to telling various people all the creative ways in which she'd like to beat them up, which grows tiresome quickly.
I can't agree with the older gentleman sitting in front of me during I Can Do Bad All by Myself, who declared during the movie's one suspenseful scene, "That's a good movie!" although I did agree with him on that single scene (the one with the bathtub). I also got to indulge my love for gorgeous hats in movies during the church scenes -- Knight in particular gets some headgear that would have fit right in at Ascot. But Perry has such a heavy touch with stories and characterization that the whole movie feels like a sermon -- clocking in at nearly two hours, a very long sermon, although with some breaks for good-yet-appropriate music.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
9-13-2009 @ 1:42AM
Stacey B. said...
Cheryl Pepsi Riley is the woman singing for Taraji. Cheryl Pepsi is a wonderful singer who has actually appeared in some of Tyler's plays and was also popular in the 1990s. I wish Tyler made it more prominent that Cheryl was the voice for Taraji. A lot of people are getting the wrong impression.
Also, Tyler knows his comedies are broad. He says he's doing it on purpose...it's just a brand - which is faith, family, and fun -like Disney he says.
He has created a production company recently called 34th Street where you will begin to see the more indie type films that I suppose will be more subtle with their message.
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10-10-2009 @ 1:17AM
Yolanda said...
who told you this--she sang this herself
9-13-2009 @ 1:51AM
Tanesha said...
This is a great movie.! It has wonderful points and all. Anyone, and I mean anyone would love this movie
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9-13-2009 @ 8:16AM
Stan Winsome said...
Is Tyler Perry the Afro-American John Hughes? As a non-Afro-American I couldn't care less about his movies but obviously they have a huge following.
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9-13-2009 @ 7:17PM
Tanya said...
Honestly...wait for the DVD....save $10...and gas......and another $25 at the concession stand, 'cause apparently, Mr. Perry DID do bad....all by himself!!!
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10-10-2009 @ 1:17AM
Yolanda said...
Y did God pull your chain in this movie---bc its funny to me how you didnt like the movie even thou you know plenty of people in your life that you doing some of the same things---or are you a home wrecker too--is that y you dont like it
9-14-2009 @ 9:06AM
Lorrutt Rubie Babie said...
I have seen so many updates on this movie before it came out, meaning, many trailers...and I even watched T.P.'s show last Wednesday 9th....the music is always great, but the beat of the movie is to repetitious. I'm hoping he can begin a new start in growing into depth of his writing..don't be afraid of asking for help!
The movie did do bad, all by it's self, but he did give the actors a chance to do their own thing, in his movie..good luck to them in the future,in doing better for themselves, and good luck to Tyler in getting help with his writing of his next movie, by the DVD, you'll see what I'm talking about....See Ya later...Rubie Babie
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10-10-2009 @ 1:18AM
Yolanda said...
What is wrong with being repetitous arent you like that in your life everyday--havent you heard the old saying if you have nothing to say keep it to yourself...bc that is something that you could have kelp to yourself---couldnt you just find the good of the movie---or are you a homewrecker---bc I have never seen a movie that protrays homewrecking women and men
9-14-2009 @ 1:42PM
mld said...
Tyler is a very blessed & talented young man. In the past, my family & I have supported several if not all of his plays & movies. His latest movie was okay, & had some good life lessons in it. However, when he played the Madea character, & made jokes about the word of GOD, & misquoted several scriptures of the bible, I was pretty much done. It is with great disappointment that I am not recommending this movie to anyone. The word of GOD is not to be taken lightly, nor is it to be joked about. I would believe that this is blasphemy. Although a lot of people in the movie theatre were laughing very hard & almost out of their seats laughing, my husband & I didn't & thought it was very disrespectful, wrong, & didn't find it funny at all.
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9-14-2009 @ 5:31PM
Treasure said...
I thought the movie Mr. Perry was trying to convey a message but just could`nt find the right words. The character of April gave the movie a chance. You see I thought that their were to much emphasis on "Jesus" not the Creator. Actually Mr.Perry probally brought some truth to those fictional characters of the bible. How can any of have any validity in it when the Europeans killed many Africans to decode the Word. So if they put in what they wanted, why cant Tyler Perry? I`m sure Africa had a Adam & Eve.... Did you know about the real Hebrews too? I`m sure you dont, but anyway,,, The movie was horrible. I have enjoyed all of his movies except this one. But oh well, go ahead Mr. Perry and do what you do , because can anyone ever tell me of a Anglo-Saxon that laid down their life for you? I didnt think so....
10-10-2009 @ 1:18AM
Yolanda said...
