PEEPLES – A laugh out loud comedy about a clash of cultures

by Ray Freer
Gayly Entertainment Columnist

Looking for a funny date movie to enjoy on the sofa with your sweetie? You can’t do any better than the newest Tyler Perry presentation, ‘Peeples.’

This is a movie about the comedy that comes from cultural clashes. How does a regular guy fit into the advantaged family of his fiancé, Grace Peeples (played by the lovely Kerry Washington)?

Grace goes home to her family’s compound in Sag Harbor for ‘Moby Dick Day,’ an important tradition for her very distinguished family. Without her knowledge, Craig Robinson, as Wade Walker, follows his lady to her family’s compound in the Hamptons. He is made decidedly unwelcome by the stuffy, pompous Dad, Papa Peeples, played to hilarious perfection by the marvelous David Allen Grier.

From the start, poor Wade can’t catch a break. Everything and (at first) everyone is against him. Clearly he isn’t quite good enough for the daughter of a family Wade referred to as “The chocolate Kennedys.”

Slowly the hapless yet enormously charming Wade begins to ingratiate himself with all of the family, with the notable exception of Dad. The ‘perfect’ family is revealed to be as dysfunctional as all of ours. The Mom is a recovering alcoholic who slips psychedelic mushrooms into his drink; Grace’s sister is a closeted lesbian being goaded by her lover to come out; the son is an aspiring hip-hop artist who steals; and Dad…well, straight-laced Dad is a secret nudist who enjoys naked swims with the local hippies.

Yes, the movie was a little formulaic. The perfect family turns out to be a mess, but a mess that loves each other. Recognizing their own foibles help them to accept the ‘average Joe’ and welcome him into their family. The thing about formula movies though, is that they don’t have to be bad, just because you probably already know how they’ll turn out. When they are done with swift pacing, a tight script, and first-rate acting, they are a true joy to watch!

The talented roster producing this film starts with Tyler Perry, a man who knows how to write and produce funny. In addition to those gifted actors already mentioned, other cast members include Diahann Carroll, S. Epatha Merkerson, Tyler James Williams and Melvin Van Peebles.

This Lionsgate Production is out now on Blu-Ray and DVD. It’s rated PG-13 for sexual content, drug reference and language, but there’s nothing in it that most kids don’t already hear in elementary school.

So, get the popcorn, grab a glass of wine, and snuggle in for a fun, funny romp of a movie.

Peeples can be ordered on Digital Download and Pay-Per-View from Lionsgate Home Entertainment. It will be available on Blu-ray Disc and DVD for the suggested retail price of $24.99 and $19.98, respectively.

October 27, 2013