Is Anyone Buying Tyler Perry as an Action Hero? “Alex Cross” Widely Panned by Critics

Is Anyone Buying Tyler Perry as an Action Hero? “Alex Cross” Widely Panned by Critics

I’m unsure anyone besides Tyler Perry didn’t see this coming. In a case of negro-stay-in-your-lane, Tyler Perry’s new flick, Alex Cross, is getting a slew of rotten tomatoes thrown his way as most folks think he should just retire his pants and keep on the house dress.

Author : Christelyn Karazin

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I’m unsure anyone besides Tyler Perry didn’t see this coming. In a case of negro-stay-in-your-lane, Tyler Perry’s new flick, Alex Cross, is getting a slew of rotten tomatoes thrown his way as most folks think he should just retire his pants and keep on the house dress. This is what happens, Mr. Perry, when you spend that last decade dressed in drag. Did you honestly think anyone would take you seriously as a man fiercely motivated to defend his woman? Plus, uh…many gay people play straight folks so convincingly, but Tyler isn’t one of them. (I know, I know. He hasn’t come out yet, but everybody knows.)

From the New York Times

A grim, dispiritingly stupid waste of time, energy, money and talent, directed by Rob Cohen, this is the first installment in what one of its producers warned Entertainment Weekly would be “the new Tyler Perry franchise, a worldwide one.” Good luck with that, bud.

I’m still in shock that Tyler Perry replaced Idris Elba. IDRIS ELBA?! Those men are continents apart when it comes to sex appeal and acting ability. Hell, they would have done better dusting off Morgan Freeman for the role.

When asked how, and why in God’s name Perry took on the role, he said this:

“I read the script and I was like, ‘I don’t know if I can do this, or if I want to try to take this on,’” he said. “And then I realized that [the] physicality and description [James Patterson] had for Alex Cross in the books, and I said, ‘Wait a minute, this is me.’ And I couldn’t put it down, and I realized I had to do it.

Well…here’s some advice–the first thought is probably the wisest.

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Criticalthinker 385 pts

Oh, and I meant to add: Although I am not supporting, share in all of his opinions, or a representative of Dave Chapelle, he did believe and say one thing that I do agree with. He stated and I'll paraphrase(somewhere on a talk show, interview somewhere, who knows?) Being asked constantly  to dress up like a woman is what made him want to end his show, because even though he was being pushed to do it as a comedy skit, he felt  it is emasculating and will hurt you down the road. There is no reason to do that and expect to be taken seriously...

 

And that's exactly what Tyler (Taylor) did. Period.

Criticalthinker 385 pts

I know, right??!!! Tyler over Idris, huh???

beq343 21 pts

I literally BUSTED out laughing reading this post. YES Christelyn- yes.  I'll see it on redbox when it comes out. (Either that or if my grandma drags me to theater first).

 

P.S. I definitely picked up and sped through your 'Swirling' book! Congrats on a great read- I am smiling more at potential rainbeaus, and they are starting to smile back :)

Christelyn 8739 pts moderator

Hey newbie! Glad you liked the book, and welcome to the family! beq343 

DU2 2168 pts

Sadly the typecasting that Tyler is experiencing is self imposed.  I wonder if it was panned by critics because the movie was genuinely bad or because  they cannot see Tyler past the grey wig  and dress. and see him with the potential to be a serious actor.

This comment has been deleted

 DUsher Sorry for the blank post. In the words of KidFury "I am going to need Tyler to take several seats." He casts HIMSELF, he writes HIS OWN roles. If he wants to play an action hero, or a manly man, or heck just a MAN write that role. He writes what he wants to see and you can be cynical and say, oh no, the audience wants Madea, if he wrote something better, folks would come. He dug his own bewigged grave.

DU2 2168 pts

@Veronique Yup as I said the typecasting he is dealing with is self imposed!

