Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Violence, language, mature themes in romantic drama.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Tyler Perry's Doing Life
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Anika (Naomi Baker) works at a prison to help her sick mother (Tamberla Perry) pay the bills in TYLER PERRY'S DOING LIFE. When she's nearly the victim of a rape during a prison riot, inmate Carousel White (Jay Reeves) comes to her rescue. He's injured in the act, and after it's all over, he strikes up a written correspondence with Anika, who has just become a mother but can't afford to start nursing school in the fall. Once out of jail, the two start a friendship that just may turn into something else, against the wishes of Anika's family.
Is It Any Good?
Credit where credit is due: Tyler Perry, known for pumping out over-the-top comedies and melodramas, has made a tender and earnest romantic drama here. Credit also goes to the two main leads in Tyler Perry's Doing Life, on whose shoulders the film rests. Reeves and Baker put in sincere performances as two young people just trying to get ahead in a system that seems created to keep them down. Some of the other characters are more theatrical, like Anika's sisters, and some scenes overly maudlin, like the mom's long reckoning with her daughter. Aspects are also predictable. But overall, this is a heartfelt and largely understated film (especially for Perry) that will draw you in if you let it.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Anika and Carousel both show perseverance in Tyler Perry's Doing Life. What barriers are they up against and how does their persistence pay off?
Do you prefer a happy ending in films? What if this film had ended differently—would that have changed your feeling about the film as a whole?
What other Tyler Perry films have you watched? How does this one compare?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : October 2, 2026
- Cast : Jay Reeves , Naomi Baker , Tamberla Perry
- Director : Tyler Perry
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Arts , Family Stories ( Moms , Siblings ) , Friendship , School ( College & Graduate School )
- Character Strengths : Perseverance
- Run time : 108 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 5, 2026
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