Why Did I Get Married? (2007) User Reviews

I'm a Fan

[pandora12 · 5/10 · 14 February 2008]

I liked the movie for its entertainment value. I am a fan of Tyler Perry's plays. The film is not Oscar worthy but it has good comedy and a message. This is Tyler Perry's style and many people have come to love his plays and films. The acting was mediocre. I wasn't completely drawn into the characters and their dilemmas. The cinematography was low budget. Having said that, the IMDb 3 rating is way too low for this film. In general, I rate Tyler Perry's films between 5 to 6 stars. To me this rating means a film worth renting but not worth spending the money to see it in the movies. I would purchase it on DVD if available for half the price of a new release.

This review is targeted for people who are not familiar with Tyler Perry's work. As for his fans, I already know you are going to see this movie.

Fairly enjoyable for a Tyler Perry film!

[UniqueParticle · 7/10 · 4 November 2019]

I really like all the conversations throughout. Despite the drama it's not bad. Some of it is hilarious too, hit or miss type, you either hate it or fairly enjoy it. I must say a lot of the drama escalates which is unfortunate so I understand why IMDb has it at 5.8. A lot of beautiful scenery and great dialogue that's for sure!

Why is this rated so low?

[loripinklady · 7/10 · 21 October 2007]

Why this film is rated at 3.2 is beyond me. I truly have to believe that it is racism. Tyler Perry is not my favorite but he is not untalented either. Instead of showing African Americans as either crack heads or criminals he is trying to show that African American people hold important jobs, are educated and struggle with issues just like white people do. This movie was well written and entertaining, no doubt about it. It was funny and insightful, showing the ups and downs of marriage and also showing unconditional Love that has to come with a successful marriage.I think Tyler Perry is a wonderful example for African Americans,Strong and spiritual and not afraid to show his Faith in God in his movies and that is to be applauded. Why is it that you can't show movies of Faith now days but can show sex, violence and cursing in Movies with no problem at all? What is this society coming to? I would really like to know.

Love and marriage... or not.

[Blueghost · 13 October 2007]

Last night I went to the threatre not knowing what I was going to see. Literally. I had no notion of what films were playing. I wanted to see "The Lost Legion" because I was in the mood for a swords and sandal epic, but it wasn't playing anywhere nearby. Would I not be able to see Roman legions clashing with native armies in Briton? Answer; no. So, I looked up at the list of films, saw "Why did I Get Married", and made a blind ticket purchase for a film I had never heard of, nor had any notion of what it was about.

I've never seen the stage-play upon which this film is based, but, having seen many a stage play adaptation to the big screen, and having been thoroughly disappointed with every one of them, I can say that this one did a fairly good job.

The revolves around several couples whose marriages are teetering in varying degrees of distress. Secrets that have been held tight by husband and wife are eventually thrust into the open, testing the couples' fortitude.

Visually the film is warm and intimate, and keeps a good amount of zest by way of fine emoting. There are some ever so brief lulls, but the story content and delivery by the actors keeps the viewer's attention.

The one "antagonist" in the film (if he can be called that) was almost a little too obvious. The boorish husband character was barely disguised as to his true intentions. So much so that I was wondering if the character wasn't supposed to be putting on some kind of act. But alas, that wasn't the case. It was a shortcoming of the creative team.

Most of the film is light, but there is one segment that came out of left field to break up wit bound dialog. The more dramatic scenes were respectable, but weren't always given the same amount of care to the lighter scenes.

My one real complaint about the story is that I felt somewhat lost as to who was suffering from what history. There's a lot implied, and the more relationship-savvy viewer can probably puzzle out the nuances and idiosyncrasies of marital secrets and scandal. But I have to admit that I just didn't get a lot of the situations until they were spelled out for me. Ah well :-) Some light entertainment that delivers an abridged version of a play with fairly good aplomb. It is a film marketed for an African American audience, but marital situations are universal to all, and as such this film can be enjoyed by all audiences (though your theatre's audience may vary). Definitely a good rent when it comes out on DVD.

