Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns
(C- or 1.5/4 stars)
'Meet the Browns' is a dramedy written & directed by Tyler Perry. Brenda (Angela Bassett), a single mother of 3, takes her family from inner-city Chicago to rural Georgia for the funeral of her father ... a man she'd never even met before. Initially hesitant to go, what Brenda finds there is a brassy, sassy, but fun-loving family that is fairly willing to accept her. This film chronicles her struggles to make end meet, love a family that she's never known, and maybe, just maybe, find the romance that could change her life forever. The movie has potential early on (with some good laughs); but it's way too earnest, and fizzles into cliche.
It's hard for Brenda to keep her kids off the street. She's been laid off from her job. She doesn't have the $$ to pay her elderly babysitter OR to pay the light man. Disconsolate, she figures she has nothing to lose by bussing it down to Georgia for her dad's funeral. She's welcomed with open arms by everyone except a crotchety Aunt Vera who sobs & drinks her way through her grief. A romance starts btwn. Brenda & Harry (Rick Fox), a man who appears to love her, but also is interested in furthering the basketball development of her talented son, Michael (Lance Gross). Does he really love her, or are there ulterior motives? That's about the biggest puzzle to solve in this substandard movie, because everything else is painfully 'surface'. What you see is what you get.
There's plenty to like here (if you're even looking for it). Angela Bassett is the saving grace of the film; her presence brings a little more clout. The actress who plays Vera has some rip-roaring lines to spout. There's a very funny scene involving her and an open grave. And Uncle Joe (Tyler Perry himself) is a hoot. Comedy aside, there are small pleasures to get out of 'Meet the Browns', as well. I liked the small-town country fair that Brenda goes to. I like how the Brown family comes together in a crisis. It has its touching moments. And it's anti-drug / forgiving sinners / looking for good in people integrity is nice to see.
But the film lacks an overall cohesiveness. I actually liked Tyler Perry's previous film, Why Did I Get Married? because it blended great comedic moments with cohesion of a dramatic plot. Here, though the ensemble scenes are somewhat enjoyable, it's the individuals (in the film) that don't have much going on. It lacks some much needed energy. And while I haven't seen enough Tyler Perry films to appreciate the character of 'Madea' (Perry in drag), I couldn't stand her 2 minute cameo mid-way through the movie. Although its core audience 'is' black people, anyone can appreciate a well written, well acted comedy 'about' black people. It's happened many times before. You can't hate 'Meet the Browns'. But too much of it felt dated, calculated & stereotypical.
It's hard for Brenda to keep her kids off the street. She's been laid off from her job. She doesn't have the $$ to pay her elderly babysitter OR to pay the light man. Disconsolate, she figures she has nothing to lose by bussing it down to Georgia for her dad's funeral. She's welcomed with open arms by everyone except a crotchety Aunt Vera who sobs & drinks her way through her grief. A romance starts btwn. Brenda & Harry (Rick Fox), a man who appears to love her, but also is interested in furthering the basketball development of her talented son, Michael (Lance Gross). Does he really love her, or are there ulterior motives? That's about the biggest puzzle to solve in this substandard movie, because everything else is painfully 'surface'. What you see is what you get.
There's plenty to like here (if you're even looking for it). Angela Bassett is the saving grace of the film; her presence brings a little more clout. The actress who plays Vera has some rip-roaring lines to spout. There's a very funny scene involving her and an open grave. And Uncle Joe (Tyler Perry himself) is a hoot. Comedy aside, there are small pleasures to get out of 'Meet the Browns', as well. I liked the small-town country fair that Brenda goes to. I like how the Brown family comes together in a crisis. It has its touching moments. And it's anti-drug / forgiving sinners / looking for good in people integrity is nice to see.
But the film lacks an overall cohesiveness. I actually liked Tyler Perry's previous film, Why Did I Get Married? because it blended great comedic moments with cohesion of a dramatic plot. Here, though the ensemble scenes are somewhat enjoyable, it's the individuals (in the film) that don't have much going on. It lacks some much needed energy. And while I haven't seen enough Tyler Perry films to appreciate the character of 'Madea' (Perry in drag), I couldn't stand her 2 minute cameo mid-way through the movie. Although its core audience 'is' black people, anyone can appreciate a well written, well acted comedy 'about' black people. It's happened many times before. You can't hate 'Meet the Browns'. But too much of it felt dated, calculated & stereotypical.