Doin’ Church with Tyler Perry

On Friday, September 18, I chatted with friend and radio personality Liz Lane from Positive Hit Radio The Current about Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All By Myself.

I was talking specifically about how in this particular Lionsgate comedy/drama the audience gets a wonderful taste of church, complete with excellent music from real-life Pastor Marvin Winans and stellar recording artist Gladys Knight. Plus, their is a hope-filled message from the pulpit. It’s enough to make you want to raise your hands in praise, wave a hanky, and say, “Preach it!” That’s exactly how I felt. And believe me, I wasn’t alone in my sentiments in the packed theatre on opening night.

Listen to this short, edited audio clip of our conversation, taken when taping for the radio broadcast. This is not the final on-air version, but I hope you will enjoy it anyway.

And be sure to check out Liz Lane’s “Heart of Praise” show Sunday’s from 8 a.m – 11 a.m.

Audio Commentary:

— Laura J. Bagby

Being Bad Fares Well on Screen

From writer/director/actor Tyler Perry, the Lionsgate comedy/drama I Can Do Bad All By Myself centers on the fractured life of a nightclub singer called April (Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) and her difficult journey back to faith, love, and family.

April is living a selfish, dysfunctional life, letting her ailing mother raise her sister’s three kids Jennifer (Hope Olaide Wilson), Manny (Kwesi Boakye), and Byron (Frederick Siglar) while April spends her days abusing alcohol, sleeping all day, and having an affair with Randy (Brian White), a cold-hearted married man.

April’s lonely life is suddenly interrupted when Madea (Tyler Perry) brings by her troublesome niece and nephews and the local church – represented by churchgoer Wilma (Gladys Knight) and Pastor Brian (Marvin Winans) – sends over a handsome, out-of-work stranger with carpentry skills called Sandino (Adam Rodriguez, CSI: Miami), who hopes to get room and board in exchange for a job.

Why I Love Tyler Perry Movies

In light of opening night for Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All By Myself, I just wanted to present 5 reasons why I like movies that Perry directs and acts in.

1. I laugh; I cry – a good movie has both. Tyler Perry knows how to make you die laughing one minute, and shed silent tears the next.
2. We doin’ church! Got to have a least one scene with a sermonette. Perry does it with humor and music, without being heavy-handed or overly preachy. Just makes you want to say, “That’s right!” and wave a hanky.
3. If you go on opening night – which I strongly suggest – you get the animated responses from the crowd. And some of their comments are as funny as Tyler Perry’s. Packed theatres are the best.
4. Perry’s pro-woman message. Love it. Love it. Enough said.
5. And finally, 5 letters… M-A-D-E-A!!!

— Laura J. Bagby
The Celluloid Critic