PEEPLES – The Review

One of the great obstacles for young couples, even in this modern age, is the big meet, or reveal, to the family of the romantic partner. The women are often not “good enough” for Mother’s “perfect son”. And then there’s the woman’s father, armed with withering stares and sometimes physical aggression (as part of protecting “Daddy’s lil’ girl”). Certainly this has been the subject of movie dramas and thrillers, but recently it has become a comedy staple thanks to the box office smash MEET THE PARENTS and its two follow-ups. Well, now movie mogul Tyler Perry is jumping in, this time as producer, and gives us an African-American spin on this awkward part of the mating ritual. It’s time to meet the PEEPLES.

We first meet Wade (Craig Robinson) on the job entertaining and educating preschoolers with song. It’s not quite his dream job, but that’ll come along soon. Right now he’s happy to be sharing a lush NYC apartment with his gorgeous lawyer girlfriend Grace (Kerry Washington). She’s headed out to see her family at their home on the Hamptons this weekend. Wade wants to join her, but Grace insists on going solo. Seems it’s the annual “Moby Dick” festival and she wants to save Wade from the boredom of non-stop Melville readings. After Wade drops Grace off at the jitney bus, he confers with his toy shop/doll doctor brother Chris (Malcom Barrett), and makes a decision. Wade’s got the ring and has been waiting for the right moment to pop the question to Grace. Why not surprise her at the Peeples family home, and propose there. After a long trip, Wade arrives at stately Peeples manor. And the family has no idea who he is. Grace has never mentioned Wade to them. Aaakwaard! Over the course of the tense weekend, Wade works tirelessly to impress them, particularly the stern father Judge Virgil (David Alan Grier), and find the perfect moment to ask Grave that very important question

These fairly uncomfortable situations requires a good cast in order to keep our interest. Luckily the film is anchored by the likable, talented Robinson as the good-natured, put-upon everyman. Here he expands on the persona he’s developed on the big screen (HOT TUB TIME MACHINE) and small (“The Office”). We’re rooting for him even when the script requires him to do some ridiculous things (would his character really prance about in disco diva attire?). It’s easy to see why his Wade would be smitten by Grace when she’s played by the lovely Ms. Washington. Unfortunately this film doesn’t showcase her considerable acting chops as did last year’s DJANGO UNCHAINED or on her hit TV drama “Scandal”. She’s either embarrassed or flustered at Wade’s antics or tis rying to calm down her “daddy”. Said character is a mostly one-note, up-tight stiff , until he needs to soften by the film’s group-hug finale, so it’s not much of a challenge to the comic talents of Grier who dashed off so many characters during his long stint on TV’s “In Living Color”. The Judge is tempered by his more enlightened wife played by S. Epatha Merkerson (forever Reba the mail lady on “Pee Wee’s Playhouse”). She’s warm and nurturing, so it’s no surprise that she needs a little something extra in order to deal with her hubby. Tyler James Williams plays with his “Everybody Hates Chris” TV role as the Peeples kid brother, a braniac who yearns to be a “playa” (and has his own lil’ secret). Too often he’s just required to either fawn over Wade or bounce about in wide-eyed exasperation. Kali Hawk is quite fetching as CNN reporter sis Gloria, but can her folks really be that clueless about her romantic life, especially after spending time with Kimrie Lewis-Davis as her camera-woman “bestie” Meg (my sympathies for an cringe-inducing dinner table aria)? Barrett gives some fast-talking wiseguy charm and energy to Wade’s horndog brother Chris. Icons Diahann Carroll and Melvin Van Peebles appear very briefly for a scene, but don’t have much to do as does SNL vet Ana Gasteyer as the town Mayor (who also has secrets, of course).

First time feature director Tina Gordon Chism does a good job pacing the proceedings based on her own screenplay. The Hamptons locations are quite lovely, but we can’t escape the sitcom feel of the film. It seems as though three or four half hour episodes have been stitched together ( “The Sweatlodge Incident” ” Papa’s Saxophone Gig”, etc.). The same problem befell the PARENTS series as they wore out their multiplex welcome. Too many situations are placed to grab the big laughs with little character consideration (Washington is a schoolgirl outfit is quite, uh, diverting, but would Grace do that mere feet away from the folks?). A scene where Wade encounters several Hamptons ex-beaus of Grace seems very contrived. A romantic encounter that goes quickly to black seems as though the film makers are too concerned about offending anyone. This contributes to the general blandness of the film. If you’re a fan of the actors then you’ll want to take this East Coast trip. Let’s hope much better, original, edgier fare is in their film future.

2 Out of 5