WHAT’S IT ABOUT

The story features the original group of friends reuniting in Lake Como, Italy, for a destination wedding as Marcus (Michael Jai White) and Angela’s (Tasha Smith) daughter, Jasmine (Armani Greer), prepares to marry Wesley (Everett Osbourne). As the group reunites, they realize their adult children have grown up to mimic their own relationship traits and mistakes. This forces the couples to reflect on the examples they set and ask themselves that familiar question: why did they get married… again?

MOVIESinMO REVIEW

Before Hollywood got they hands on this story, Tyler Perry had already developed it on the stage, which made it one of his most successful franchises after Why Did I Get Married? was released in 2007, followed by its sequel, Why Did I Get Married Too? in 2010. Sixteen years is a long time to wait for another installment, and now Perry is finally bringing back his crew of married people in Why Did I Get Married Again?, currently available on Netflix. The story continues where the first two movies left off, although this time all couples have aged and there’s one new member of the family, as one of the children of the couples is about to get married. Marcus and Angela (played by Michael Jai White and Tasha Smith, respectively) hold a huge family reunion before their daughter’s wedding in Italy, which takes place in Lake Como. Before leaving for the trip, they throw a lavish dinner to unite a whole bunch of people, including Terry and Diane, Troy and Sheila, and other couples who were friends before. Somehow, Mike, Sheila’s former partner, ends up getting an invitation. He appears with a new girlfriend, as if nothing had ever been between him and Sheila. One signal like this indicates that the film is going to exploit the wounds that were never fully healed. What’s worse is the absence of Janet Jackson as Pat, regarded as the key character from the earlier films. No real reason for her not being present is provided. Instead, Taraji P. Henson takes on the part of Roselyn, the mother of the groom. Although she is quite a good actress, placing her among the group of people who have been friends for two decades completely destroys the plot of the movie. What is quite right about the movie is the message. As the young people are getting ready to establish their own families, it is time for their parents to realize that nothing is perfect and that they made mistakes during their lives too. This is an important lesson that should be learned. Being a good example means not hiding one’s imperfections from children, but showing them that people make mistakes, hurt one another, and come back together despite this. Still, one problem keeps showing up across all three of these movies (it’s more like 90% of Mr. Perry’s movies), and everybody knows what it is. The Black women in this story get written as angry, jealous, or hard to please far too often, even in scenes that should just let them enjoy a happy moment. Just when a character earns a bit of peace, the script twists it into tension or a sharp comment. These are talented actresses playing women who deserve fuller, warmer inner lives, not a rotating cast of complaints. That pattern is the real weak spot running through this whole franchise, and it holds this entry back from becoming something more than just pleasant. As a Black man, I feel that only one couple on screen seems genuine — Angela and Marcus feel like they have been married for twenty years. The argument feels well-observed; their chemistry is palpable; White and Smith have done a good job of making the audience feel connected to the characters. At other times, the couple felt awkward, like actors reading lines and not like couples sharing the same space for decades. Henson did her best, consciously trying to add a bit of humor, but was never able to save a plot without any emotional depth from the beginning. The younger actors who played the kids perform quite well, but it becomes irritating to watch them in such a predictable film right from the beginning. Tyler Perry is the writer, director, and one of the actors in this film, and he clearly has a lot to say, but why does he keep casting himself in his own movies? I know lots of directors do it, but not on the same scale as Perry. He has to be one of the most skilled storytellers around, yet his acting talents don’t compare to his writing skills. There are a lot of actors out there, new and old, call them. Would I watch it again? No, not if I am being honest with you. Would I recommend it to my friend? That depends on my friend. If the person wants something comforting to watch, like old friends, I would say yes. But if someone is seeking something new, then they would be disappointed. If a stranger asks me, “Should I watch this movie?” I would steer them in a different direction. To evaluate this movie, I would give it a score of about six. I dislike how shallow the chemistry between a lot of these couples turned out to be, and how the film depicts its women as complicated instead of beautiful. However, while I watched the film mostly as myself, I also kept my audience in mind. Tyler has created a franchise that speaks to a lot of people, particularly African Americans, especially African American women. After having spoken to some members of this audience after the movie was over, I realized that they received this film right in the way Tyler intended them to. So, I rate this film an eight because it is visually impressive, taking place in Italy, stars great actors, but, as a Black MAN, not infatuated by Mr. Perry, it’s still just a six.

OUR RATING – A BANKABLE 8