Tanya Batson-Savage, Freelance Writer
Helen McCarter (Kimberly Elise) and her husband Charles (Steve Harris). - Contributed
DIARY OF a Mad Black Woman is a hilarious combination of slapstick, drama and romance. The movie is at its heart a feel-good chick flick in the best sense of the term, where it is a story about a woman that other women can identify with, rubbed together with some seriously silly comedy to take the edge off.
The story surrounds Helen (Kimberley Elise), a housewife to a successful lawyer, Charles (Steve Harris), who is ready to make his first wife trade-in to a racier model. So Helen's fairytale, to which she is desperately trying to hold on, despite all the evidence yelling that its time to let go, gets ripped to shreds. Her Prince Charming proves not so charming after all and instead begins to show the coldness of his inner frog and the viciousness of the big bad wolf. Left with no alternative, Helen returns to her grandmother, Medea (Tyler Perry).
REAL DRAMA
In exploring Helen's ill-treatment by Charles the movie goes a little overboard or, at least, one would hope that real women would not stand up for that kind of treatment. The movie generally tends to go overboard, but it also often creates something of a balance, with moments of real drama. So the moments with Medea are the stuff of which pure, undiluted guilty pleasures are made. The over-reaching stereotype of the no-nonsense, gun (or chain saw)-toting, loudmouth black woman is hilarious.
She provides pure belly-laugh humour.
The movie's strength is that the caricatures are played against solid characters. So, Medea provides a beautiful contrast against which Helen's drama of the angry black woman can unfold. Helen is beautifully played by Elise who is a very talented actress. She is able to tap into the more honest moments of the film and allows the audience to make a real connection.
The cast in general is quite good. Cicely Tyson is also a good addition to the cast. She brings the dignity that her years and career have made her known for and helps to create another aspect of womanhood.
Diary of a Mad Black Woman is not intended to be an exercise in male-bashing. The movie makes it clear that too many women get treated like doormats because they prostrate themselves with a welcome sign painted across their backs (then act surprised and hurt when they get stepped on). So Helen is allowed to find her inner mad black woman (whom we should all hold dear) and stand up for herself.
Additionally, despite the skin-shedding reptilian embodied in Charles, there is also Shamar Moore. Moore is looking a little less pretty and suave, with a fuller beard and cane-rows but still, with wonderfully broad shoulders, makes a good romantic interest. Harris makes a great villain and clearly his years on The Practice gave him more than enough rehearsal for this role. The character is in large part the same except that all the admirable traits have been removed.
Occasionally, Diary of a Mad Black Woman also thinks it's a spoof. As such, there is an unexplained screaming of "wire hangers!" and a few other moments. Additionally, the ending is in large part borrowed from An Officer and a Gentleman. The movie clearly does not take itself too seriously and you should not either.
It's a fabulous bit of fun, with a little romance and drama thrown in.
Taken from The Gleaner, Thursday, March 24, 2005.
