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sjvarengo
Reviews
I Can Do Bad All by Myself (2002)
It's The Message
Tyler Perry makes us laugh, oh does he ever make us laugh. But for TP laughter is a tool to help convey a message. There is no real secret here as to what the message is. It runs through all the plays, it runs through Diary of A Mad Black Woman, and although I haven't gotten to see the movie of Madea's Family Reunion yet, I'm willing to bet it runs through that as well.
Tyler Perry is a dedicated Christian, and that is the message of his work. The teachings of Jesus are filtered through Madea and her wild family, and although Madea says repeatedly that she'll be seen in church "when they get a smoking section," she is the mortar which binds the family together.
Tyler Perry is probably the most talented man in the film industry today.
The Adventures of Bob & Doug McKenzie: Strange Brew (1983)
Smooth Transition
It is a tall order to translate a five minute television sketch into a 90-minute movie. Perhaps the most successful example of this are the two Wayne's World movies. Perhaps the least successful is The Coneheads. Somewhere between the two lies Strange Brew.
Dave Thomas and Rick Moranis as Bob and Doug McKenzie were a major reason for the success of SCTV. I was fortunate enough to live within range of the CBC when Second City TV was a minor program in Canada, and was thrilled to see it become at late-night program on NBC here in the states. Thus when Strange Brew came out I couldn't wait to get to the Roxy Theater in Potsdam, NY, pay the $3.00, and laugh my butt off. I wasn't disappointed.
From the spoofing of the MGM Lion's roar through the madcap adventure at the Elsinore brewery, I laughed continuously and hard. Don't look for anything highbrow here, but don't turn your brain off completely either. Strange Brew is a fun film. Bottom line.