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"TYLER PERRY'S WHY DID I GET MARRIED?" (2007) (Tyler Perry, Janet Jackson) (PG-13) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Heavy None Extreme Minor Minor Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Minor None Minor Minor *Moderate Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Heavy None Extreme Heavy Mild QUICK TAKE: Dramedy: Four couples try to sort through their various marital issues while on their annual vacation together. PLOT: Patricia (JANET JACKSON) is a successful author about relationships and marriage whose work is based on her own life and that of her friends. Each year, she and her architect husband Gavin (MALIK YOBA) head off on vacation with three other couples where they discuss their marital issues and use each other to help work things out. Joining them again are Shelia (JILL SCOTT) and Mike (RICHARD T. JONES), who don't get along that well since Mike is not happy about her weight. Accordingly, he has invited their single friend, Trina (DENISE BOUTTE), to join them, and it's all too apparent to the others that this arrangement is anything but platonic. Of course, they aren't alone in struggling through problems. There's also the highly opinionated and outspoken Angela (TASHA SMITH) who constantly puts down her former pro ballplayer husband, Marcus (MICHAEL JAI WHITE), who now works for her at her salon. And pediatrician Terry (TYLER PERRY) is anything but pleased that his lawyer wife Diane (SHARON LEAL) is too busy for him or their young daughter. Meanwhile, Patricia and Gavin find that a past personal tragedy still haunts them and their marriage. With local sheriff Troy (LAMMAN RUCKER) helping them settle into their vacation cabin in the snowy woods, the four couples discuss, complain about, and try to resolve their various interpersonal and relationship issues. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're fans of Tyler Perry and his films, they probably will. Otherwise, it doesn't seem too likely. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13 For mature thematic material, sexual references and language. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: TYLER PERRY plays a pediatrician who isn't happy that his wife is too busy to spend time with him and their daughter, or enjoy their vacation. He eventually moves out, uses a little profanity, and drinks (once to the point of intoxication). SHARON LEAL plays his wife, a busy lawyer and partner at her law firm who enjoys her work and thus does not want to have another child. That then puts pressure on their marriage, but she doesn't seem to care that much. JANET JACKSON plays an acclaimed author who has written a book about her and her friends' experience with marriage. She has her own issues stemming from the tragic death of her and Gavin's son in the past, and she doesn't want to deal with that. MALIK YOBA plays her husband, an architect, who does want her to come to grips with that loss. He drinks some. JILL SCOTT plays an overweight woman whose life revolves around her mean and demeaning husband. Accordingly, she is devastated when she learns of his affair with Trina. She then starts her life anew, with that including Troy. RICHARD T. JONES plays her mean husband who's constantly putting her down about her weight, and even makes her drive to their vacation destination rather than fly with him and Trina, with whom he's having an affair. He drinks (also to the point of intoxication). TASHA SMITH plays an outspoken, loud, and highly opinionated owner of a hair salon business, who constantly puts down her husband, as well as Mike and Trina for having an affair. She uses profanity, and has a drinking problem. MICHAEL JAI WHITE plays her henpecked husband who tries to juggle her and his ex-wife, and he's had an affair with the latter while married to the former. He drinks some (once to the point of intoxication), and suffers from a venereal disease. LAMMAN RUCKER plays the local sheriff who makes friends with the group, and then supports and eventually falls for Sheila after Mike dumps her. DENISE BOUTTE plays Sheila's single friend who's having an affair with Mike. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: The following is a brief summary of the content found in this dramedy that's rated PG-13. Profanity consists of at least 1 incomplete "f" word, while many far milder expletives and colorful phrases are also said. Sexually related dialogue is present (covering a variety of topics including infidelity, frequency of marital relations, venereal diseases and such), as are various views of varying amounts of cleavage, while a very muscular man is only seen in his boxers. Off-screen sex is implied, and on-screen sex is desired. Violence includes people briefly attacking their spouses (played more for comedy than seriousness, although undercurrents of the latter fuel what occurs), while some other contact and brief property damage is seen. Various bad attitudes are present, many of them involving strained marriages (that fill the storyline), while other tense family material includes talk of a child's accidental death in the past. Various characters drink, with one scene featuring three of the main characters appearing rather intoxicated, while it's heavily suggested a woman has a drinking problem. Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE We see a close-up of champagne spraying from a bottle in the opening credits. Angela drinks from a flask on a train. Terry brings out a bottle of wine and two glasses for Diane and himself, but when he finds her, she has fallen asleep. We then see Gavin and Terry having wine. Angela states that she needs a drink and when someone mentions it's just the afternoon, she says that she will then have a Kahlúa and milk. Angela, Terry, and Diane have wine. When Angela says, "I'll drink to that," others joke about her drinking to anything. Terry has a drink. The group has wine with dinner, and when things get a little tense between Angela and Mike, Marcus states that Angela is a little drunk. She agrees, but says that her points are still valid. Upon Gavin's arrival at a pub, the bartender tells him that his three friends are wasted. We then see that they are drunk, and are drinking beer, shots, and mixed drinks. We see that Angela has wine on the table for her and Marcus. When she then agrees to change her ways for him, he says that one thing she'll have to do is give up drinking. She agrees, but first guzzles down her wine and then his. Miscellaneous people have champagne at a reception. We then see Mike and Terry having some of that, and then Gavin and Troy joining them. BLOOD/GORE None. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE A miscellaneous man complains about Sheila's size when she sits next to him on an airplane. The flight attendant agrees with the complaining man, saying that someone her size is required to buy two seats. Neither Mike nor Trina come to her defense, with Mike pretty much saying it's all Sheila's fault, saying she has a "big ass" and that he told her she needed to lose weight. As he and Trina continue on their flight, he tells Sheila that she can take a bus or drive to their destination and meet them there. Angela gets into a verbal confrontation with two gay men seated behind her on a train, over her being too loud. Mike and Marcus don't see any issue with their cheating on their wives, or not telling them about it (especially when Marcus' tryst involves him contracting a venereal disease). When others worry about Sheila having not arrived yet, Mike tells them that she's a big girl, and then adds "literally." Angela puts down Marcus for working for her, saying that he was a pro player for two years, but then not much for many years after that. About Sheila, Mike says, "I should have made her chunky ass walk. She needs the exercise." Mike says that what a wife doesn't know won't hurt her (referring to being unfaithful), and when Terry and Gavin both say they have never strayed, Mike jokes that they are gay. He then asks if they haven't even just thought about it, and they say yes, but that they realized that acting on that would not be smart. Marcus then reminds Terry that the latter said the Diane wasn't "giving it up" for several months. Mike then chimes in that if your wife won't "give you any," you have the legal right to "get some" on the outside (prompting the others to laugh at his legal knowledge). Angela hears Mike sneaking off to Trina's bedroom in the middle of the night. When Trina tastes Angela's cooking, she says she belongs in the kitchen. Knowing that Trina slept with Mike the night before, Angela replies that Trina belongs on a corner (meaning as a prostitute). When Trina takes offense to that, Angela refers to her as a "trick," "slut," ho" and "tramp." Mike still is not worried about Sheila when she has not arrived by the next morning. Seeing the black women in her retail store, a white manager or clerk tells them that they don't keep cash in the store. Sheila wears a new and slightly sexy nightgown into the bedroom, but Mike looks at her and asks, "What the hell you got on?" When Sheila says that Trina thought that Mike would like it, Mike laughs and says, "You look like you're wearing a damn tent" and "You look like the cow that jumped over the moon." He also says that she could lose 50 pounds and then he might be attracted to her. Diane is mad at Terry for him earlier telling her coworker not to call Diane while they are on vacation. When Sheila tries to fix up Trina with Troy (as both are single), Mike won't allow that. Angela then states that Trina can't go with this man or any other, because she is sleeping with Sheila's. Mike then admits it's true that he's having an affair with Trina. When secrets start being divulged, Mike starts laying things on the table, including that Terry had a DNA test done for his daughter (to see if he was the girl's father), and that Diane secretly had her tubes tied to prevent any further pregnancy. There is mention