JannaAshley 571 pts

Mmmm...Idris Elba :D

 

But back to the post - I saw Tyler Perry on facebook saying how people want to keep him in a box, see the same from him, blah blah blah... uh, isn't that his fault? I believe he's only been in HIS own movies, where HE decides to keep playing the Madea character or making the same type of movies. I'm not familiar with the Alex Cross novels/movies, so I have no feelings about this really. And I don't care for any of Perry's work in general, so I didn't plan on seeing this movie anyway.

zipporah 1714 pts

I just watched an old Perry Mason rerun: The Case of the Wintry Wife. 1961--there was a character in it called Amelia. She looked like a very lightskinned Eartha Kitt and playing a sister to the white leading lady. I watched the last 1/2 hour, so, either race was mentioned in the beginning OR it wasnt mentioned at all--verrry unusual, even for today

AshleyFisher 390 pts

Ok no disrespect to Tyler but has the man seen Luther? The mini-series that has NUMEROUS nominations and awards? The one that stared Idris Alba as a detective? What the hell was he thinking? Idris that the acting chops for this part and Taylor's not that strong of an actor. What the hell was he thinking? It's not too late though. If there is a sequel he can be replaced. 

iHeartLove 804 pts

Sorry, but I can't stand Tyler Perry movies. They are not empowering to Black women. In Daddy's Little Girls he had drop dead gorgeous and successful, juris doctored-up Gabrielle Union get together with a man with 3 children and a drug kingpin wife. wth. 

heyimPearlilikefries 2091 pts

 iHeartLove It's like how dare YOU.

Toni_M 18803 pts moderator

 iHeartLove  In "I can do bad all by myself" the woman ends up with the homeless man living in HER basement. Another woman ends up with a bus driver. It seems a lot of the time the black women in his movies settle in one way or another, but PRAISE JESUS! at least she isn't single and has a "good" Christian man.

 

:|

 

I don't know if that's what he personally wants for black women, but I think like any business person, he's more than aware of his audience. It's not like black people aren't constantly telling such women that the Lord wants to send them a "good man", but they have to lower their standards and not be too uppity to accept their blessing. 

 

One of my major gripes with his movies. Successful black women can't be happy, and they can't marry at their level or better most of the time.

heyimPearlilikefries 2091 pts

 Toni_M  iHeartLove  That's the main reason his movies piss me off and irritate me. And in "Madea's Big Happy Family" (painful to watch) the woman who had a career was a complete bitch and portrayed as uppity and mean an standoffish. It's like he wants black women to lower themselves and if they don't they are unpleasant to be around. 

 

I agree and I agree some more. 

jillodelight 516 pts

 Toni_M  iHeartLove I think he follows the mantra "A degree won't keep you warm at night" when writing professional BW characters.  The most offensive to me : the character Sanna Lathan played in the House That Preys and the character Tasha Smith played in Why Did I Get Married were pretty unforgivable :/  I mean seriously, who would write such a NEGATIVE one dimensional characters ,  an uber cold career woman who cheats on her "Good BM" blue collar husband with her white boss and an uber sapphire character constantly emasculating her perplexed husband?  Come on! He doesn't live under a rock, he has to know how harmful these stereotypes are for BW's image. 

 

thecrazyartist 2219 pts

 jillodelight  Toni_M  iHeartLove

 This is why I can't stand his movies, it's like nearly every female character with a degree or nice stable job is seen as "bougie" and needs to get off her high horse and just date that DBR idiotic man.    It's like the noy so subtle message of "being career oriented and having standards makes you a b*tch, you need to loosen up and stop being so stuck up" is one of the main themes in all of his movies.  It's like an all out attack on educated/self made women.  It's quite obvious.

thecrazyartist 2219 pts

 Toni_M  iHeartLove

 My dad hates his movies for the same reason, it's like "what type of message are you sending?".  Another thing he does is make edicated men with careers seem like cold, abusive arrogant and a slew of other unpleasant things.  It's like what are you trying to say Tyler Perry?  That black women should just downgrade, settle and deal with it?

