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Movie:		6.0
Picture:		7.0
Sound:		8.0
Extras:		5.0
Score:		7.0

Director(s):	Tyler Perry
Writer(s):	Tyler Perry
Starring:	Brain J. White • Hope Olaide Wilson • Taraji P. Henson • Tyler Perry
Genre:	Drama
Website:	http://www.icandobadmovie.com/
Release Date:	January 26, 2010
Rated:

List Price:	DVD - $18.99 ; Blu-ray $22.99
Amazon:

Constantly derided by critics, all but ignored by Hollywood, and largely unheard of in the lucrative foreign markets that over time parachute most pictures into some semblance of profitability, Tyler Perry remains one of the most important (not to mention bankable) figures working in cinema today. A one man band born of a proud African American theater tradition, Perry is a one man band who writes, produces, directs and stars in stories that capture the zeitgeist of black America, tackling such unfashionable, unmarketable issues as economic empowerment and personal responsibility to the tune of more than $400 million.

While the likes of the Hughes Brothers simple retell the same story of urban oppression, poverty, and gentrification in a variety of different genres, Tyler Perry shows there is much more to black cinema than guns and gangs, forging an instantly recognizable brand as perhaps the only mainstream American filmmaker to directly engage with the African American middle-class. Maintaining a constant dialogue with his audience online thanks to an extensive mailing list, Perry has built up a sizable and loyal fan base at the grassroots level, who flock to see his movies on faith because it's his name above the title. When a Tyler Perry movie is released you can pretty much guarantee two things; critics are baffled by it, and come the following Monday it will be the number one movie in America.

Yet over all of his incredible success looms the inescapable shadow of Madea. An absolute monstrosity of a woman (played by Perry himself), Madea is a no-nonsense force of nature who preaches morality, self-accountability, and an anti-victim attitude. Yet surely by any reasonable standards the sight of a an angry, overweight black woman (played by a dude in drag no less) screeching a righteous indignation surely perpetuates the worst black stereotype, and at the very least serves only to undermine his principle argument that the African American community is not some strange alien race and needs neither pandering to nor patronizing.

Having sat on the shelf for two of Perry's big screen outings Madea made her return in early '09 with Tyler Perry's Medea Goes to Jail, and she features again here, although far less prominently. This time the story centers on April (Taraji P. Henson) a damaged, alcoholic singer who reluctantly winds up the caretaker of her sisters' three young children after their grandmother (April's mother) passes away. Baulking at this responsibility and devastated by news of her mother's death, April descends into a further downward spiral, leaving out-of-sorts teenager Jennifer (Hope Olaide Wilson) to turn to Medea for guidance, who, in turn, directs her to towards God.

Perry obviously recognizes the church as the bedrock of the African American community and while his movies always stop short of verging on sermon, Christianity is a recurring spine throughout his body of work. Though it must be said that the introduction of a selfless, compassionate handyman (read: carpenter) as a potential love interest for April is a little on-the-nose. I Can Do Bad... also features several full blown musical numbers, including a nightclub number from Gladys Night and a crooning preacher in a scene that's like something out of a forgotten Sister Act sequel.

Still, this is a well acted, solidly affecting emotional drama preaching the many virtues of community and the value of simple charity to your neighbor. Finding strength in simplicity it is likely that Perry will continue to see hordes of middle-aged, white critics chart the vast outer-reaches of incomprehension in attempting to fathom his appeal. But seeing as I Can Do Bad... was Perry's second number one film of last year, and his fifth overall, clearly, the man knows a thing or two.

Blu-ray Bonus Features

Extra features consist of three small behind-the-scenes featurettes. A Soulful Ensemble details the casting process, while The Power of Music looks at the important role the musical numbers play, and how they relate to the overall theme of the picture. Finally, Tyler Perry's Block Party details the blind panic Perry caused when he elected to rewrite the final scene of the movie to include a block party and a musical number at 24 hours notice to the cast and the crew.