Tyler Perry stars as well-to-do Ivy Leaguer Wesley Deeds, who is not heading to Washington but instead for a midlife-jarring reckoning with his first world problems. Deeds, you see, doesn't appreciate the cozy life he's sleepwalking through until the plucky young office cleaning lady/single mother (Thandie Newton) crashes into his life, all but begging to be judged. Well, does richie rich Tyler Perry know the price of a gallon of milk? (Seriously, does the real bazillionaire Tyler Perry know the price of a gallon of milk?) I think not. Faced. Life lessons are about to be learned, and how.
You can't quite tell from the trailer, but Good Deeds (get it, it's a clever play on words!) is described as a romantic comedy and not a hard-hitting class drama, which means, unfortunately, Perry's Deeds will probably fall for the poor-but-beautiful Newton at some point or another. Classic manic pixie cleaning lady storyline.
Side note: I can't help but suspect the timing of this trailer was meant to coincide somewhat with the latest Mission: Impossible sequel given that Newton was in M:I 2, which I just rewatched last night. Unfortunately for Perry and Co. M:I 2 is awful. All I can think of watching Newton here is the image of her about to throw herself off of a cliff to avoid unleashing a plague upon the world.
Also: It's always a bit distracting to see Perry onscreen out of Madea-wear, let alone sitting across the table nodding politely playing son to Phylicia Rashad. This is kind of how I imagine I, Alex Cross will feel, only with less murder and stuff.
Verdict: Something tells me that omitting cast mate Jamie Kennedy out of the trailer is indication that we're in for a terrible surprise. Cautiously adding to the bottom of my future Netflix queue while I pop in A Madea Christmas.