Very Refreshing, and inspiring film

[infemuss · 6/10 · 28 March 2010]

Before seeing this film or any other Tyler Perry production I, like many of you, had my doubts. But there is something quite engaging when watching this film. The thing I ask you to remember when watching this film is seeing what was produced with the resources at hand. Of course there are flaws and the emotions seem slightly pushed at times, but it was a good story full of love, understanding, fun, and laughter. Tasha Smith did an excellent in her role as did Tyler, Sharon Leal, and Jill Scott. You fall in love with these guys, all of them, and whats going on in there lives very quickly. I will admit that the cast of characters would be better suited for a television sitcom. But, with the amount of main characters in this film, i still say a job well done. I am most eager to see how their stories develop in the next movie and i also think that it would also be a wonderful idea to consider a television show going back to when they all first met and started dating and for it to be on a network like HBO or showtime, but that might be dreaming too high. Anyway, this was a successful film am I am excited to see the next film and some of the films Perry has put out that I've missed. Just check it out with an open mind.

couples vacation together to reaffirm their marriages -comedy-drama

[mltosh · 8/10 · 31 October 2008]

Like other reviewers of this movie, I can't believe the low ratings that some people gave it. I rented this movie as a lark. Other than hearing his name, I was not really familiar with Tyler Perry nor had seen any of his other productions. My Hubby (of 30+ years) is out-of-town, and because we have only sons, I get out-voted a lot and thus don't get to see many "chick flicks." I discovered that this film is neither a "chick flick" nor a "black flick." It is a comedy-drama HUMAN interest film about four married couples who vacation together once a year to reaffirm their marriages. The situations that these couples face are those that anyone who's been married any length of time might relate to. I loved it! It made me laugh and cry and think. What more can you ask of a film?! It was beautifully filmed and the acting was top-notch. Sure there were a few weak spots here and there, but all-in-all, well-crafted.

Realism and Subtly Take a Vacation, but Likable Enough

[rddj05 · 5/10 · 11 May 2008]

You have to credit Mr. Perry for presenting to us what we so rarely get to see in American film; upper-class, professional African-American couples working through real-life relationship problems. Unfortunately, it's execution leaves a lot to be desired. Though Jill Scott turns in a spectacular performance, and Malik Joba and Tasha Smith are solid, the performances are uneven at best. It's a classic morality tale with more melodrama to fill an afternoon's worth of soap operas. Some of the characters are far too one-dimensional to be credible, including the absurdly sadistic Mike, and the nearly as absurd (and conveniently single) knight in shining armor, Sheriff Troy. There's something oddly antiseptic about the film. Even the arguments seem neat and clean, with well-defined in and out points. Sometimes it is shot like a film, sometimes (with awkward stage-like blocking), it is shot like a play being filmed in a theater proscenium. The screenplay (and direction) has some gaps of logic, but even more egregious is its exposition, which could be held up as a lesson to any aspiring screenwriter on how NOT to write it (eg, "Did you ever think we'd all turn out like this? Diane's a lawyer, I'm a doctor, you're a real estate mogul"). Unfortunately, this type of sloppy exposition abounds throughout. Realism and subtly take a vacation on this one, however, it's still a pleasant, if overly-simplistic, morality tale that's likable enough.

I liked it

[delsoca · 5/10 · 21 February 2021]

The film touches on some heavy points, but never really digs very deep. It's light weight, but that's fine.

The acting on the whole is good.......... Janet Jackson is a tad weak..... she was not that convincing.

I did like Jill Scott though.

I did like when the guys were just chatting, it felt really real and made me smile.

It's not ground breaking, it won't change your life, but it's fun in parts and some parts made me laugh out loud.

I think this a solid 5/10.

Funniest Tyler Perry Movie by far

[nicholls_les · 7/10 · 9 November 2016]

A very funny movie from Mr Perry, one of his best movies by far. It makes a change from those awful Medea movies where he dresses as a woman (and not very convincingly at that) Tasha Smith is Brilliant as the acerbic tongued Angela and she steals every scene she is in. The story line is not new and the ending somewhat predictable, but it is overall good entertainment and well worth a watch.

