Tyler Perry’s new movie For Colored Girls is based on Ntozake Shange’s play For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf. The play featured seven women known by a color of the rainbow performing a collection of 20 poems. However, the movie has nine characters and has given each character names but still representing a color from the rainbow mainly by wardrobe. The 20 poems deal with powerful issues that impact women throughout relationships.
Jo/Red (Janet Jackson) runs a very successful company. Jo is rich but shows no sympathy for African-Americans that struggle in poverty. She feels if she was able to become successful as a black woman in America, then no one else should have an excuse for failure. Her relationship issues with her husband is he’s never around, doesn’t answer her calls and his eyes seem to wander off a lot.
Crystal/Brown (Kimberly Elsie) struggles from an abusive relationship. Her boyfriend Beau (Michael Ealy) recently exiting from the military is having a hard time finding work as a civilian. Unable to find work has caused Beau to start a horrible drinking problem. Crystal loves Beau but at what cost when children are involved and witnessing an abusive relationship.
Yasmine/Yellow (Anika Noni Rose) is a dance teacher for local kids in a local New York City. She’s just like any ordinary woman looking for love and wants to be swept off her feet. When Yasmine meets a young man named Bill (Khalil Kain), she quickly learns not all men show their true colors upfront and experiences something truly unforgettable.
Tangie/Orange (Thandie Newton) seems to have no respect for herself or her family. With her father leaving her in control of all his assets, Tangie now controls the family’s income. Not having any respect for herself, she clearly has no respect for others including married couples.
Nyla/Purple (Tessa Thompson) is a young beautiful woman. At only 16-years old, Nyla seems to be headed in the right direction. Already receiving scholarships from universities and shows the most respect for her mother, Nyla obviously doesn’t seem to be a problem. Nyla has a deep secret that she’s hiding but after the failure of a sister she has in Tangie, she can’t find anyone to go to with her problem.
Alice/White (Whoopi Goldberg) the mother of Nyla and Tangie. Alice constantly battles with Tangie over the family’s income and Tangie’s self respect. Having so many issues with Tangie, Alice doesn’t seem to notice what is happening to Nyla since she never expects anything bad to ever happen to her.
Kelly/Blue (Kerry Washington) a social worker who goes to people’s homes to check the well-being of their children. While Kelly views the life of others with children, she wants to have children of her own. Kelly has difficulties witnessing how awful some parents treat their kids when she can’t have kids of her own.
Juanita/Green (Loretta Devin) works at a local hospital as a nurse and also provides a class to educate women on safe sex. Juanita hates to see how men easily bamboozle women to gain control of any situation. Although she preaches to others to not be deceived, she may need to listen to her own advice.
For Colored Girls is a very intense movie dealing with real life situations in relationships. There is no main character as each female character stars at different times during the film. All the characters don’t know each other but are some how connected. Every story has a great message behind it and can help counsel men and women. I know Tyler Perry’s target audience is African-American women but this film is for every female regardless of skin color. The movie carries pretty well from story to story leaving you in suspense as it jumps to different cast members. The dialogue would be my only complaint. The dialogue comes off as a musical but instead in poetry. After awhile I was really getting annoyed with the poetic conversations.
The men are mainly portrayed as evil. Don’t take this as a shot toward the male gender but the men that treat their women wrong can hopefully see this as an eye opener. This movie is in no question a true chick flick, but every man should view it at least once. I can recommend this movie comfortably to all women and people who love poetry. During my viewing of the movie, many women were constantly in tears or screaming at the screen as if they became part of the movie. Definitely a must watch film for women.