again of Marcus having VD, and of him getting a shot for that. He then admits to having slept with his ex-wife, but Angela says he didn't get it from that woman, as Angela slept with another guy and already had her shot. After he says he might leave her, Angela says that he won't, because she's the one who makes the money. He then reminds her that it was his money that was used to start her business. When Diane finds Terry with his female employee, and Diane says that they can work their way through anything, Terry says that's good, as he has impregnated that woman with twins. After a brief moment, he then jokes that it's not true, saying he said that just to get back at her, and that his employee has a boyfriend who is a linebacker. FRIGHTENING SCENES Hearing that Angela cheated on him (just as he did on her), Marcus suddenly chokes her at the dinner table and has to be pulled away (this is played rather lightly). About Mike having cheated on her with Trina, Sheila then hits him over the head with a wine bottle, knocking him out (also played somewhat for comedy). GUNS/WEAPONS Troy wears a holstered and covered sidearm. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "If I don't get some, I'm whooping your ass," "Trick," "Slut," "(You) Ho," "Tramp," "Big ass," "What the hell /are you talking about/are those two.../you got on/you doing here/am I doing/are you saying?" "Snap," "Can you go to hell for a while?" "Don't give a damn," "Pain in the butt," "Jeez," "Hell yeah," "Tired as hell," "Know what I'm saying," "Get her ass out of here," "The ass-kicking one," "Fat as hell," "Get your ass in here," "I should have made her chunky ass walk," "Hold the hell up," "That (dirty) bastard," "Whoop his/that ass," "You're such a butt-hole," "You're trippin,'" "You look like you're wearing a damn tent," "You look like the cow that jumped over the moon," "Fool," "Oh hell," "You're a low, down, dirty bastard," "Shut up," "You're so damn evil," "One hell of a headache," "So damn busy," "You're too damn stupid" and "Bald-headed ass." JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) A tiny bit of suspenseful music plays in one scene. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) A song has the line, "I want you" (meant sexually). PROFANITY At least 1 incomplete "f" word (used with "mother"), 6 slang terms for sex (including "screwing," "get it," "hitting that," "giving it up," "give you any" and "get some"), 28 hells, 17 damns, 14 asses, 6 uses of "Oh my God" and 2 uses each of "Oh God" and "Oh Jesus." SEX/NUDITY About Marcus' ex-wife, Angela complains that he was too busy staring at her "ass." Marcus states that he likes arguing (with Angela) because the making up is "insane" (meaning sexually). Terry says that he and Diane haven't had sex in months, causing Marcus to jokingly state he wondered why Terry was getting so strong. Marcus then tells Terry (who's a doctor) that he burns (meaning with urination, from a venereal disease). Terry then asked if it was Angela who burned him, but Marcus says it wasn't (meaning he had an affair, which we later learn was with his ex wife). Terry then tells Marcus that if he's going to step out he needs to use some protection, and says that he needs to tell Angela. When Marcus says he won't, Terry says that if you are man enough to lay down and "get it," then you are man enough to tell your wife. About Trina, Marcus asks Mike, "Are you hitting that?" and Mike pleads the fifth. Concerned about how the women are reacting to Mike and Trina, Terry says that if he doesn't "get some," "I am whooping your ass." Mike says that what a wife doesn't know won't hurt her (referring to being unfaithful), and when Terry and Gavin both say they have never strayed, Mike jokes that they are gay. He then asks if they haven't even just thought about it, and they say yes, but that they realized that acting on that would not be smart. Marcus then reminds Terry that the latter said the Diane wasn't "giving it up" for several months. Mike then chimes in that if your wife won't "give you any," you have the legal right to "get some" on the outside (prompting the others to laugh at his legal knowledge). We see the very muscular and buff Marcus in just his boxers. He quickly climbs into bed, and tells Angela goodnight, but she wants to fool around and partially climbs on top of him (in a sexy nightgown that shows some cleavage). He says he's tired, prompting her to ask what's wrong with him, as he's never turned her down. Accordingly, nothing sexual occurs, and she's miffed about that. Terry smuggles up to Diane in bed, and kisses on her neck, stating this is a good time for them to work on their son. Diane ask if he's kidding, saying that he wants to have sex with her while their friend Sheila is still out there, somewhere, missing. She then tells him to move off her, and nothing sexual occurs. We see some cleavage from Angela's nightgown, and she hears Mike sneaking off to Trina's bedroom in the middle of the night. When Trina tastes Angela's cooking, she