Still, I wondered, Why hadn’t I really given more of Tyler Perry’s films a chance? And why was I so ready to have an opinion on something I knew so little about? The man’s received Oprah’s blessing - he has four programs under the OWN umbrella. Laughter and side-eye ensued from both Perry naysayers and defenders.
LIST OF ALL OF TYLER PERRY MOVIES AND PLAYS MOVIE
“Is anyone planning to see his new movie next month?” I continued, referring to Boo! A Madea Halloween, in theaters this Friday. “Umm, who here has actually seen more than two of his films tho?” I shouted.
Shit, I’ve really only ever seen one and a half of his films, I thought. I looked on, amused, calculating when to interject. It was like an obnoxious comment section thread come to life: Those who liked his work went on the defense those who didn’t were annoyed with those who did. You could cut the air with a knife.Īll it took was the mere mention of the Black, 47-year-old filmmaker, producer, and writer to turn a kumbaya night of adulting into a competitive, raucous display of us versus them - the woke versus the unwoke if you will. Two guests - engaged in an offshoot discussion - brought up one name: Tyler Perry. Then, while leisurely grabbing our belongings, slipping on shoes, and readying ourselves to head back to our respective boroughs, the mood shifted. All evening, voices swelled and calmed as conversations about Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, and reenactments of favorite scenes from Martin came and went. After having an intimate, family-style dinner with friends, a group of us stood on the host’s stoop, stuffed from a home-cooked meal, tipsy from just enough pinot. It all began about a month ago, uptown in Harlem.