Review: Good Deeds
The biggest problem with writer/director/producer/actor Tyler Perry’s newest film, Good Deeds? No Madea!!! Seriously, that cross-dressing, gun-toting granny wins me over every time!
Now obviously Tyler Perry (upcoming Alex Cross reboot) is allowed to make movies that don’t include his iconic character, but they should be expected to maintain a certain level of energy. Good Deeds does not.
Don’t get me wrong, it is a decent story – a wealthy businessman reassesses his life after meeting the poor, hardworking nighttime janitor who can barely provide for her daughter – but it lacks a certain sense of momentum that keeps the audience interested.
Perry does a decent job as the nice, but rather bland Wesley Deeds, while Thandie Newton (The Pursuit of Happiness) is a bit better as the struggling janitor and Jordenn Thompson (Should've Been Romeo) is simply adorable as her daughter. But the problem is never the actors, but rather that we really never get a complete story-arch for any of them. We meet them, get to know their strengths and their flaws, but never see them change in any real way.
Perry’s character comes the closest, predictably giving up all that he has to find happiness. Yet it’s not so much a change in character as it is a response to the obvious discomfort Deeds has with his life and material treasures. A better film would have chronicled a change in perspective of a man who took his wealth for granted and slowly learned that money doesn't buy true happiness. As it stands, Deeds never wanted his job or power, so him giving it up isn't that much of a journey at all.
Overall, Good Deeds is a decent film, but one that explores no new territory in terms of either character or plot. Maybe if Madea had shown up…
The Final Word: Don’t even bother.
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