Janet Jackson is the weakest of the actresses in this movie but that doesn't spoil the enjoyment.

This is a much better movie than the awful sequel 'Why did I get married too'

An uncharacteristically Good Tyler Perry film

[sean_va007 · 8/10 · 13 January 2008]

First of all I must say that I don't understand the low ranking, it is truly an underestimation of this film. I must admit that while I am a Tyler Perry fan I have been underwhelmed by his previous box office offerings. This film for me was a welcomed departure from his other films, it just seemed more professional, well directed, and the casting was phenomenal. Evan though it was rather preachy it seemed much less "after-school-specialish" than his initial movies. Jill Scott was amazing, Tasha Smith was Hilarious, and Janet Jackson wasn't as boring as she usually is. I hope this film is a precursor of more to come from Tyler Perry.

A nice little movie with heart and laughs.

[johnnymacbest · 7/10 · 5 April 2008]

Tyler Perry's "Why Did I Get Married" is something nice to watch with family/friends, etc. But it does fall short on some levels; like why is there a scene of conflict after another after another? Why didn't the director have the characters talk their problems realistically than yelling and screaming at each other? There's even some lip-syncing errors in some of the scenes, namely Angela, the drunken trouble maker who is a delight to watch. And Janet Jackson's performance was a little off but it is Jill Scott who has the best performance and does a really good job out of all of them. Some say that she didn't emote enough and to a certain extent, I agree. She can only do so much what the producers have laid out for her but I think she made a good performance.

I'm not surprised the movie was rated low on IMDb and that maybe because audiences were expecting more out of Tyler Perry (Granted, I was least satisfied at the end). Not one of Tyler Perry's best or worst, just "solid" in all fairness.

why did they get married

[cbradsha-1 · 5/10 · 14 October 2007]

I am usually not a fan of Tyler Perry movies. I like to support him because he offers a different perspective on African American Movies that oppose the "shoot'em up bang bang" or "drug dealer" / "beauty shop" "soul food cooking " movies. However this venture left something to be desired. The beautiful Ms.Jackson sounds as if she has been reading her lines from her screen play copy. The transitions from scene to scene was done by someone that is either an intern and still learning or Tyler Perry's nephew! The characters were not developed they were 2 dimensional and you felt like you were getting to know them but right when they are about to develop into 3 dimensional characters the story ends with a long drawn out soliloquy that means absolutely nothing because there is no back story. Long story already long- wait for DVD! Jill Scott looks absolutely amazing and Tasha Smith is wonderful as usual! They made the movie.

The goat shed

[freakfire-1 · 6/10 · 11 June 2008]

I admit that I have not watched many of Tyler Perry's movies. In fact, this was the first one I have viewed. And while nothing really exciting happens, it turns out into a decent movie.

You have 4 African-American couples having their own issues. Each one hides their secrets within the male and female cliques. But when (the cheater) becomes too much for the one with the baby-mama drama, all hell breaks loose at the table. This eventually leads to the resolution of all the problems. Not only that, but 4 couples turns into 5.

This movie certainly is all about relationships. But I am somebody who likes his movie more diverse. Still it does a good enough job to actually be somewhat entertaining. "B-"

Why is Tyler Perry allowed to make movies?

[dbnjr · 1/10 · 22 October 2007]

This movie was at best painful to watch. The dialog and acting in this movie was exceptionally trite. The characters were representations of various stereotypes of men and women in society. I found the "movie" to be pathetic and unworthy of the time I spent to watch. I am at a loss for why Tyler Perry continues to make movies. The examples of his movie making ability are difficult to watch and not even entertaining.To the critic who called naysayers of the movie "racist" , people do not have to be racist to realize the sheer ineptitude of this movie. I am far from racist, being as I am not entirely caucasian. I am part Japanese, Lebanese, Ukranian, Polish, and Hungarian (I know I am a mutt). I assure you I harbor no prejudice.

