It’s easy to dismiss the films of Tyler Perry, undisputed king of a niche multi-media empire of his own making, as broad, caricature-laden comedy populated by what Spike Lee famously labeled “coonery buffoonery.” But beneath the be-wigged, slapstick-y heft of Perry’s most famous character, Madea, and her often violent crusades in the name of family values — as seen in Friday’s Madea’s Witness Protection, the sassy grandmother’s seventh big-screen outing — lies a fount of subversive discussions of race, class, and self-examination. The only question is: Is Tyler Perry aware of it?
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Tyler Perry doesn't don drag or delve into religion in his latest, Good Deeds — the film isn't part of the prolific entertainment giant's Madea franchise (next stop Madea's Witness Protection, slated for later in 2012), but rather of his less broad line of feel-good dramedies like Daddy's Little Girls and Why Did I Get Married? But despite the restrained tone, it's no less savvy an entertainment, one that Perry wrote, directed and stars in as San Francisco businessman Wesley Deeds, the wealthy, perfect son of a good family, head of the company his father created. Wesley's life changes when he meets Lindsey (Thandie Newton), a beleaguered single mom who works as the night janitor in his office building.
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"I’ll keep this short and sweet because it's been a rough 12 days for me, with what would have been my mother’s 67th birthday one day and the awful news about Whitney the next. I can’t even think about it... we’ll talk about that some other time, but for now I just want to be sure you’re planning on going to the movie theaters to see Good Deeds this weekend." [TylerPerry.com]
Movieline hero Tyler Perry may be busy filming I, Alex Cross and blogging to his choir, but his wisdom never ceases to spread throughout the land, as in trailer for Lionsgate's holiday-timed DVD and Blu-ray release of A Madea Christmas. Hallelujer!
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Happy 42nd birthday, Tyler Perry! What better way to celebrate than by being named "entertainment's highest paid man" by Forbes? And to everyone else, I am sorry to inform you that to earn said title, Tyler Perry banked $130 million between May 2010 and May 2011. Ahead, Movieline parses Perry's windfall to give us some perspective on Madea's moneyed maker.
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Judging from his press conference for this week's Madea's Big Happy Family, Tyler Perry hasn't yet received a fruit basket of peace from famous detractor Spike Lee. "I'm so sick of hearing about damn Spike Lee," Perry announced to press Monday. "Spike can go straight to hell!" Tell us how you really feel, Tyler!
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Extending their profitable partnership with Tyler Perry ($520 million and counting in domestic box office), the folks at Lionsgate have revealed that at least two more Madea films are in the works following next month's Madea's Big Happy Family. I know what you're thinking, folks: Only two more Madea flicks? Whatever will we do with ourselves after 2013, the year when it might all end according to the rate at which Perry's been churning out the Madea-anchored hits? Well, rest assured: In re-upping his contract, Perry also has the option of making more Madea films. Like, until the end of time itself. So huzzah! Madea 4 Eva! [Press release]
This Friday, Martin Lawrence's Big Momma's House franchise embarks on its third outing (Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son) in an attempt to pass the gender-bending comedy torch to a new generation. The "men in dresses" subgenre, however, is nothing new. Why, fellas have been going undercover as ladies for years on the silver screen! (And, believe it or not, Tyler Perry is not the reigning box office king of cross-dressing comedy.) Hit the jump as we count-down the most bankable cross-dressing male movie stars of all time.
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