Daddy's Little Girls

Tyler Perry stretches beyond his theatrical roots in this his first feature film not adapted from one of his plays. Daddy's Little Girls is a dramedy of sorts that stars Idris Elba, who has gained commercial prominence for playing the drug dealing entrepreneur Stringer Bell from HBO's The Wire. Daddy's Little Girls is the story of a single father's, Monty played by Elba, struggle to reclaim his three daughters have they were taken from him by their biological mother who happens to live with one of Alabama's most notorious drug dealers and is a dealer and thug herself. In order for Monty to get is children back he seeks the aide of a young high powered attorney who just happens to be single.

Gabrielle Union plays the role of Julia the young attorney who's star is quickly rising in her father's law firm. It is not hard to imagine that many long nights with Monty and Julia working together to reunite his family leads to an eventual romance. While Monty welcomes the opportunity for new love Julia is hesitant and gets little support from her two girl friends, played by Tracee Ellis Ross (Girlfriends) and Terri J. Vaughn (The Steve Harvey Show). They encourage her to enjoy herself, but not to get attached to this "broke brotha with three kids". Try as she might Julia falls for Monty and just as things seem to be heating up, a blemish from Monty's past comes back to messed things up in his present potentially ruining his future with Julia.

Daddy's Little Girl is fun moving with heart and some poignant moments. However Perry is still a ways away from making great films. His characters come across and two-dimensional and hallow. The big bad drug dealer is flat and emotionless and comes complete with the stereo-typical bad guy gruff-voice. Monty is a hard working mechanic who is haunted by one major mistake from his past, but is doing everything he can to do right by his three girls. The movie is schmaltzy and predicable, but you can't help by cheer for Monty and what to see things work out for him and Julia.

Perry certainly has the creativity to become a really good film maker and writes comedy really well. There are a couple of well crafted, very funny scenes in the movie, such as the restaurant scene where Julia is on a blind date with a 40-year old wanna be rapper, pure hilarity. With his own means and access to some serious entertainment's heavyweights Perry can continue making feel good movies and with more attempts his craft will only get better.

GRADE - C+