The movie is junk.

Okay.

[tiltbomb · 5/10 · 12 October 2008]

This is the first Tyler Perry film I have seen. I had heard good and bad about his films. I went in open and ready to absorb. All and all i feel the film was right down the middle. The performances weren't bad, the aesthetic wasn't bad the story felt overly contrived at points but others it didn't. I was entertained, for the most part. Would I see another Tyler Perry, film...sure. I am a white man and did I get all the jokes and relate, yes I did. What overall bearing that has I do not know but the message boards seem to be flooded with racial overtones so I felt it necessary to throw that in there. My girlfriend, who is black enjoyed it about as much as I did. She has seen other Tyler Perry films. All and all I think he is doing some great things as a whole.

Married couples test the waters of their marriages

[MovieKid6 · 7/10 · 13 February 2008]

I just bought the movie yesterday and watched it last night and I enjoyed it. There were really no name actors outside of Janet Jackson which made the movie that more better. I enjoy that Tyler Perry puts actors and actresses that we haven't seen before so we can see their ability to act, which definitely gives more to the movie. The movie follows couples as they decide to get away from their everyday lives and vacation in the Colorado mountains. It's beautifully shot. One by one things start to unravel and couples start bickering and fighting. Marriages are put to the test in this movie and it just shows how much two people who are committed to a marriage can accomplish if they put their heart and soul into it. It's all about the giving and the taking. Some marriages don't last and others do. Overall a very fine performance from everyone involved. Tyler Perry does a great job. You will be pleased when watching the movie. Of course it has gotten low ratings on IMDb, but don't let that sway you from watching it. You'll be glad you did.

I laughed so hard I have a headache.

[kayluft · 10/10 · 13 October 2007]

I just saw this movie and I think it was a very decent film. It is a comedy with a soap opera feel to it. Basically...when I went in I wasn't expecting it to be as good as it was. There was a lot of "laugh out loud" moments and a lot of the dialogue was funny. A lot of scenes had the entire theatre laughing including me (The theatre was full) and people were making comments to all the situations really getting into it like "oh hell nah" and "uh uh girl" and "you know it" etc. So its definitely a movie that people can relate to. All in all its a good movie. If you actually go and see it without judging it too fast then chances are you will enjoy it.

And of course just like all of the Tyler Perry movies it has a message at the end that ties the movie all together.

why the hate?

[sp4wn3r · 7/10 · 5 December 2020]

I think it was a pretty decent movie, had it ups and downs, very sad moments , and some very powerful moments too, from my vies its a nice 7

Not in the Least Bit Convincing....

[jazza923 · 4/10 · 9 February 2008]

Tyler Perry movies suffer from poor and amateurish writing, below average acting Janet Jackson is particularly bad), and the same story just told in a different way. Doesn't he have any original material? The situations are melodramatic and not real life, the story lacks continuity, focus and the situations are predictable. Several user reviews imply the low rating for the film is based on racism. (!!?!) A poorly made film is a poorly made film, whether by Asians, whites or blacks. The script is so mundane and at times even ridiculous. It is more professionally made than some of his other films, but that isn't saying much.

Actually a very good movie

[ljarsonbeck-1 · 8/10 · 1 November 2007]

I just caught this film it is about relationships, marriage and the concept of expecting perfection vs. the reality of every day life weighing in on relationships. I laughed often and cried several times as well.

On the whole this was white cinema done with black faces but such a trend is long over due (if I have to watch one more trailer about how hard life in the hood without anyone fixxing their situation or the benefits to selling drugs and pimping I may go on a shooting spree). However, don't let this fool you-the writing was top rate and while some dialogue rehash there was a lot of very original dialogue as well. My only real complaint of the film was its sterility in many shots a lack of warmth within some home settings and among the performers as a whole.

There seemed to be little genuine commaraderie between the actors particularly in the earlier scenes. They were supposed to be friends since college but they were stiff in their reuniting with each other.