Maybe your husband was just made at you---could it have been yall just having a bad night---bc the rest of us understands comedy--and if you are a true fan of Tyler by now this should not be anything new---if you are a true fan---bc he has done this is every movie---
9-15-2009 @ 10:04AM
moviefan100% said...
I think we need movies like these to help people remember to do the right thing in life. To make good choices and not take the easy way out in life. I always look forward to seeing a Tyler Perry movie. I finally enjoy this movie today and it never make me disappoint.:D If you have not watched it, you are lucky enough today for I can provide you a good place to watch.It is: http://watch-movies.net.in/movies/i-can-do-bad-all-by-myself-2009/
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9-16-2009 @ 8:39PM
Jackpots said...
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9-19-2009 @ 2:44PM
Shauna said...
This movie was great! This is real life, these events and lessons in this movie are realistic. Young girls across America can see parts of themselves in the characters of April and Jennifer. The misquoted bible stories were hilarious, Mr. Perry's intentions was not to make fun of the word. Those moments were to poke fun at how people, or elders with scattered memory misquote the word to get the point across. I thought the movie was great and very funny. I cried all the way through, because I could I have cried many of the same tears as April and Jennifer. Get acting by all! Perry reminds us of what we are missing in our lives.
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9-28-2009 @ 5:34PM
M. Carter @ the Movies said...
You know, I totally missed that sexist message, but you're right. Why do movies insist on telling us single women we can't "do right" until we marry a good man? Grrr.
Still, there are other things that separate this movie from the rest of the disappointing Tyler Perry canon (excluding "Diary of a Mad Black Woman," which I liked very much). Taraji P. Henson is very good as April -- she's both a selfish alcoholic who's impossible to love and a deeply wounded character it's impossible NOT to love. I also liked the musical numbers, particularly Mary J. Blige's smokin' "I Can Do Bad All by Myself," and the fact that Madea had a very small role. Maybe it's just me, but I believe Madea is way past her expiration date. Perry needed her at first, but now he doesn't. Here's to hoping he retires her, and soon.
M. Carter @ the Movies
http://mcarteratthemovies.wordpress.com/
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10-10-2009 @ 1:18AM
Yolanda said...
You all with this sexiest comment---missed the boat completely--what he is telling us women is that we dont have to settle for any kind of man--that is not true happiness---that we can get our true love if that is what we desire. There is a right way and a wrong way to go about getting it but someone else man is not happiness -----etc...He is not saying anything to us that we havent heard and that Gos havent said --but we dont listen to God either so we will kill the messenger
9-30-2009 @ 12:17AM
D-light said...
Finally, a real review! I was and am a skeptic when it comes to Tyler Perry's movies, especially after the last movie. Madea goes to jail was very funny, but mostly unbelievable that a successful lawyer would marry a crack-headed prostitute, and if that really happens in life, seriously Tyler Perry, Im a little more put together, so where is my successful lawyer!!!?? Either way I am bored with Tyler Perry's references to God, church, getting a good man, God, keeping a good man, God, drugs, and did I mention God? Any who, thanks for the review and I will NOT be wasting my money on a predictable movie with a, most likely, predictable storyline.
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10-10-2009 @ 1:19AM
Yolanda said...
wow if that is why you dont like the show bc it is unbelievable then you must not watch movies or tv. I bet if it was a white movie you wouldnt even take the time to write a thing but bc he is black you have nothing but negativity--it seems to me that if you dont like a certain type of movie you would want to or go to see it---why did you go- just to have something negative to say---it makes a person think---bc who does things that they know that they dont like--other than to just be negative
10-10-2009 @ 1:24AM
Yolanda said...
This is crazy. Everytime someone wants to speak their truth they are being brash or rude--he is telling it like it is. Remember the public has spoken--We love it and we love people telling us like it in---no holds backs---see that is what American needs ---We need to bring God back to the forefront and morality. See it this was a killing movie or black men being gangster or baby daddies he would be getting a thumbs up---bc the writer would feel that Tyler would be in his place--There is nothing wrong with a Sermon----maybe that is what you need
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10-10-2009 @ 1:16AM
Yolanda said...
wow you are so judgmental---I bet you see movies everyday where someone says a joke about racism, fat and gender and even God---is it that you have nothing good to say about self--see what happening is that he is hitting home to alot of people that are doing alot of bac stuff-you are doing him just as they did to God- when he is speaking of our conviction---we get definsive--and accused the person of being rude or the movie not being good all so we dont have to change--are you sure this is not what you are doing---bc if not why didnt you keep these negative thougths to yourself---trying saying only positive
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