heyimPearlilikefries 2091 pts

I haven't seen a new movie in forever. Wanna know the last movies I seen in theaters "NEVER SAY NEVER" with my 4-7 year old cousins. I like Justin Bieber.. I really do.. but I could have waited until it came out on Netflix.. and went to see another movie.. and got me a man. LMAO

DeepWater 2456 pts

 astringofpearls  Bwaaaaahhhaaaaaa, gurrrrllll, you need to get out a little mo'.  Even my po' ass gets out once in a (grand) while.....lol.

heyimPearlilikefries 2091 pts

 DeepWater Hahaha! I know right! I HAVE to get out more. 

heyimPearlilikefries 2091 pts

Blah blah (trying to get inbox to follow these hilarious comments)

starzzzy 429 pts

Personally I am glad to see him do this movie. We always complain that Black people don't do this or that in movies and now just because the movie isn't the best, he should stay in "drag"? I'm sorry but at least it's not another Madea movie. How many White action stars have had bad movies? I will eventually see the movie and judge for myself.

thecrazyartist 2219 pts

I wasn't planning on seeing it in theatres and I will wait until amazon instant or netflix has it.  I still can't believe Idris Elba was pushed to the side for Tyler Perry.

 

OT:  This book series has sparked some debates in publishing circles.  James Patterson is white and writes about black characters, yet when an author of color steps outside of the literary fiction/histroical fiction/non-white people issues box then quite a few publishers have issues with it.  Google the Milenia Black controversy and you will see what I mean.

DeepWater 2456 pts

 thecrazyartist   Here's an interview with this "Millenia Black".  Is this the person you are talking about?  (It could be wrong).          Aside from that, I love James Patterson books I think the last I read was the "4th of July" (I think) and some other books from Patterson.  Tightly wrought stories and will keep you goin' with glass of good wine (yeah, buddy...bwaaahhhaaa) or coffee or tea, and they are good reading for 1 or 2 sessions, his writing is that good imo.   When I put book down a boook thinkin' I'mma get back to it another time / later, that means it sucks. That's just me - lol.

DeepWater 2456 pts

 thecrazyartist  May not be individual you are talking about.

 

http://www.readerviews.com/InterviewBlack.html

mzsunshine 2419 pts

i am looking forward to seeing the movie.  It's good to step out of character (Madea)...well sometimes.  I'll judge it for mysefl.

aceontopofkings 417 pts

 mzsunshine I will be checking it out this Wednesday myself.

JennMJack 1180 pts

I guess I am fired because I actually enjoyed it...in the same way i enjoy any movie starring Nick Cage...I mean...it wasn't that bad...lol.

PamelaFoster 609 pts

 JennMJack

 Jenn I thought I was the only one that liked it!  What's wrong with people--Don't judge him by his past mistakes...let the guy make restitiution for goodness sakes :))

Skayi 505 pts

Idris? Someone decide to replace Idris Elba with Tyler Perry! Wow, Just wow.

DeepWater 2456 pts

 Skayi   I know, how could somebody do that?  I mean, c'mon, Idris Elba for TP?   C''mon now, for real?.........bwaaaahhhaaaaaaa.  

ForeverSerenity 339 pts

 DeepWater  Skayi I've got nothing against Tyler Perry. I have liked some of his movies. He's doing his thing, hiring other people of different colors, more power to him! When I saw the trailer I really had a hard time visualizing him in the role, but, but...but....it could have been IDRIS ELBA??????!!!!!! ~seriously~ scratches head~

DeepWater 2456 pts

 ForeverSerenity  Skayi My thoughts exactly, replacing Idris Elba is crazy, I don't understand myself.  I guess TP thought he could do better job?........bwaaaaaaaahhhhhhaaa, yeah right.  TP was trippin' evidently.

Patricia Kayden 1673 pts

I watched it with my hubby on Saturday night.  Nothing special.  Not any worst than the other Cross films. 

