Rating: C-
Guided by the notion that people are not offered the same opportunities in life, the film entitled Good Deeds is unfortunately supported by a predictable script and horrible acting from start to finish. Having the potential to shed light on the real-life struggle of single mothers, the love affair between the two "star crossed" lovers, Wesley Deeds and Lindsey Wakefield, adds a melodramatic, blockbuster effect to what could have been an empowering and representative movie. As a result, the movie progressed as a romantic comedy, with the more serious message of the stark and unfair differences between social classes in the peripheral. In the movie Tyler Perry plays the main character named Wesley Deeds. As the main character, Tyler Perry tarnishes the overall movie by his horrible acting and highly apparent disconnect with his character. At times, it seemed as though he was merely reading the script without any animation or emotion. To the audience, Deeds, despite his fancy cars and lavish lifestyle, leads a mundane life. However, Deeds believes he has a perfect and happy lifestyle. Therefore, although Perry plays a boring character, Perry's acting comes off as if he is trying too hard or not trying at all. Gabrielle Union plays Natalie, Deed's beautiful fiancée. Natalie's character serves no purpose other than to highlight Deed's predictable actions. For example, she knows when he comes home, what he wants to wear every day, and what he wants to eat. Then, there is Wilimena Deeds played by Phylicia Rashad. Wilimena is Wesley's overbearing mother who disapproves of Wesley's brother and eventually of Wesley's decision to become involved with Lindsey. Following a highly predictive script, Deeds does the same thing every day, notices struggling single mother named Lindsey, played by Thandie Newton, offers her some assistance, and then finally questions his career path and life actions. Not only is scrip predictable, it also plays heavily off of stereotypes for both the lower and upper classes. Tyler Perry's character, Wesley Deeds, is the wealthy executive of Deeds Corporation. In the beginning of the film there is no hesitation as Deeds promptly states how he is fifth generation Ivy League grad. Throughout the entire movie, Wesley's lavish lifestyle is heavily displayed. Going to an Ivy League school, always being serious, having the perfect trophy wife, and expensive sports car and loft, are all common stereotypes associated with the upper class men. In addition, for the added effect, Natalie's marriage to Deeds has been planned and expected of the two. In the movie, when Deeds tries to reprimand Lindsey for not properly taking care of her child, Lindsey asks Deeds if he knows how much a gallon of milk cost. This scene implies that rich people would of course not know how much a gallon of milk cost because they spend money without thinking. In addition, because Lindsey has a relationship with Deeds, it seems as if she is being used, bought out and taken advantage of. Trying to expound the message of social responsibility, Deeds does help Lindsey and her daughter find a place to stay. However, the movie is tarnished by the fact that Deeds emotionally cheats on his fiancée with Lindsey. Instead of receiving the lasting message that it is society's obligation to help people who have run across unfortunate circumstances and that in helping others, people feel better about themselves, due to Deeds and Lindsey's developing relationship, the audience takes away that you do good deeds in exchange for love or a relationship. Their relationship seems forced, and it casts the whole movie in a negative light. If the movie focused more so on the theme of how doing good makes you feel good, instead of on developing Deeds and Lindsey's relationship, the movie would have been much more powerful.
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