This month, a documentary titled “Maxine’s Baby,” an Amazon Prime Original, was released, focusing on the life of the multifaceted artist Tyler Perry, known for his roles as an actor, director, producer, and motivational speaker.
Tyler Perry’s films often blend comedy with themes such as family dynamics, coming of age, and the pursuit of prosperity. Take, for instance, “Madea’s Family Reunion,” where humor coexists with valuable life lessons.
Consistently, Perry’s works emphasize overcoming challenges, the significance of family, and the impact of trauma on individuals. Unfortunately, there’s a recurrent flaw that internet users never fail to notice—Perry’s characters’ wigs.
No matter how compelling the movie, the online community frequently teases Perry for his wig choices. In a reaction to Perry’s 2020 film “A Fall From Grace,” social media influencer Charles Brockman III highlighted a notable scene where the character’s wig changed midway, questioning Perry’s decision.
“Tyler Perry, why would you switch this woman’s wig halfway through the scene?” he exclaimed. Despite agreeing with this sentiment, let’s delve into the broader issue of wigs in Perry’s productions. Even without the sudden change, some wigs are deemed subpar, like the one in “A Fall From Grace.” The criticism extends beyond just the female characters; Perry’s wig choices apply to characters of all genders, exemplifying a lack of discrimination in this aspect.
Reflecting on Perry’s earlier work, such as the 2005 film “Diary of a Mad Black Woman,” the protagonist Helen and her partner Orlando both sported questionable wigs. Orlando’s braids, in particular, were in dire need of maintenance, with the attempt to conceal it using a bandana falling short of success.
While some might excuse the flaws in “Diary of a Mad Black Woman” as a product of Perry’s early filmmaking career, disappointment arises from the apparent lack of growth in this aspect across subsequent movies. However, there’s a glimmer of improvement noted in “A Madea Homecoming,” where most of the cast’s wigs received positive feedback, except for Cathy Brown’s wig, which was considered stiff but not egregiously bad.
Despite the quality of Perry’s movies, the persistently subpar wigs worn by his cast members have become an ongoing point of critique. It seems like every movie has at least one character with a questionable wig, prompting some to suggest that even a wig from Shein would be an improvement. As Perry potentially releases more movies, audiences hope he has learned from past wig choices to elevate this aspect of his productions.
