“Why Did I Get Married”

Rated: PG-13

Starring: Tyler Perry, Janet Jackson, Jill Scott Tasha Smith, Malik Yoba, Richard T. Jones

Directed by Tyler Perry

Runtime: 113 min.

Tyler Perry and a bunch of couples with a bunch of problems is a great premise for a relatable and funny movie.

Janet Jackson opens the film as Patricia, a published psychiatrist whose first book becomes the topic for a lecture she’s giving to a class of nosy college students.

Her first book, “Why Did I Get Married,” is the story of how she and old college buddies and she get together once a year for a couples’ retreat.

As she talks about her friends, each couple’s problem was introduced while the couples head to Colorado for the retreat.

From the facial expressions to the reactions and dialogue, the entire cast brought its best to the table, quite literally. The pivotal moment in the film comes when all four couples sit down to dinner and every secret between each couple spills.

In the all-star cast, there are three standout actors: Jackson, Jill Scott and Tasha Smith.

As Patricia, Jackson seemed to play a character who isn’t much of a stretch from her real self, but in the reach for your tissues, try not to sniff too loud. In a tear-jerking scene, Jackson takes the entire audience with her as she finally deals with the bottled-up pain that is the root of the problem in her marriage.

As the trailer shows, Smith, who plays Angela, is the loud, no-holds-barred character who deals with the issues in her marriage in a way that not only has the audience laughing but reciprocating out loud with her character.

And the diminutive Sheila, played by Scott, has everyone waiting for the moment she stands up for herself. And when she does, applause ripples through the theatre.

“Why Did I Get Married” not only displays a wide range of experiences married couples go through, but it is also a film that connects with a diverse audience.

Daily Egyptian reporter Jakina Hill can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 275 or [email protected].