Thursday, March 28, 2024

‘For Colored Girls’ needed Madea’s touch

The messages of Tyler Perry’s Madea movies have drawn audiences to theatres. But, will moviegoers flock in the same fashion for Perry’s adaptation of a “choreopoem?”

For Colored Girls is part of Madea line without the gray-haired comedienne setting everybody straight. The movie is based on the award-winning feminist play written by Ntozake Shange. For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf is a tale of seven African American women (Perry added two more for his movie) and their way of dealing with personal crisis. Women, regardless of their race, can find empathy in any of these protagonist women. We all have stayed in a relationship we knew was no good for us. Or, we have been deceived by a significant other.

Regardless of whether you liked the movie, Perry must receive some credit for allowing an outstanding group of black actress to converse at one place. Despite a cast of high-profile entertainers such as Janet Jackson, Loretta Devine, Phylicia Rashad and Whoopi Goldberg, the lesser-known actress such as Thandie Newton and Kimberly Elise were impressionable.

Crystal (Elise) was a tragic character. She faced abuse by her alcoholic husband (Michael Ealy) and does all she can to protect her two children. Newton’s character, Tangie looked for love in all the wrong places. Tangie promiscuity helped her deal with void she experienced. She also has to deal with her Bible-thumping mother, Alice (played by Goldberg).

Then, there is Jo (Jackson). She is a high-powered magazine executive who seems to have it all, until she learns that her husband decided to partake in s homosexual rendezvous.

I was not surprised to see critics dismiss For Colored Girls. One critic said he did not understand the rapid changes in the movie. Maybe it was Perry’s confusing use of soliloquies. Another said the group who viewed the movie with him “didn’t seem to know whether to clap when it was over or start taking Lipitor.” The most interesting part of the movie was the development of the characters as they journey through their struggles with incest, abortion, spousal abuse, rape and infidelity.

One thing is for certain, Perry did once again place a negative light on the men in his movies. Maybe Madea should have stepped in to save the day for the heroines.

For Colored Girls is rated R for violence, sexual content and language.

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