Also there is the scene were the overweight wife is forced to drive to the reunion by herself and all the women are worried for her safety yet when she enters the cabin the next day no one runs over to greet her they wait for her to come to them. Despite some of these often repeated mistakes (not just here but in other movies) this movie was very very good. I enjoyed it almost as much as The Four Seasons but unlike the Four Seasons this film follows all the characters all the way through the film- a nice touch in giving overall closure. Janet Jackson was my least favorite; portraying the celebrated novelist who lost a child but the the other performances were powerful enough to over shadowed her lack of depth. This was the first Tyler Perry film I have seen and I must say his 2 weeks at top box office is well justified here.

Stereotypes are stereotypes because they are true

[Ismaninb · 7/10 · 26 July 2009]

When judging Why did I get Married we must keep in mind that it belongs to a very limited genre: the American style relation movie. So we get an alcoholic, a workaholic, obesity and adultery - the usual ingredients. We also get a few preachy scenes with Janet Jackson offering instant solutions for complicated problems. There is the happy ending of course, including some tears of joy. OK, Sheila's ex may be not so happy, but he deserved. Justice must be done in this genre. Tyler Perry lacks the genius of Ingmar Bergman and Claude Goretta - I am thinking of Sommarnattens Leende, Höstsonaten and La Dentellière. Essentially Why did I get Married is a long episode of a soap. All this does not necessarily me that Why did I get Married is bad. Within those limitations it is pretty good. Acting is decent and natural - Jackson being the weakling, hardly any scene is over the top, pace never drags, dialogues are to the point. Perry hardly ever abuses the stereotypes but is interested in a flowing development. The result is genuine and that is a rare value in soapland. I appreciate that. After all I butchered the Groomsmen and The last Kiss for this reason; not this one. In fact Tyler Perry has learned a bit from his great European predecessors. The absolute highlight imo is the scene were Sheila realizes how attractive her sheriff is, with its extreme close ups. As a bonus it has wit and that combination is new for me. One important point is that Why did I get Married is not a black movie. I don't know if that is criticism or a compliment. Say that this fails as a black movie - it's fine with me. Say that Tyler Perry shows that Afro-Americans struggle with the same problems as Dutchies like me and I'll agree as well. Fact is that you can replace all ten main characters by white actors without making any difference. All in all I think Why did I get Married an average movie about average people with average problems. There should be a place under the sun for stuff like this, if well done. And that's the case.

...Why did I go see this movie?

[cmx2099 · 5/10 · 13 October 2007]

How to describe this movie... It has its twists, overly dramatic music cues, plenty of people on screen crying, and stage play feel... Hell it was one before! It will leave most women cheering, sobbing, and play on their heart strings like a lifetime channel movie of the week on steroids with a healthy dose of soul food. It will leave most guys wondering how the hell they got suckered into seeing this thing. Its not a good movie it but it delivers what it set out to do... Tell a morality tale in modern terms. By the numbers Tyler Perry delivers again.. You must know what your getting into when you go to see a Tyler Perry movie. If you didn't like his old movies you won't like this. My advice, guys avoid this thing but if you have to go be prepared for arguments afterwards... ladies make it a girls night out.

It was excellent.

[hanniewigs · 7/10 · 5 November 2007]

My friend and I went to see this movie yesterday, we just loved it. Yes the acting was not the best I have ever seen, and some of the scenery was obviously not naturally and some what unbelievable. The main issue with this movie is the horrible grammar written into the script. I have a bachelors degree in Journalism and English so every time the actor used incorrect grammar it jumped out at me. The instances of incorrect grammar were numerous. The characters in this movie were doctors, lawyers, and business owners but their grammar was atrocious. It did not make sense to me. Jill Scott did a wonderful job making her character sympathetic yet not pitiful.

