I hadn’t planned to write a review on the new movie “For Colored Girls” but after a reader said they’d be interested in what I thought about the movie, I thought I’d go ahead and give my own opinion.
I headed to the movie this past weekend like so many others anxious to see the new movie produced by Tyler Perry, For Colored Girls.
I thought the movie was excellent!! Yes you read that correctly! Despite what so many movie critics have said I think that Tyler Perry did an excellent job. This is probably his best movie to date.
I never saw the original play, but I do know that transforming any body of work from Broadway to the big screen is hard because there’s always the chance that the voice of the original work will get lost. And if someone doesn’t really watch musicals or Broadway plays, it can be hard to understand and appreciate , especially when it’s been transformed into a movie.
I know many are wondering “why was this movie so great. It’s about women bashing men.” WRONG! Yes there are men in this movie who rape, abuse, etc. But if I turn on Private Practice Thursday nights and see a doctor being raped by a patient, does that mean the show was bashing men? If I watch a movie about a woman trying to escape her husband who beats her, does that mean the movie is bashing men? NO! So why does For Colored Girls have to be seen as a movie about bashing men?
This movie follows 8 women who cross paths as they struggle with everything from abuse and teenage pregnancy to rape. It’s about 8 women who, in the mist of all of the tragedy and disappointments, learn to love themselves and know that life will get better and they shouldn’t give up on themselves. These women are trying to learn to live a life as black women who are scarred from life’s experiences.
I think people are so quick to criticize this movie because it was made by Tyler Perry who has created the TV shows “House of Payne” and “Meet the Browns.” He’s notorious for his Madea plays and films, so to think that he could take on such a serious movie is out of the question in many people’s minds.
Instead of being so quick to criticize, people need to take a step back and realize this work was originally a play. And with heavyweights like Phylicia Rashad and Loretta Devine, did we really think the movie was going to be terrible?! (I doubt they would agree to be a part of something they didn’t believe was going to be great). With an all star black cast like this one, there is no reason this movie should not be supported, especially by the black community. We’re so quick to complain when there aren’t enough movies about us on TV, enough black actors in major roles, etc, The minute a movie like this one, that may cover “sensitive” or uncomfortable issues, comes out, everyone is so quick to shut it down. I commend Tyler Perry for taking on this movie and selecting such an amazing cast. The actors (both male and female) were phenomenal!
I will say this; if you expect to laugh and walk out feeling good, don’t go see the movie. It really does take you to some dark places but at the same time it’s real and captivating. Check out the movie and judge it for yourself.