says she belongs in the kitchen. Knowing that Trina slept with Mike the night before, Angela replies that Trina belongs on a corner (meaning as a prostitute). When Trina takes offense to that, Angela refers to her as a "trick," "slut," ho" and "tramp." Terry tells Diane that she fights with him so that they won't have sex. Diane shows a little cleavage. Terry tells Marcus not to sleep with Angela until the venereal disease shot he earlier gave him kicks in. The men discuss the 80/20 rule that pertains to only getting 80% of what you need at home (meaning sexually), and then going out and getting the 20% elsewhere, stating that's not a smart thing to do. Over dinner, Mike sarcastically tells Angela that she must need another drink, prompting her to say that he must need some condoms. Trina shows some cleavage. When Sheila tries to fix up Trina with Troy (as both are single), Mike won't allow that. Angela then states that Trina can't go with this man or any other, because she is sleeping with Sheila's. Mike then admits it's true that he's having an affair with Trina. When secrets start being divulged, Mike starts laying things on the table, including that Terry had a DNA test done for his daughter (to see if he was the girl's father), and that Diane secretly had her tubes tied to prevent any further pregnancy. There is mention again of Marcus having VD, and of him getting a shot for that. He then admits to having slept with his ex-wife, but Angela says he didn't get it from that woman, as Angela slept with another guy and already had her shot. About the earlier DNA comment, Terry tells Diane, "When you got pregnant, we had sex, what, once?" She then makes a snide reaction to him saying it proved he's the father, implying that she had been sleeping with someone else (but she later admits that she made up that reaction just to try to hurt Terry at the moment). A song has the line, "I want you" (meant sexually). While he stands above her with his back to her, Sheila checks out Troy's clothed body (nothing explicit, and played for comedy). Marcus' ex-wife shows some cleavage. Seeing Terry and his female employee (who shows some cleavage), Diane asks if they are having an affair. Terry is then angry while confronting Diane, asking what man has to make an appointment to sleep with his wife. He then says that she should be doing what a wife does, such as "screwing me" on a regular basis. Sheila shows some cleavage. Troy and Sheila briefly but passionately kiss across a table in a restaurant. Patricia shows some cleavage. Angela shows a little cleavage. When Diane finds Terry with his female employee, and Diane says that they can work their way through anything, Terry says that's good, as he has impregnated that woman with twins. After a brief moment, he then jokes that it's not true, saying he said that just to get back at her, and that his employee has a boyfriend who is a linebacker. Trina shows a lot of cleavage in a low-cut dress, while Sheila also shows some cleavage. Patricia and Angela both show cleavage in their dresses. When asked about Sheila looking good, Troy says they just work out together, prompting Gavin to jokingly say they know what that means (meant sexually). Mike reminds Sheila that he was her first (meaning sexually), and that one always remembers their first, but Sheila then says that he does think she was her first (implying that he wasn't). SMOKING None. TENSE FAMILY SCENES Terry and Diane do a little bickering about her constantly being on her cell phone during their drive to their vacation, and that they don't spend enough time together (his complaint, not hers). A miscellaneous man complains about Sheila's size when she sits next to him on an airplane. The flight attendant agrees with the complaining man, saying that someone her size is required to buy two seats. Neither Mike nor Trina come to her defense, with Mike pretty much saying it's all Sheila's fault, saying she has a "big ass" and that he told her she needed to lose weight. As he and Trina continue on their flight, he tells Sheila that she can take a bus or drive to their destination and meet them there. We learn that Patricia and Gavin lost their son in the past. Angela and Marcus are always bickering about something. Sheila stating that she's going up the mountain in front of her to save her marriage (meaning to be with a group where they discuss such issues). Angela is still upset about Marcus' ex-wife and what that woman says to Marcus' kids about her. Angela puts down Marcus for working for her, saying that he was a pro player for two years, but then not much for many years after that. We hear that Troy's dad died last year, and that Troy is divorced. We see the very muscular and buff Marcus in just his boxers. He quickly climbs into bed, and tells Angela goodnight, but she wants to fool around and partially climbs on top of him (in a sexy nightgown that shows some cleavage). He says he's tired, prompting her to ask what's wrong with him, as he's never turned her