Warning: Spoilers are throughout this piece.
This was opening weekend for Tyler Perry’s “Acrimony” starring the lovely Taraji P. Henson. On the heels of supporting African-Americans in Hollywood and businesses, I felt I needed to support this film like millions had for “Black Panther.”
Truth be told, for those who spent between $13 to $16 a ticket, Perry’s film will not break records and will leave you feeling like the four stages defined throughout the movie.
The storyline of Henson’s character, Melinda Moore, was told in her adult voice, looking at her life and marriage to Robert Gayle (the adult role played by Lyriq Bent) in hindsight while on a court-mandated therapist’s couch.
I won’t give away the entire synopsis of the story that should have been made for Lifetime.
In all honesty, I absolutely hated the ending and as the top of the credits rolled from the bottom of the screen I let out an animated sound effect, threw my hands up and left the theater.
I couldn’t help but be mad, as were other theatergoers.
Mad at Melinda’s family for brushing off what might be years of signs of her mental illness peaking without getting her help.
Mad at Robert for taking advantage and running Melinda to the ground to the point where her rightful anger was translated into an over-the-top performance.
Mad at Melinda for allowing her family’s legacy wither away because she believed in love and her marriage.
And mad at the writers for leaving viewers without a message or point for the last two hours.
What was the point of this film???
Should women not stand by their man when they’re not living up to expectations? I mean, people lose their jobs all the time (in this case Robert didn’t even try as a convicted teen felon), people have dreams and goals they want to fulfill. Does that mean we should not support them during the early stages and only come around when the big checks come in?
Melinda had enough of feeling used and abused so she of course looked to her family for support, but confused me when Robert’s dream came true and she resented her family.
What’s up with Perry having the men/husbands in most of his films/shows as the weak, trifling, cheaters?
Maybe the message is: Ladies you can do bad all by yourself, don’t waste your time being a “down ass chick” and wait for an established man, not a fixer-upper. But is that realistic?
