Marcia Degia - PublisherFew people in Britiain would have heard of Tyler Perry before the
success of last year’s Precious, for which he holds a producer credit
alongside the likes of Oprah Winfrey.
In fact, he has a huge following
mainly made up of African Americans, with a series of popular films that are hardly of the Oscar ilk but he’s keeping
someone happy, pulling in more that $400 million worldwide, last year
alone. For one, he appears in most of his films in
drag as an outrageous character called Madea. Transparently commecial,
appealing mostly to a black female crowd and the pink pound, his
are the types of films in which you expect to see a lot of “Talk to the
hand”s, head-shaking from side to side and all manner of gestures used
by guests of any Jerry Springer show.
For Coloured Girls is not any different to his usual fare, having now got the modern day The Colour Purple out of his system with Precious.
But hey, if it aint broke, why fix it? It’s probably going to be another hit with its target audience,
particularly with an immpressive cast featuring Thandie Newton, Whoopi
Goldberg, Janet Jackson and even Macy Grey (somewhat convinving as a
spliffed out ‘lady’ from the gehtto). Adapted from Ntozake
Shange’s acclaimed award-winning stage play For Colored Girls Who Have
Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf (what is it with African
American authors and their extensive titles?), this is the lives of
women who’s men are doing them wrong. And does Tyler pile it on thick.
Robe Rouge editor Jo (Jackson),
refuses to acknowledge that her other half is a closet gay whllst he
himself, in between the odd dogging, fritters away her money. Jo’s assistant Crystal (played by the excellent Kimberly Elise), has to endure the absues of her veteran
husband who is suffering from post traumatic syndrome. Tangie (Newton), is who a bit of a ‘Ho due to childhood sexual buse and dancer Yasmine (Rose) ends up being date-raped. And it goes on – abortion, kids getting killed, STDs – all in one tiny neighbourhood.
Despite the harrowing tales, For Coloured Girls makes for entertaining viewing
even if it just to say ‘Oh, no he didn’t, girlfriend.’ Whoopi steals
the show as a crazy religious freaksow of a mother and as for Jackson,
best say, ‘Girl you still look good, but best say stick to the singing.’