"Why Did I Get Married?" is lots of laughs

[katherine-r-parker-1 · 7/10 · 18 November 2007]

"Why Did I Get Married?," written and directed by Tyler Perry, arrived in theaters less than a month ago and is as funny as any movie-goer could hope. This movie focuses on the title's question, "why did I get married," as four couples take a weekend vacation together in the mountains. Each couple has their own problems which are stimulated by each character's personality, making them intense yet comical.

The first couple introduced is Diane, played by Sharon Leal, and Terry, played by Tyler Perry. Diane is shown as a big player in a law firm while Terry appears more passive and loving even though he is a doctor. Right off the bat, I could tell Diane was a workaholic as I watched her not give up her cell phone relentlessly even though Terry wanted to enjoy their time together on the drive to the mountains.

The second couple is made up of Patricia, played by Janet Jackson, and Gavin, played by Malik Yoba. This couple unlike the others seems to be perfect with no problems. Patricia is the author of a book entitled, "Why Did I Get Married?", and is an expert on all of her friends' relationships. The problems between Patricia and Gavin are not immediately revealed, unlike the third and fourth couples.

The third couple arrives dramatically arguing over the husband's rude ex-wife throwing this couple's problem right onto the table. Angela, played by Tasha Smith, was my favorite character of this movie, and said drunken inappropriate comments to all of the other characters. An ex-wife and drinking are not this couple's only problem, however, and it is revealed that Marcus, played by Michael Jai White, has been unfaithful.

The fourth couple is played by Jill Scott, Shelia, and Richard T. Jones, Mike. Mike is obviously unhappy with Shelia and is rude to her from the beginning of the movie. This couple is also plagued with infidelity as it is revealed that Mike has a girlfriend, Trina, played by Denise Boutte, who he brings with them to the mountains as a "family friend."

All couples try to work on their problems during the weekend, but it becomes obvious that these problems can't be solved in such a short time as everyone blows up at each other at an evening dinner. The movie follows the upset and disgruntled couples home from the mountains to a reception for Patricia who has received an award for her book. Before the reception, each couple is on the verge of permanent break-up, and must once again ask the question, "Why did I get married?"

Although this film presents a mess of problems, these troubles make the characters more genuine. And the humor keeps the film moving at an enjoyable pace. While watching this movie I continued to think I'd heard someone say similar lines in my life, and I laughed so much that I spilled popcorn on my boyfriend. One of my favorite lines speaking of Angela's drinking is: "Could you lay off that for a while?" Marcus said. And Angela replied, "Could you go to HELL for a while?"

This film will be enjoyed by anyone who has loved someone that has driven them absolutely nuts, and by fans of Tyler Perry's other films like "Daddy's Little Girls" and "Madea's Family Reunion." With the drama and real life scenarios lightened by humor, this movie gets an A+ from me.

Two thumbs up for Tyler

[konvinced · 10/10 · 28 October 2007]

As far as relationships go, Tyler Perry, hit on every aspect of what could possibly happen in the typical relationship from infidelity to grieving over a child. It has it's moments where you are cracking up from the comments that one of the more colorful characters makes, but it makes you think of what damaging things go on in peoples lives this day in time. It's funny to hear the older crowd preach to you when you were younger and then it all comes to light..."He who is without sin, cast the first stone." People act like they have never done any wrong, and cannot relate. Everyone has a story, and if this is how a young, talented, black man chooses to tell his...then so be it. Somebody will relate. Whether you are black, white, blue, green, yellow or purple you will, at some point in your life, will experience something that someone else has. It is never gender or ethnic neutral. I am glad he has put out movies that not only touch on the black experience, but touch on the overall experience of relationships of family. How we should all come together and help each other out. Family is not what it use to be any more and morales have gone out of the window. I can do nothing, but applaud Tyler in his efforts, as a black man trying to do a positive thing. He is not making violent movies, he is just bringing reality to light. Sugar coating the truth, will not make it better. Facing it and dealing with it...as ugly as it may be is the only resolution. The truth will set you free and leave you with your peace of mind. Much love to Tyler. Keep on, Keeping on. Stay Positive.