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Clichés, Conflicting Values Spoil “Daddy’s Little Girls”
Christa Banister
Contributing Writer
Release Date: February 14, 2007
Rating: PG-13 (thematic material, drugs and sexual content, some language and violence)
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance
Run Time: 95 min.
Director: Tyler Perry
Actors: Gabrielle Union, Idris Elba, Louis Gossett Jr., Tasha Smith, Tracee Ellis Ross, Malinda Williams, Maria Howell, Gary Anthony Sturgis
After a series of successful plays including “Madea’s Family Reunion,” “I Can Do Bad All by Myself” and “Diary of a Mad Black Woman,” which eventually became a surprise hit on the big screen as well in 2005, Tyler Perry has gained a devout following for films that portray the African-American community in a more redemptive light.
And while his intentions are certainly noble, Perry doesn’t fare well as the writer and director of “Daddy’s Little Girls.” The story starts with Monty (Idris Elba), a hardworking mechanic who is also a down-on-his-luck father of three. His unfaithful wife Jennifer (Tasha Smith), has left him and his daughters behind to live with a wealthy drug dealer, Joseph (Gary Anthony Sturgis). To make matters worse, the girls’ babysitter, Monty’s mother, has lung cancer.
After his mom’s death, Monty’s wife decides for no apparent reason that she wants custody of the girls even though it’s clear from the get-go that she’s more self-involved than anything. Determined to further prove his skills as a father and provide for the girls, Monty takes a second job as a chauffer for a rich, spoiled, snotty (oh, and beautiful, too) lawyer named Julia (Gabrielle Union).
Of course, in true romantic comedy fashion, Monty and Julia don’t exactly hit it off initially. He doesn’t open the doors for her fast enough. And instead of following her directions to the office, he dares to take a quicker route, which makes her very impatient. Oh, and he takes a personal call from his daughters on the job and has to go to the hospital immediately instead of taking her home first.
We find out later through countless phone calls Julia makes to her girlfriends in the car that she’s lonely and unhappy because she works too much and hasn’t found that right guy. Incidentally, the only funny moments of the film come as a result of her plight. Determined to help her find Mr. Right, her friends set her up on a series of blind dates. The scene with the 40-year-old wannabe rapper is hilarious.
Back at the hospital, Monty discovers that Child Protection Services has now granted custody of his kids to his wife and the drug-dealing boyfriend because the girls accidentally set a small fire while waiting for him to come home from work. Devastated, he seeks help from – surprise! – Julia, and a romance eventually blooms, too.
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marlyce
2/20/2007 12:52 PM
I am mortified to think that you wouldn't understand that this movie is relating to its target audience. First, I must say when critiquing anything, please have the facts correct. That was not Monty's mother nor was that his wife or ex-wife. I viewed the movie opening night and it deserves much much more credit than you are giving it. Tyler Perry is a gifted man and understands the plight of the inner cities and black communities. He has depicted these in a very appropriate manner. It saddens me to know that someone on this particular website would be so one-sided (and I use that word because what came to mind would not be appropriate to use here). The movies and characters that are portrayed by such characters as Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Angelina Jolie, and Susan Sarandon are merely that characters, they have no substance to them. However, to the contrary, Tyler Perry's characters' core comes from people that need to see more than 'the hood' being portrayed in a negative light.
tmjengland
2/20/2007 9:47 AM
While not perfect, I am proud of this movie. It shows a black father who loves, works hard, and is willing to sacrifice for his children. It also shows a successful black woman who is unwilling to compromise or dumb down just to have a man in her life. The characters were very obvious and some of them played more the the extreme when it came to stereotyping, but overall, this was a wonderful departure from the the shoot-em-up, drug-dealing, low class living that has been portrayed in many past films.
On a side note, that was the ex-wife's mother who looked after the children. She was not Monty's mother.
On a side note, that was the ex-wife's mother who looked after the children. She was not Monty's mother.
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It's sad we always have to revert to the race card. Hollywood is forever protrayig the African American community in a negative manner, here we have someone who has walked the walked and is showing that we are MORE than what Hollywood depicts us to be...and someone is yet still trying to find negativity in it.
I commend Tyler Perry for his hard work and dedication and regardless of how Hollywood and anybody for that matter tries to bring him down...No Weapon formed against him will prosper. That my dear you can take to bank which is wehre you'll find Mr. Tyler Perry.