 

Poor Tyler. I guess he'll stick to Madea.

 

P.S. The Villain, who starred in Lost, was pretty good.

AlsatiaWatley 61 pts

*sigh*.... that said, if I find this for three bucks in the bargain bin at Kmart, I'll get it... I'm a sucker for movies that are so bad they're good and this should make for high hilarity. ... it's the closest I can get.

DeepWater 2456 pts

Yeah, that is a good question ASG as to why Elba was passed over the Alex Cross role, he'd have made, I'm sure, a big difference in this film.  Sorry if conversation is slightly off, still dealing with Liveyre's Amazon hosting issues, they're not responding in "live time" as they usually do.

ASwirlGirl 3030 pts

WHY did you say that Idris Elba was passed over for this role???? I was willing to give TP a chance but now that I know about Idris, I just . . . can't.

 

*P/O*

Maxine 1005 pts

 ASwirlGirl Reading the Rotten Tomatoes reviews, looks like Idris dodged a bullet.  They're saying the film was bad all around, not just Perry.  Apparently Idris (or his agent) know a stinky script when they see one.

DeepWater 2456 pts

Try, try, again.  Livefyre said they should be up and runnin' shortly.  Yeah, Lifefyre said they're in "read-only" mode at the moment and working on getting up soon, I hope, bwaaaahhhaaaa.

DeepWater 2456 pts

Iris Elba would be perfect as Bond, testing.

heyimPearlilikefries 2091 pts

 DeepWater Are you having trouble commenting and liking posts?

ASwirlGirl 3030 pts

 astringofpearls  DeepWater I can comment, but my "likes" are not posting.

Maxine 1005 pts

 ASwirlGirl  astringofpearls  DeepWater Same here.

heyimPearlilikefries 2091 pts

What. The. Hell. Are. YOU. Doing. Mr. Perry. Stahp. 

 

"This is what happens, Mr. Perry, when you spend that last decade dressed in drag. Did you honestly think anyone would take you seriously as a man fiercely motivated to defend his woman?"

 

Exactly. 

Tammy_Ghalden 863 pts

I did think the casting was strange when I saw the preview the other day. I wasn't planning on seeing the movie anyway. I don't think Tyler Perry is funny at all. I've never liked the Madea character. I think he's better at doing drama; but, all of his stuff is so similar, it gets old. I have to admit that I did enjoy Diary of a Mad Black Woman.

Blackberry 1177 pts

So many things: 1) what the hell is a studio doing replacing Idris Elba with anybody let alone Tyler Perry? Perhaps they felt Elba could not possibly appeal to black American audiences....they're wrong. It's just that kind of thinking (my those in charge) making difficult for black people on screen. 2) when I saw Perry in Star Trek I was like...wait a minute when did the establishment decide to take this man (and his string of crappy movies, plays and tv shows) seriously? Now this movie! 3) gay? Who knew...then again I don't spend much time thinking about Tyler Perry. But I do disagree here - acting is acting so the orientation of the actor shouldn't matter that quality of the actor should. A good actor should stop the audience from seeing them and only allow the audience to see the character. Neal Patrick Harris plays Barney. Portia de Rossi plays straight all the time. Charlize Theron played a lesbian. Will from will & grace is straight in real life. The dude from white collar and magic mike is gay nobody seems to notice or care. Would is shock people to know that the lead character from Sons Of Anarchy is a British theatre actor who break out tv role was a twink on the UK version of queer as folk? The bar on gay actors playing straight characters or vice versa has more to do with public reception of the actor during the pr and press tour than the person's ability to play the role. I posit this: Perry was a crappy lead (action and romantic) in this movie because he is not a very good actor. Occam's razor.

DeepWater 2456 pts

 Blackberry   I hear you on actors being good enough to just see the character.    It is my opinion that TP should come out of the closet to bring more authenticity to his future roles.