Good Deeds- A Movie Review

The movie, Good Deeds, is definitely a move into uncharted waters by director, Tyler Perry. Though Perry has acted in his own movies before, audiences know him best as his female alter ego-- the loud, out-spoken, no nonsense Madea. When not playing Madea, Perry typically takes small, unassuming parts, a lawyer, someone’s brother, etc…. Not this time. Perry plays the romantic lead in this story about the need to live your dreams. Good Deeds is a sweet movie that has scenes that make you laugh one moment, then cry the next.

Wesley Deeds has been running his father’s computer software company for the past twenty years. However, before stepping into the life his parents planned for him, Wesley’s dream had been to ride Harley Davidson's and dig wells in third world countries. His brother, Walter (played by Brian White), had wanted to run the company, but his parents (Phylicia Rashad as mom) always saw him as falling short of his older brother’s greatness, filling Walter with anger and resentment, which he took out on everyone. Wesley’s stepping into his parents’ dream for him set a pattern in all other aspects of his life. He was engaged to a woman (Gabrielle Union) of whom they approved and planned to marry according to their timeline. His life is so predictable his fiancée can predict their morning conversations. Enter, Linsey (Thandi Newton) and her daughter, Arielle. What begins as a boss concerned for one of his down and out employees turns into a life transformed.

Though Perry takes the romantic lead for the first time, he seems well suited for the boring, uptight CEO that he plays. Even in the two scenes where he has to show intimacy with his two leading ladies, he seems comfortable in the role. My favorite scene comes after he has instituted casual Friday at work; his fiancée walks in on him dressed in a t-shirt and jeans dancing to hip-hop. By the way, Perry, who is in his 40’s, can jam! He appeared more at ease in that scene than any other. Oh, yeah… and about Casual Friday: evidently no one else in the office had gotten the memo because everyone else was dressed as usual.

I really enjoyed Good Deeds and highly recommend your seeing it. It was well cast: All the women are beautiful and talented. Brian White’s portrayal of the jealous younger brother was grating on the nerves, but viewers could easily understand his angst. At the end, when Eddie Cibrian’s character is named head of the company instead of Walter, we see what looks like humility beginning to set in. Viewers leave the theater hopeful