down. Accordingly, nothing sexual occurs, and she's miffed about that. Terry smuggles up to Diane in bed, and kisses on her neck, stating this is a good time for them to work on their son. Diane ask if he's kidding, saying that he wants to have sex with her while their friend Sheila is still out there, somewhere, missing. She then tells him to move off her, and nothing sexual occurs. Diane does not want to have another baby, while Terry obviously does. Sheila wears a new and slightly sexy nightgown into the bedroom, but Mike looks at her and asks, "What the hell you got on?" When Sheila says that Trina thought that Mike would like it, Mike laughs and says, "You look like you're wearing a damn tent" and "You look like the cow that jumped over the moon." He also says that she could lose 50 pounds and then he might be attracted to her. Diane is mad at Terry for him earlier telling her coworker not to call Diane while they are on vacation. Terry tells Diane that she fights with him so that they won't have sex. When Sheila tries to fix up Trina with Troy (as both are single), Mike won't allow that. Angela then states that Trina can't go with this man or any other, because she is sleeping with Sheila's. Mike then admits it's true that he's having an affair with Trina. When secrets start being divulged, Mike starts laying things on the table, including that Terry had a DNA test done for his daughter (to see if he was the girl's father), and that Diane secretly had her tubes tied to prevent any further pregnancy. There is mention again of Marcus having VD, and of him getting a shot for that. He then admits to having slept with his ex-wife, but Angela says he didn't get it from that woman, as Angela slept with another guy and already had her shot. Patricia is upset upon hearing that Gavin blamed her for their child's death. She then the talks of what happened with the accident (where she was in too much of a hurry to safely secure the child in the car seat), and she cries about that, as does he. About their breakup, Sheila says that she has no life without Mike. After he says he might leave her, Angela says that he won't, because she's the one who makes the money. He then reminds her that it was his money that was used to start her business. Finally fed up with both Angela and his ex-wife, Marcus stands up to both and puts them in their place. After he says he might leave her, Angela says that he won't, because she's the one who makes the money. He then reminds her that it was his money that was used to start her business. Seeing Terry and his female employee (who shows up some cleavage), Diane asks if they are having an affair. Terry is then angry while confronting Diane, asking what man has to make an appointment to sleep with his wife. He then says that she should be doing what a wife does, such as "screwing me" on a regular basis. Terry throws Diane's cell phone into the wall where it breaks. He then takes off his wedding ring, and says that he is moving out. When Diane finds Terry with his female employee, and Diane says that they can work their way through anything, Terry says that's good, as he has impregnated that woman with twins. After a brief moment, he then jokes that it's not true, saying he said that just to get back at her, and that his employee has a boyfriend who is a linebacker. Mike reminds Sheila that he was her first (meaning sexually), and that one always remembers their first, but Sheila then says that he does think she was her first (implying that he wasn't). TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT Marriages and relationships. We learn that Patricia and Gavin lost their son in the past. Infidelity. Venereal diseases. People with drinking issues. The comment that marriage is about compromise, and give and take. Sheila blaming herself for her marriage problems with Mike (when he's the source of all that's wrong). The men discuss the 80/20 rule that pertains to only getting 80% of what you need at home (meaning sexually), and then going out and getting the 20% elsewhere, stating that's not a smart thing to do. About their breakup, Sheila says that she has no life without Mike. The notion of the "hero syndrome" where a person falls for another who has helped them. The comment that one man's ex can be another man's treasure. Sheila saying that she thought God had given up on her, until she meant Troy. The comment that one's greatest achievement is loving God, yourself, and others. VIOLENCE Hearing that Angela cheated on him (just as he did on her), Marcus suddenly chokes her at the dinner table and has to be pulled away (this is played rather lightly). About Mike having cheated on her with Trina, Sheila then hits him over the head with a wine bottle, knocking him out (also played somewhat for comedy). Upset at Marcus' ex-wife showing up at work, Angela shoves that woman backwards. Terry throws Diane's cell phone into the wall where it breaks. Reviewed October 12, 2007 / Posted October 12, 2007

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