WHY DID I GET MARRIED TOO?
US, 2010, 121 minutes, Colour.
Tyler Perry, Janet Jackson, Jill Scott, Sharon Leal, Malik Yoba, Richard T. Jones, Tasha Smith, Lamman Rucker, Michael Jai White, Louis Gossett Jr, Cicely Tyson.
Directed by Tyler Perry.
Tyler Perry is prolific film producer, writer, director and actor. He has his own studios. He is a self-professed filmmaker for ordinary audiences, especially the African- American ordinary audience. He has made a number of parody comedies with his character Madaea, a number of explorations of marriage and relationships, some strong dramas including Acrimony and Fall from Grace.
With his aim at reaching the wide audience, some of his dramas contain the elements of soap opera. This is especially the case with this film, a follow-on from his 2007 Why Did I Get Married?
The film introduces us to four couples, friends, their going to the Bahamas for holidays, the surfacing of problems, their meeting an elderly couple who have been married for many decades (Louis Gossett Jr and Cicely Tyson) and finishing their holiday with declarations about their love – leading to one couple talking about divorce.
The soap opera aspects and melodrama occur when the couples return home, difficulty surfacing in their relationships, some bitter confrontations, a sudden untimely death. The film has a strong cast though Tyler Perry’s character is rather laid-back. A lot of the dramatics left to Janet Jackson.
Most of the characters are not without interest, but Tasha Smith as a harridan of a wife makes continual loud impact.
1. The films of Tyler Perry, his contributions, writing, directing, acting?
2. The setting of the Bahamas, the tropical hotel, beaches, holiday setting? The return back home, city, homes, workplaces? The musical score?
3. The focus on four couples, the initial cheeriness, going to the Bahamas, settling in? The surfacing of problems? The finale on the beach, each couple talking about their love? Patricia and Gavin and the announcing of the divorce?
4. The image of happiness and fidelity? The old couple, on the beach, the ashes of their friend, their stories, initially not marrying, the marriage and the bonding?
5. Terry and Diane, ordinary couple, her work as a lawyer, advice for Patricia and her divorce? At home? Terry suspicious, the story of meeting the attractive man, breaking with him?
6. Sheila and Troy, her previous marriage to Mike, then moving from Colorado, Troy unable to get a job, the debts? Having a child? Troy wanting to be independent? Sheila and her interventions, asking Mike to get her husband a job, his anger on hearing this, going to Mike’s apartment, punching him, Sheila there because Mike was diagnosed with cancer? The apologies?
7. Patricia and Gavin, her work as a psychologist, writing the books and publishing? The tension between them? The announcing of the divorce? The session and the dividing of property, Patricia and income from the books, Gavin wanting it all, his years of listening to her? Patricia’s anger? The women meeting her and trying to help? Locking the doors, the men coming to help Gavin? Smashing the glass, Patricia and her tantrum and smashing? The confrontation in the office, the cake, the character emerging? The angers, his getting the car, the crash? Her shock? The grief at the beach?
8. Angela and Marcus, his ability on the television, her being loud, her tantrums? Continually criticising? His putting up with it? The reconciliations? Her continual criticisms? The code to his phone? The neighbour, telling her about the noises? Her tantrum at the television studio? Again with the gun, finding the ground keeper in bed with the woman? Ousting him? Reconciliation with Marcus? His patience with her?
9. Mike, the divorce and Sheila, his coming to the holiday, his continual attentions to Sheila? Her refusal? His agreement to ask for a job for Troy? His cancer? The confrontation? His being with the group, their support?
10. A film for African- American audiences? American audiences? Wider audiences?
