Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns
Rated PG-13 for drug content, language including sexual references, thematic elements and brief violence.
reviewed by Kevin Glenn
Don't stop praying! God will make a way! God will see you through! Can I get an "amen"? Are we at church? No. It's the latest Tyler Perry movie. I said, can I get an "amen"?
The Story
A single mother of three kids, Brenda (Angela Bassett) lives in the projects in Chicago and is barely making ends meet. She just lost her job; her son's deadbeat father won't pay child support; and the power company has shut off her electricity. Brenda's son Michael (Lance Gross), a very talented high school basketball player, sees his mom's anguish and is tempted to quit school and sell drugs in order to make ends meet. Then a letter arrives from Georgia, inviting Brenda to attend the funeral of the father she never knew.
After taking a bus to the small, rural town with her teenage son and two daughters, she meets the Browns, a spirited and eccentric mix of characters that range from the bright red leisure suit-clad church deacon named Leroy (David Mann) to the harsh and outspoken Vera (Jennifer Lewis). Even Tyler Perry's signature character Madea makes a very memorable appearance. In spite of the family flaws, Brenda and her kids discover a love and acceptance they've never known before.
Another person reaching out to Brenda is a friend of the Browns named Harry (Rick Fox), a former NBA star-turned-coach who sees great talent in Michael and great potential for romance with Brenda.
As Brenda and her son meet the Browns, they learn that this newfound family's encouragement comes out of their faith in God and their unconditional love for each other. Brenda and her kids each struggle in their own way to believe in second chances, and to receive the goodness and acceptance the Browns' offer so freely.
The Verdict
This film works hard to make everyone feel good by the time its over. Some could say this is an unrealistic way of dealing with the difficulty of the issues raised, but I didn't get the idea that Tyler Perry was interested in showing all the nasty details of poverty, hunger, single-parenthood, drug trafficking, gambling, and family neurosis. We have plenty of information and images available about those issues. What Perry seems to be going for are glimpses of hope, living parables of what solutions can look like.
As a result, he and his cast create a humorous, honest, and family-friendly storyline. The outrageousness of the comedy actually distracts from the film's messages at several points, but mostly "Browns" maintains a good balance of both.
Perry has been quite outspoken about his faith in Christ and his belief in the effectiveness of the church as a source of help in times of need. When so many films take every opportunity to ridicule or marginalize the church, it's refreshing to see one that offers a positive and hilarious perspective on the church community.
The story's most moving element is its theme of potential. Harry, an ex-NBA star, sees a great deal of potential in Michael in spite of his attitude and circumstances. Miss Mildred (Irma P. Hall), an elderly babysitter for Brenda's kids, sees potential in Brenda despite her difficulties. The family sees potential in an old run-down house that Brenda is stuck with. In these and other examples from the film, the potential waits just beneath the surface. When given the right attention, work, and faith, the potential is realized and its beauty released.
"The Browns" earn a PG-13 rating from the family's often rude and crude sexual humor, some harsh language (including use of God's name for swearing), and its dealing both seriously and comically with issues such as drug use, violence, alcoholism, and prostitution.
Worldview
The Browns certainly believe in the power of God, the church, and the family as sources of stability and hope in troubled times. The family and the greater church community are often portrayed as one in the same.
Redemption and forgiveness are strong themes throughout the film. We learn about the colorful and surprising past mistakes of several key characters, but hope is always held out for redemption as the family encourages Brenda and each other to "keep praying," "never stop doing what is right," and to remember that "God will see you through." Just as the Browns never give up on God working, they also never gave up on each other.
Redemption and forgiveness require belief. Will we ever forgive ourselves and be free to forgive others if we never come to believe that God is willing and able to forgive us? Unless we believe we are accepted and desired by God, can we ever understand what it means to be redeemed? Much of Brenda's hesitation to trust the Browns comes from her struggle to believe she can be forgiven, accepted, and loved. Harry tells her "you have been through so much that you can't even see it when someone loves you."
We often have the same struggle when it comes to our own mistakes. Even those of us who have already trusted in Jesus for our salvations sometimes have a hard time believing God loves us and can forgive us, especially when we've really blown it. We have to remember and believe what God said in His Word in 1 John 1:9. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." When we believe this, we feel free to love God and truly love our neighbors.
Questions
- How do you feel about your family? Is your family a source of safety and strength for you?
- Why is it so hard for some people to receive love? Have you ever felt that way?
- How can the church be more like a family and less like a club? How would you rate your church? What could you do to make your church more like a family?
- Brenda, Michael, and other characters made some pretty bad mistakes in the past. How can God work through those mistakes and bring forgiveness and health?
- How are you tapping into your potential? How does it help to have a mentor or coach bring out the best in you?
- How do you accept and love someone even if you don't agree with every decision they make?