Tyler Perry’s characters are all too human, but for each of them, redemption is possible. His movies remind viewers of that we’re all fallible, but it’s in our power to change. Perry shares his usual spiritual message -- that love matters more than physical and material temptation -- but tones down the preachiness here. Still, there are many jokes told at the expense of spouses and partners, and some gender stereotyping, too. (Men should provide for their women, for instance, as if women can't fend for themselves. And this despite some of the characters being successful in their own right.)

Positive Role Models & Representations

Women of all shapes and sizes are portrayed as beautiful, and they’re almost all committed to the idea of marriage as a demanding, but worthwhile pursuit. Still, one woman seems to relish emasculating her husband, and her rage-filled, jealousy-fueled (though offbase) rants are depicted as hilarious, when they’re actually emotionally exhausting and demeaning. She drinks too much, too, though this isn’t explored. Two characters forget how much they care about each other and move their relationship into physically abusive territory while going through a divorce. Another woman betrays her husband by flirting inappropriately and becoming emotionally involved with another man.

Violence

Two men trade barbs over a woman. A woman recalls how her ex-husband used to hit her and demean her. A man throws a plant through a door, torches a photo album, manhandles his soon-to-be-ex-wife and argues with her loudly; she, in kind, attempts to bite him and uses a golf club to obliterate every glassy object in their home. Another couple bickers constantly.

Sex

Some kissing and caressing. Many references to men cheating. A woman conducts an emotional affair. A couple's amorous doings can be heard by a neighbor. Some cleavage shots.

Language

Words like "ass" and "damn" and "bitch." The N-word is used once (not heatedly).

Consumerism

Some brands visible (Range Rover, for example, and Heineken).

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

One character is often drinking (out of a flask, ordering shots), but aside from a few jokes, it's not addressed. Others indulge in social drinking. A character mentions smoking pot in the past. Jokes about crack.

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this well-intentioned dramedy -- though big on universal and age-blind subjects of forgiveness, friendship and love -- addresses plenty of mature themes, including infidelity, divorce, domestic abuse, unemployment, and death. There’s some social drinking, though little swearing and nudity. Some jokes are based on male and female stereotypes, and one character’s raging jealousy is played for laughs when it’s actually quite dysfunctional.

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Teen, 14 years old Written byTotally500 September 6, 2010

age 15+

Mixed and okay film

Me and my family saw the first one and it was good. The sequel is mixed with funny and violent stuff to a whole new level. Overall it is a okay film not as grea... Continue reading

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Teen, 16 years old Written byMakeVIew_2,5,9 July 11, 2011

age 14+

good

pretty funny but the first one is way better.

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What's the story?

This sequel to 2007’s Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married? finds a group of friends -- regimented psychiatrist Patricia (Janet Jackson) and her husband Gavin (Malik Yoba); feisty salon owner Angela (Tasha Smith) and Marcus (Michael Jai White); soulful Sheila (Jill Scott) and Troy (Lamman Rucker); and even-keeled attorney Dianne (Sharon Leal) and Terry (Tyler Perry) -- reuniting in the Bahamas for their yearly group vacation. The idyll is quickly shattered by the arrival of Mike (Richard T. Jones), Sheila’s ex-husband, who seems determined to join the fun. The holiday goes as smoothly as it can until one couple’s big declaration the night before their departure, which sets off an avalanche of discoveries back home that threaten each coupling.

Is it any good?

A good cast is a terrible thing to waste. So it goes with TYLER PERRY’S WHY DID I GET MARRIED, TOO?, whose ensemble is under-served by an over-busy arc. The plot goes into overdrive with emotional affairs; domestic abuse; a near-nervous breakdown; cancer; and death. And that’s doesn’t include the usual Perry themes of jealousy, gender roles, and communication. There’s simply no time to let the stories marinate (and let such icons as Louis Gossett Jr. and Cicely Tyson do more than just drop in). Appealing moments of friendship are punctuated with corny, melodramatic twists that are oversimplified and rushed to a conclusion.

Jackson gets to act, though: She shows off a range never before revealed. As director, Perry succeeded in eliciting her best performance yet. As an actor, he himself exhibits an understatement that’s lacking in his films as a whole. His movies clearly have a message -- in this, it’s that no relationship, no matter how perfect seeming, is immune to challenges, and that love, if allowed to supersede anger, can heal -- and that’s all fine. If only they were better served by tighter pacing and more disciplined storytelling.

Talk to your kids about ...

Families can talk about stereotypes. What kinds of stereotypes does this movie set out to overcome, and which does it reinforce?
Talk about the challenges that each couple faces: Do they seem real or exaggerated for effect? Can one learn from them? If so, what are the lessons?
What is the message of the movie? What binds these couples together and what sets them apart?

Movie details

In theaters: April 2, 2010
On DVD or streaming: August 31, 2010
Cast: Cicely Tyson, Janet Jackson, Jill Scott, Louis Gossett Jr., Malik Yoba, Tyler Perry
Director: Tyler Perry
Studio: Lionsgate
Genre: Drama
Run time: 121 minutes
MPAA rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: thematic material including sexuality, language, drug references and some domestic violence