Movie & DVD Reviews

Now on DVD: Tyler Perry's "I Can Do Bad All By Myself" - emotionally powerful, decidedly Christian

Author: MovieGuide.org

"I Can Do Bad All By Myself" Movie Trailer

DVD Release Date: January 12, 2010
Release Date: September 9th, 2009
Starring: Tyler Perry, Taraji P. Henson, Adam Rodriguez, Brian White, Hope Olaide Wilson, and Gladys Knight
Genre: Drama
Audience: Older teenagers and adults
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: Older teenagers and adults
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Director: Tyler Perry
Executive Producer: Michael Paseornek
Producer: Tyler Perry and Reuben Cannon
Writer: Tyler Perry and Reuben Cannon

Summary:
TYLER PERRY’S I CAN DO BAD ALL BY MYSELF is the story of April, whose life turns upside down when her niece and nephew come to live with her. I CAN DO BAD ALL BY MYSELF is emotionally gripping with a clear Christian worldview, but caution is required for some brief violence, light obscenities and mature themes.

Review:
Tyler Perry’s latest movie, I CAN DO BAD ALL BY MYSELF, is the story of April, a woman whose life turns upside down when her niece and nephew come to live with her. April lives with a married man, sings in a club, and drinks to hide the pain she feels. On a suggestion from the neighborhood pastor, she takes in a handyman boarder Sandino, who is in financial trouble.

Related Links

Exclusive Interview with Tyler Perry

Through her relationship with Sandino and the powerful worship service at the local church, April accepts grace and begins to change. Her niece, Jennifer, struggles to cope by being the “mom” to her younger brothers, one an asthmatic diabetic and the other an emotionally troubled youth who won’t speak.

Tyler Perry revives characters Madea and Joe (both played by Perry himself), who catch the young children stealing. They are played mostly for comic relief, especially when Jennifer asks her how to pray, and Madea attempts to tell her, combining stories of Peter walking on water, Jonah and the big fish, and Noah on the ark.

I CAN DO BAD ALL BY MYSELF is emotionally powerful. April is a complex character and through a great script and a great performance, viewers see her change and transform. The niece Jennifer delivers the movie’s best performance as a teenage girl who takes care of her younger brothers while longing for a normal childhood.

A highlight of the movie are soulful songs by Gladys Knight, who plays a member of the church, by Pastor Brian, and by friend Tanya, played by R&B singer Mary J. Blige. The songs truly reflect the emotion in the dramatic scenes.

I CAN DO BAD ALL BY MYSELF is a solidly faith-filled movie that shows a Christian worldview. Jesus is honored and unconditional love is shown through Sandino to April.

There are some mild profanities and moments of violence. A man attempts to assault Jennifer, but before he can, Sandino hits the man and they fight. In a tense scene, this man who attempts the assault is in a bathtub, and April tosses in a CD player, which would electrocute him, but he jumps out in time.

For these issues, some caution is required, but this is a gripping movie that portrays the Christian faith in a convincing, captivating manner.

In Brief:
TYLER PERRY’S I CAN DO BAD ALL BY MYSELF is about April, whose life turns upside down when her niece and nephew come to live with her. April lives with a married man and drinks to hide her pain. On a suggestion from the neighborhood pastor, April takes in a handyman boarder, Sandino. Through her relationship with Sandino and the powerful worship service at the local church, she accepts grace and begins to change. Her niece, Jennifer, struggles to be the “mom” to her younger brothers, one an asthmatic diabetic and the other an emotionally troubled youth who won’t speak.

I CAN DO BAD ALL BY MYSELF is emotionally powerful and decidedly Christian. April is a complex character. Through a great script and a great performance, viewers see her change. The niece displays the movie’s best performance as a teenage girl who takes care of her younger brothers while longing for a normal childhood. There are some light obscenities, moments of violence and brief rear male nudity. For these issues, some caution is required, but this is a gripping movie that portrays the Christian faith in a convincing, captivating manner.

Content: (what the ratings mean)
CONTENT: Solidly Christian worldview with faith in God transforming characters’ lives in profound way, marriage and commitment upheld, preacher reads from the Bible, characters pray, and people sing to God; 18 light obscenities and no profanities; woman and man hit thieves with cane, man attempts to assault teenage girl, another man fist fights with attacker, woman attempts to electrocute man in bathtub; unmarried characters in bed together, some issues of adultery, and kissing; upper male nudity, brief shot of rear male nudity, cleavage and tight dresses by female characters; drinking and drunkenness, but rebuked; smoking by main character; and, stealing.

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