Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All by Myself

  • Review Date: September 12, 2009
  • PG-13
  • Genre: Drama
  • 2009
 Review

Common Sense Media says

Sometimes-gritty dramedy has some moving moments.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parent need to know that this dramedy based on a play by Tyler Perry is both gritty and righteous. Although, like Perry's other films, it ends on a decidedly optimistic (if unsurprising) note, the main character is an iffy role model throughout much of the movie -- she smokes, drinks, and shows no compassion toward her sister’s young children, who all need her help. The movie also examines the tragic toll of child abuse and includes a scene of near-sexual assault on a teenage girl.

  • Perry’s messages of faith and hope shine through, which many viewers may find inspiring. But his chauvinism does, too: Main character April can’t seem to be saved without a man, and though she’s a strong character, a not-so-subtle undercurrent leaves the impression that a woman needs a “good man” to make her way through this world intact.
  • The main character spends much of the movie being cold and selfish, even heartless (and her boyfriend is even nastier) -- but she ultimately experiences a huge sea change/epiphany. The supporting characters are actually far more appealing, with big hearts and obvious (to the point of being nearly one-dimensional) goodness.
  • A married man makes inappropriate, aggressive advances toward a teenager -- to the point of almost raping her. Two men end up in a bloody fight. A woman nearly kills a man by electrocuting him. Two comic characters jokingly threaten to dispense corporal punishment to set kids straight.
  • A woman messes around with a married man, but the audience doesn’t really see anything except them in bed under the covers. In another scene, a man and a woman share a gentle kiss.
  • Mild swearing, including one use of "s--t" and several instances of words like "ass," “hell,” "damn," and “shut up.” Also "oh my God."
  • While characters are seen dressed to the nines, there’s little mention of brands -- though the Heineken label gets screen time.
  • A woman practically chain smokes her way through the movie; she also drinks so much that her friend calls her on it. A joint is mentioned but never seen on screen.

What's the story?

When her mother dies, leaving her to care for her defiant niece (Hope Olaide Wilson) and two nephews, April (Taraji P. Henson) wants to do nothing more than hide. April thinks that she's been doing "fine" on her own -- singing at a nightclub, swilling booze when her set’s over, and coddling her married, surly boyfriend (Brian J. White). But her mother’s pastor (Marvin Winans) and neighbor (Gladys Knight), and her bartender friend (Mary J. Blige) won’t let her stay astray, and neither will her new roommate, Sandino (Adam Rodriguez), a soulful carpenter who’s repairing April's home for room and board. (Madea, played by Perry, naturally makes a pivotal appearance.) Ultimately, April must want to change -- not just for everybody else, but also for herself.


Is it any good?

 

Say what you will about Perry’s movies -- preachy, too earnest, formulaic -- there’s no denying his ability to pick a first-rate cast. Movie after movie, he rescues predictable plots with performances grounded in gravitas. Henson commands the screen, making what’s treacly truthful. And she sings beautifully, too, like she did in the career-making Hustle & Flow. Perry also elicits powerful performances from Blige and Knight; in fact, the playwright/actor/director has a knack for turning female singers into solid, sometimes even spectacular, actresses.

Still, it's hard not to notice the fact that Perry’s films tend to offer the same hopeful-yet-chauvinistic message: That wayward women can be saved not only by God but the love of a good man. Can’t a woman find her way on her own? Speaking of I CAN DO BAD ALL BY MYSELF's said “good man” -- Sandino's devotion to April seems to come out of nowhere, a plot point that neither makes sense nor is believable. April acts heinously in front of him, and yet he declares her warm and loving. Perhaps he’s blinded by his affections. But the audience surely isn’t.


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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about April. Is she meant to be considered a role model? What prevents her from embracing those who need her and/or care for her? Why does she have so many vices?

  • What message do you think the movie is ultimately sending? Is Perry
    saying that you need to have a partner by your side to take on life’s
    challenges? Is that par for the course for more mainstream Hollywood
    movies?


This review was written by S. Jhoanna Robledo
Teen, 18 years old
March 10, 2011
 

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Teen, 15 years old
March 17, 2010
 
Bless Tyler Perry
One of the best movies I have ever seen! Tyler Perry is a genious of comedy, faith, and intertainment. I love it when he dresses up as Madea, its histerical. Usually I can't understand some of the things they say, but its still funny. My friend's been through the same conditions Jenniffer had to go threw, a druggatic mom, and someone trying to rape her, unfortunitly, it wasn't just "trying" because he sucseeded. I'm glad Tyler Perry shows what really goes on in the world, and that its important to step out of your own way to help people like April, Sandeno, and those three kids see the light, instead of just ignoring it. Thank you Tyler Perry. I'd recomend this movie to 13 and older.

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Adult
September 22, 2009
 
omg
i love this movie

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Teen, 14 years old
February 24, 2011
 
Amazing movie
I don't know what this web site is saying this movie was amazing. It's a wonderful, heart touching story that made me cry my eyes out! The soul of this movie was fantastic. Tyler Perry in my mind is an amazing director/producer/actor. This movie showed how you can change your life with just changing at least one thing in this case the main characters abusive and married boyfriend.

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Adult
November 28, 2009
 
other than what i just wrote tyler perrys i can do bad all by myself is an amazing movie
this movie is amazing it has a really good message to it and it helped me to let go of past issues in my life i still think 12 or 13 is a little to young mayber 14 and up but then again look at what we older brothers and sisters are showing to our siblings listening to dirty music and stupid junk watching things we know we should'nt and the kids look up to us so we should really set a better example i see little kids like 7 yrs old saying the f words and have no respect for adults or anyone around them so if they saw this movie it could;nt be anyworse that it already is

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Teen, 16 years old
November 23, 2009
 
perfect all teens and pre-teens.....
i love this movie cause it describes everyday life....and i love taraji...

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Parent of 19 year old
October 11, 2009
 
Loosing grip with today's issues.
Sends a terrible message to others that a woman has to have a good man, drugs, drinking, and attitude of Madea just makes this very questionable from other works he has done in the past.

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Kid, 13 years old
April 19, 2011
 
This was a great movie. It had great messages. The only bad things are that a character drinks and smokes, and someone attempts to rape a girl but does not. 9+

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Teen, 16 years old
March 28, 2011
 
14+
I LOVED THIS MOVIE! Parts to turn from, but I LOVED IT!

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Teen, 15 years old
December 20, 2009
 
This movie is a good movie and it shows how you should help people out. I think it is the one of the best of Tyler Perry movies.I do think there was a lot of stuff that younger children should not see.

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This review was written by S. Jhoanna Robledo
Studio:Lionsgate
Director:Tyler Perry
Cast:Adam Rodriguez, Taraji P. Henson, Tyler Perry
Genre:Drama
Run time:113 minutes
Theatrical release date:September 11, 2009
DVD release date:January 12, 2010
MPAA rating:PG-13
MPAA explanation:mature thematic material involving a sexual assault on a minor, violence, drug references and smoking

This review was written by S. Jhoanna Robledo
 

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ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
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