I Can Do Bad All By Myself

Starring: Taraji P Henson, Adam Rodriguez, Brian White, Tyler Perry
Comedy/Drama, 2009 (Rated PG13)

April is a selfish night club singer with a drinking problem. She is involved with an evil spirited married man and generally keeps to herself spending her days sleeping and her nights working and drinking. When her 3 nieces and nephews turn up on her doorstep without a place to go she begrudgingly takes them in but for a limited time only because she really doesn't want to be bothered. She is further intruded upon by a Mexican immigrant sent over by the church to do handy man work around the house in exchange for room and board. Even with so many people around her her heart is hard as a stone and rather then make room for what could be good things in her life she continues to push away.

• This movie is just shy of two hours but could have easily been 1 1/2 hours or less without all of the extended vocal performances put on display by the church choir, Mary J Blige AND Gladys Knight. I found myself wanting to fast forward because it just went on and on.
• A typical Tyler Perry formula: Evil Villain, person with a heart of gold, people that need saving and the church as central characters in the film.
• Even though his movies are so dramatic and tend to fall into the same pattern I like them. They always have a wonderful message and so much heart that you can't help but be touched at least a little bit.
• It's great that someone is really just making movies that mean something. That tell good stories, teach lessons, and inspire hope. You get the feeling that it's what Tyler Perry was put here to do and so that is what he is doing.

4 STARS