Tyler Perry’s newest offering, Divorce in the Black, has much fanfare but poor delivery of a compelling narrative and engaging drama. Having taken his work to Amazon Prime, known for his prolific output and very loyal fanbase, Perry’s filmography often swung between hits and misses, but this latest effort stands out as one of his weakest to date.
Plot and Execution
The movie opens with a highly dramatic funeral scene, somewhat setting the most melodramatic of tones from outset. It concerns a couple, Ava and Dallas, whose relationship is reaching a divorce settlement after a ceaseless progression of tumultuous events. Perry tries to weave a storyline that rings with elements of marriage, fidelity, and redemption; however, the execution seems very disjointed and lacks the emotional weight one expects to give the narrative some resonance.
Characterization and Acting
Meagan Good turns in a respectable performance as Ava, charming her character with charisma and emotion amid the overall poor quality of the film. That said, the characters are flat, one-dimensional, and undergo no further character development once the stereotypes are established. Perry has set that up in his script, stereotyping them into predictable roles that leave little room for nuance or character development.
Cinematography and Visuals
The visual aesthetic of Divorced in the Black is a flatness that makes no bones to do anything to really enhance storytelling. Even scenes bereft of visual flair do little to capitalize on mood or atmosphere and elemental indicators that just feel more made for streaming than cinematic in nature.
Themes and Message
Thematically, Perry treads on very familiar ground—marital strife, personal growth—but there’s a lack of finesse to the narrative, which descends far too often into heavy-handed storytelling. It tries to tackle contentious issues like domestic strife and problems of identity but offers neither a nuanced viewpoint nor resolution.
Overall Evaluation
Divorce in the Black represents a failed opportunity for Tyler Perry’s filmography to raise the bar. Meagan Good gives chances at riskier performances, but other than that, it is pegged down by a subpar script, spotty progression, and zero engagement or inspiration regarding its narrative. By blurring the line between drama and moral message, Perry has managed to come up with a film that feels contrived and unoriginal, missing all the entertainment and emotional markers.
Final Verdict
To the tremendous Tyler Perry fanatic, in the way that he directs and tells his stories, there are moments of interest that flit here and there in Divorce in the Black. However, for that viewer who is looking to sit down and really get into a movie—something with a good storyline and content to make one think—this film falls a little short, so much so that it becomes a forgettable addition to Perry’s otherwise varied career.
