Creator Tyler Perry has made another milestone with the Netflix release of She The People on Netflix on May 22nd. This new project is about Antoinette Dunkerson, an ambitious woman recently given the role of lieutenant governor. As she’s trying to adjust, she’s faced with opposition from a sexist governor. I’m going to take a small trip down memory lane and look at the creator himself and why She The People could succeed if executed well.
Why She the People Stands Out
From the very first episode, She The People starts this journey of self-discovery as Antoinette begins her campaign. As a result, her family comes into the mix. As always, every character is different, but what makes these characters unique is that they acknowledge these differences and manage to come to some understanding towards the end, even if they have to challenge other people. Despite being a mini-series, I became hooked from the first episode because it had some extreme plot twists.
What I admired the most about Antoinette, in particular, is that they didn’t paint her as a “picture-perfect” protagonist. Even though she has good intentions and usually acts as the mediator in situations, she’s also flawed in how she handles situations, and sometimes her actions don’t work for everyone, even her family. It made the show feel more realistic and wasn’t just the formulaic: “There’s a problem, the main character solves this flawlessly and it saves the day“.
However, She the People hasn’t received the best reviews, even getting a 3.7/10 on IMDb. Critics have had mixed feelings on how they combined politics with comedy. It may have felt over the top with the way they try to show these qualities.
The Real Creator
This also goes down to the behind-the-scenes itself. Tyler Perry has been popular for reaching a black-dominated audience and has created various movies and films. However, his projects have also faced some controversy in recent years, not necessarily down to the plot itself, but the execution. Some have seen him more as an independent leader than as collaborating on different ideas. For that reason, people may not be as excited for what he has to offer. But here are some classics and even underrated ones that people might enjoy. A perfect blend of comedy and seriousness!
The Madea Movies
Think of this as a mix of Big Momma’s House and Mrs Doubtfire – two classics, but this time with a different message. Like She the People, this has a strong female protagonist but feels a lot more focused on comedy. 6 years before it was adapted into a film, Diary of a Mad Black Woman made its debut on stage. Its main character was Madea, a no-nonsense yet caring grandmother played by Tyler Perry himself. It tells the story of her granddaughter, Ellen, who goes through a difficult breakup in her marriage, so she decides to move back in with her grandma. Helping her cope with her loss, Madea documents the whole thing in her diary. Despite being filled with slapstick comedy and comical mishaps, critics have also noted that the emotion and powerful message it conveys balances the two aspects. This is not always appreciated in Perry’s movies, and something that could be further explored in She the People.
Rotten Tomatoes: 16%, IMDb: 5.5/10
Where to Watch: Prime Video, Netflix
House of Payne
House of Payne was another great starting point, and has another topic that She the People focuses on – family. However, this TV show is more on the issues happening inside the family rather than the outside world, like the upcoming TV show does. This series narrates the story of a head fireman, Curtis Payne, living with his extended family, all living in the same household. The show delves into each character’s struggles and challenges, and how they come to support each other in the end. With the show also having younger actors, this was also the beginning for Doc Shaw from The Suite Life on Deck and China Anne McClain from A.N.T Farm.
Growing up, this was definitely a nostalgic classic! What made it so fun for me to watch was how simple yet relatable it was. Despite dealing with many serious situations, it didn’t feel as intense as a drama or even a typical comedy. This was a great angle to go to with a sitcom. Although it doesn’t receive as much hype in the reviews, it’s still airing on BET with new episodes today.
The Single Moms Club
Our society has been more diverse in recent years, and this movie is an excellent example of this coming into action. The Single Moms Club focuses on 5 single mothers (hence the name) who need to work together on a group project to stop their children from being expelled. In the heat of everything, they become closer by taking turns to take care of each other’s children. Not only does this create an amazing support system, but it’s an unexpected yet great opportunity for friends to become family. The mixed ensemble cast allows each person to have their moment.
Despite not having the best reviews, the concept keeps the movie grounded and realistic, showing that everyone should be allowed to embrace their differences. This coincides perfectly with the concept of She the People. However, the show also does a great job in acknowledging the need for more diversity but feels more subtle. It shows that it’s not necessarily an overused concept but one to empower the audience to work with people they’re close to. It widens out Perry’s film coverage from just comedy to reliability. With a strong cast including Nia Long from The Fresh Prince of Bel Air and Terry Crews from Brooklyn Nine-Nine, it has excellent chemistry and grounded moments.
Rotten Tomatoes: 19%, IMDb: 5.5/10
Where to Watch: Netflix
What This Means for She the People
With his movies, Tyler Perry clearly doesn’t work towards a marginalized audience and shows innovative and creative ideas. I think that in She The People fans might see more than just a race to equality. With the recent progression of Perry’s projects, there is no doubt that She The People will be an interesting watch. It might not even just be about politics, but the ongoing gender debate that we didn’t realize was still happening. With a strong protagonist like Antoinette, not only will she likely stand up for what she believes in, but challenge herself to push forward in this battle.
Sometimes, we underestimate how much of a deeper underlying message movies and shows can have on us. It’s not just about hating one show and liking the other, but understanding your interests and experimenting with new shows.
Part 2 of She the People will be released on Netflix on August 22nd.
