Tyler Perry has made a sh*t load of money off of his ability to connect with the Black audience. Perry has a keen sense of knowing what the average African American demographic wants to see in a film. From Perry’s body of work this summation is a simple plot, generic but relatable characters, poorly written scripts with a quick turn around to the conclusion and comical men in drag talking loudly and cracking jokes. Seems like I am forgetting about something… Oh right and a whole damn lot of shucking and jiving. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the fact that Perry has provided jobs to a lot of African American actors and actresses that would otherwise be out of work if they all had to wait on a call from Hollywood. I even can tolerate some of his films. The ones with less Madea in them the better usually.

However, on the flip side to this praise I wish to offer him, Perry still manages to bore me with his repetitive storylines, weak plots, and stories that play more like fairy tales then well written bodies of work by usually being wrapped up pretty with a pink ribbon on them after say… about an hour and a half. Not counting the previews of course. I can go on and on. This my friends, is where my love/hate relationship with Perry enters the scene. Although I can appreciate that a Black man has made it from being homeless, living in his car to running his own studio in Atlanta, providing jobs for Black actors; I also am usually not impressed or even excited by his work. Now you see the conundrum I face.

Most Black people who have seen his work fall into two polar extremes. They either love it, and appreciate the traditional morals that the films bring and they can’t get enough of Madea waving her gun in the air and all of her cooning ways. Or they despise it and feel as though his films sets Black folks back into the days of the minstrel show.

People like Spike Lee and his cousin Malcolm Lee, director of the film The Best Man expressed a similar confusion towards this enigma that is Tyler Perry. When asked how he felt about the Tyler Perry “Madea” effect on the box office and him building an empire? Malcolm Lee’s answer was :

“Tyler Perry is a very shrewd businessman. This dude has built an empire off of what he does and people support him.” He continued: “I have to admit, I enjoy some Madea. Madea’s funny to me. All the other stuff and the morality tales, I could do without. Just bring me more Madea!”

When talking about the merit of Perry’s work, just like his famous cousin, Lee didn’t hold back. “It’s not as terrible as people say it is, but it’s not as good as the box office numbers are. Just because something makes money doesn’t mean it’s good, it’s just popular, it taps into something people respond to. I don’t do what he does.” He continued: “He’s not interested in art, he’s interested in turning out a product. There is value in that, building up a studio and being independent. I wish he would get better as the movies go on. Maybe he will, I don’t know, but I don’t think that is his focus right now.” 

Damn. When I read this all I could think was that his answer sums up my feelings on Perry. Although his films are not one of the worst movies you might see in your entire life, they damn sure are not the best. What they do is give the Black audience something to connect to. For instance lets’s use Madea as a point of reference. A lot, of Blacks grew up around their Grandmother, that’s if she wasn’t the one who raised them. For many Blacks the Grandmother and other older women are the matriarchs in their family. Especially if Daddy wasn’t around. These women play a dual role as they become the protectors and care givers. They are also the bringers of morality and a sound mind. Sure all of our Granny’s may not have been gun waving fools but they still had a strong impact on our lives. I know mine’s definitely did. This is a key instruments that Perry always includes in his films. Madea’s character brings about fond memories for people. Perry is aware of that. Unfortunately Perry is definetly not interested in creating great pieces of work. He is however interested in creating something that people will find familiar and will want to see over and over again because it is what they are used to therefore it brings them comfortability.

Which brings me to my main point. Why is it that Blacks feel the need to either completetly despise Tyler’s work or praise him like he is the second coming of Jesus Christ himself. I know why so I will answer for you. Black people seem to have this idea that we are not allowed to dislike something positive that another Black person is doing. I understand why that is. It is because of all of the f**ked up things that are happening to Black people in urban cities, rural areas all over the world. So when one of us excels, or chooses to take the high road instead of the criminal one we want to support that person. We want to stick together. We absolutely should support them and wish them the best. However, if you are one of the Blacks who dislike what another person of color is doing, or you just aren’t feeling it for whatever reason then you should not feel guilted into falling into the masses and pretending that you like it for fear of being ostracized by your people.

This is exactly what happens. Every time there is a discussion about Perry and his work, there are always two extreme spectrums defending their points. They go on and on until finally one side bullies the other into submission. As if there can be no median. Well there is. I respect Tyler Perry as a man. He is a man who made himself an empire from absolutely nothing. He struggled and sacrificed to get where he is. He could have easily been knocking people on the head and robbing them out of desperation but instead he chose the route of hard work and sacrifice to reach his dreams. For that I commend him. However, his work is lacking. His story lines are mediocre and redundant. His plots are often rushed through and unrealistic. Often you can tell from some of his writing and films that he has had no formal training. The films also often play into stereotypes that Blacks have been trying to leave behind for years rather than dismissing them. Hence the minstrel show comparisons. Lastly his characters from every movie are pretty much interchangeable and simple with none of them being truly dynamic or possessing any complexities as all humans do.

Saying all of that, I can still say that I am happy that the brotha made it and is doing his damn thing. Some of you might read this and say I am being a hypocrite or perhaps even a back slider. I say to you that it is not that simple a choice for me. However, I am being honest. Unlike most of Perry’s characters in his films, my opinions are not always simple and uniform. If you asked me do I think Perry’s work is good overall? I would tell you no. If you asked me am I still happy that he made it? I would say hell yes.

Quote from YBF