PEOPLE’S TIME
Hope is Closer Than You Think
Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All by Myself -2009
Taraji P. Henson, Adam Rodriguez, Brian White, Hope Olaide Wilson, Pastor Marvin Winans, Gladhys Knight,
Tyler Perry
Director: Tyler Perry
Tyler Perry knows
his audience, and strives
to give them what they are
looking for. Fans of Tyler
Perry movies will not be
disappointed in their
expectations.
This movie deals
with serious issues such as
losing oneself, drinking
and cheating, and the
likes. It also deals with
redemption. Keeping true
to his religious fans, he
adds in gospel music
depicting the unwavering
faith in God and his ability
to help getting through
tough times.
This movie
although sharing the same
name as one of the play
that Perry wrote differs in
plot. The characters are
somewhat familiar, but
the plot isn’t. The
characters are: the woman
who has lost herself, the
villain that had helped her
get there, and the man
that she believes is below
her waiting to save her.
And of course let’s not
forget the suffering or
neglected child, and the
church.
Taraji P. Henson
plays the main character,
April, a selfish night time
singer at a club. She drinks
and smokes. To top it off
she is having an illicit affair
with a married man,
Randy. Randy (Brian
White) is a menacing man
who provides for April
financially while cheating
on his pregnant wife and
ignoring his four kids. As
they agreed that children
are a nuisance that should
be avoided, April’s niece
(Hope Olaide Wilson)
accompanied by her little
brothers (Kwesi Boakye,
Frederick Siglar) are
dumped unceremoniously
on her front steps by the
infamous Madea. Left with
no choice, she reluctantly
takes them in; she later
then find out that they will
not be only ones
appearing at her steps
looking for a home. Sent
by the church,
Sandino
(Adam
Rodriguez)
found himself
at her
doorstep,
none too
happy she lets
him in to use
his handyman
skills to fix her shabby
house.
The actors did an
amazing job of making
their characters come to
life. Taraji played her
smart mouthed self-
centered character to the
T. Her eyes, expressions
and wit are clean cut and
consistent with her
attitude. Gladhys Knight
playing as the parishioner,
she fits perfectly like the
grandmother that you do
not want to disappoint
fearing her eyes of
disappointment. Brian
White gives the chill as he
appears on the scene; just
from the look of him you
can see ‘bad news’
stamped all over him.
Believe me; it is not
because of his chiseled abs
or his taut bottoms. Adam
Rodriguez with his warm
eyes and Spanish accent
fits his Columbian role as
the knight in shining
armor, and heartthrob.
Hope Olaide Wilson shines
in her role as a teenager
with the world on her back
that cannot trust anyone.
Her character, overlooking
her smart mouth, pulls at
the heart strings.
Tyler Perry does
not fail his audience when
it comes to God. He
incorporates long service
moments of pastor
Winans singing as well as
Gladys Knight. They each
had their moments to
shine. Talking about
singing, the amazing R&B
singer Mary J. Blige who
played April’s best friend
and voice of reason, also
had her moment singing
the main song “I Can Do
Bad All by Myself” along
with closing scene song.
Although a good
movie, I feel like the
characters could have
been more developed.
Besides the main
character, April, most of
the others are one
dimensional. There is no
depth to them. The villain
for example only appeared
about three times in the
movie.
The conclusion was
nothing amazing. It felt
rushed after the drama.
The falling climax should
have lasted longer. Her
happy ending with
Sandino should have
prolonged and not easily
achieved. There is not
much focus on April after
she had finally found
herself and love.
This is a pleasant
movie disregarding the
ending. It inspires great
emotions such as outrage,
sadness, happiness and
everything else in between
into our heart. Unlike
many of now a day
Hollywood movies, faith in
God is clearly shown
through, along with
positive morals. As the
movie proved, although
April is bad all by herself,
however she needs the
guiding hands of loving
friends and family to shine
through and be good. She
needed the hope
entrusted in her by others.
In the end, hope came
from her family, her
church, friend, and
handyman.
-Stephanie Preval