Common Sense Media Review
By S. Jhoanna Robledo
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Sometimes-gritty dramedy has some moving moments.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All by Myself
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 3 parent reviews
Based on 16 kid reviews
Kids say that this film is deeply moving and showcases the struggles of life, particularly addressing themes such as family, abuse, and personal transformation. While many viewers appreciated the heartfelt storytelling and strong messages, some noted its mature content, including violence and substance use, making it less suitable for younger children.
- heartfelt storytelling
- mature content
- family themes
- strong messages
- viewer recommendations
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In TYLER PERRY'S I CAN DO BAD ALL BY MYSELF, April (Taraji P. Henson) wants to do nothing more than hide when her mother dies, leaving her to care for her defiant niece (Hope Olaide Wilson) and two nephews. 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 Tyler Perry's 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.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about April's character in Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All By Myself. 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?
Do you think the movie's message is chauvinistic? Does April need a "good man" to help her change for the better?
Movie Details
- In theaters : September 11, 2009
- On DVD or streaming : January 12, 2010
- Cast : Adam Rodriguez , Taraji P. Henson , Tyler Perry
- Director : Tyler Perry
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Director(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Lionsgate
- Genre : Drama
- Run time : 113 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : mature thematic material involving a sexual assault on a minor, violence, drug references and smoking
- Award : NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Nominee
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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