Do I need to be an adult black woman to understand and enjoy Tyler Perry's movies?

[astro]

His latest film is apparently doing huge business, and he's a one man entertainment powerhouse, but I've never seen any of this films. I enjoy absurdist fare but I don't get the vibe that that's what really going on in his movies. Are his movies really all that demographically focused towards a black female audience, or can a good time be had by all? Just the picture in the link makes me want to go.

[Indygrrl]

I think the demographic is religious African Americans, for whom not a lot of movies are aimed. So if Tyler Perry is the only person making films for this audience, and every person in that demographic goes to see them, I can see why he's wildly popular.

Strangely, Madea Goes to Prison actually seems like it would be funny. I won't pay theater prices to see it, but I might Netflix it.

[Sampiro]

I'm convinced he found the crossroads where Robert Johnson sold his soul and he held out for a helluva lot more. His characters have all the nuance of a Chick pamphlet and to me Madea's about as funny as a masturbating homeless person and about as subtle in their religious messages as a Jehovah's Witness on meth. I thought that Madea was as bad as he could get until I saw HOUSE OF PAYNE, then... damn- it makes Family Matters look like The Cosby Show in production values, acting, scripts, etc..

Prime example: in one of the few episodes I saw there was a scene in which the Paynes are robbed by a crack addicted relative. They respond by breaking into the crack house and 'stealing' back their own furniture. One of the crackheads tries to stop them and says

That's the problem with this community... black on black crime!

It was actually a semi-funny line. I chuckled a bit.

But of course this being Tyler Perry he has to take it further. The stalwart hero looks at him and says earnestly

No man... YOU are the problem with this community.

applause

Dude, I think anyone with 4 functioning neurons got that.

Then there's the fact that his films aren't even that Christian: the woman who torments her scummy ex husband in Diary of a Mad Black Woman- yeah, that "turn the other cheek" stuff was just symbolic- and Madea's downright evil.

And then there's the damned near plagiarism quality. In the trailer for 'Goes to Jail', an obnoxious younger woman steals the parking space Madea's waiting on, so she responds by destroying the woman's car. Gee... how inspired... strange no one's ever thought of that one before. (Hell, you even had Kathy Bates in a movie, don't claim you didn't know!)

Unfortunately, criticize his films or admit perplexity to their blockbuster status and there are people who will actually accuse you of racism (an insult imho to the many very gifted black filmmakers). I don't participate in imdb discussions (too painful) but check out any of his films and you'll find thread after thread on the topic.

I think his target audience is less black people in general than, specifically, undereducated conservative Christian black people first and undereducated conservative Christian non-blacks second. While I've no idea if the gay rumors about Perry are true or not I do think it's irksome that a man who makes hundreds of millions with a drag act and with bang-you-over-the-head-with-it-moralizing doesn't introduce a sympathetic gay character and call for a lessening of homophobia in the black evangelical community.

Just my opinion of course.

[Jihi]

Based on my experiences the answer to your question is an emphatic yes. Note that this isn't a bad thing.

Originally Posted by Sampiro

Then there's the fact that his films aren't even that Christian: the woman who torments her scummy ex husband in Diary of a Mad Black Woman- yeah, that "turn the other cheek" stuff was just symbolic- and Madea's downright evil.

That's what makes these flicks worth watching. However, the irony in the situations seems to be lost on the target audience. I confess that I don't quite know why.

[friedo]

Do I need to be an adult black woman to understand and enjoy Tyler Perry's movies?

No, you have to be a broad, simplistic stereotype of one.

[Abby_Emma_Sasha]

No, you need to be a 12 year old boy.

[planetcory]

It helps. His movies are really just big screen soap operas, made for an audience that doesn't have many soap operas catered to them.

[Zsofia]

That's the thing - the people who enjoy these movies are seriously underserved by the entertainment industry. I feel sorry for them that there aren't any good movies for them to watch.