Bad Black Movies: Acrimony
Bad Black Movies: Acrimony
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*Before I begin this review, I want to say that this is all in good fun and wholly my PERSONAL opinion. Enjoy yourself and just laugh.* - Akayla
The first time that I experienced the soul crushing “thriller” known as Acrimony, I was young and brimming with high expectations as I stepped into the theater. My lovely mother was by my side and we filed into the theater with all the other happy black people, excited to see what Tyler Perry had in store for us.
Little did we know, he really ain't have nothing good to give us.
One word to describe Acrimony would be…. Disappointing.
One could even say it was a mess. The hottest kind of mess.
Taraji P. Henson is a wonderful actress and she does the best she can but not even her acting chops could save this movie.
*SPOILER ALERT*
Brief Synopsis
A woman named Melinda with THE nastiest anger issues chases after a poor, unsatisfied but fine man named Robert. He cheats on her during the infancy of their relationship (after she buys him a brand, spanking new car), she takes him back. He plays some Nina Simone and makes it ALL better.
She coddles him and provides for him and his “inventions” (with the money that her deceased momma left her) like any good husband wou- *ahem* I mean any good spouse would.
Finally, when she decides that she can no longer stand to be married to him and she divorces him after about 15 years, he then goes on to fulfill every black incels dream. He finally stopped being an ashy bum, sells this invention he’s been working on for fifty-eleben years AND starts dating a beautiful powerful woman who just happens to be the same, original woman that he cheated with all those years ago.
Melinda is like “Harpo, who dis woman?” and vows vengeance on them both even AFTER he cuts her a big ol’ check for 10 million buckeroonies for all her pain and suffering. Melinda has a nervous breakdown and decides to have a final showdown with Robert and his new baby mama. A big sore spot BTW because Melinda can’t have children due to the fact she drove a car into Robert’s Tin Can home, attempting to ram him. The resulting accident caused her to have a hysterectomy in her 20’s.
Anyways back to the final showdown, she sneaks on the boat, forces all the yacht’s staff to jump into the water, and stabs Robert. The new Mrs. Gayle manages to escape on a motorboat to get the staff, meanwhile Melinda turns into Annie Wilkes and attempts to chop off Robert’s leg. Robert accidentally flips the anchor switch, and Melinda gets caught in the chain causing her to be thrust into the sea and drown.
Analysis:
The most important thing this movie taught me is that if you hold down your man in any way, it is almost always the worst decision you can make. I hear you,movie. I hear you.
I think that this movie was supposed to be insinuating that Melinda’s behavior was unacceptable but it’s glorified so many times during the movie. Her trash husband is painted in such a negative light, that it seems as if he deserves every last thing coming to him.
Don’t get me wrong, Robert is the bumiest bum in all of Bumdom, but divorce is our friend (sometimes). He also lied about being a felon. Literally, Robert was like a 10% regular man, 90% Lex Luthor.
I will say that the actor that plays young Robert, Antonio Madison, is downright FINE at certain points in the movie.
I can see why young Melinda was acting a fool because I feel the 🤡 (clown) behavior coming on just watching him on screen.
But anyways, it seems as if we are glorifying violence and vigilante behavior. Now, if you know me then you know I love a good vigilante but Melinda is a both a victim of circumstance and of her terrible decision making.
It would be like if Bruce Wayne were to shoot both of his parents in that alley with an illegally obtained gun and then later on become Batman to capture the arms dealer who gave him the gun in the first place.
He didn’t have to decide to shoot, just like Melinda didn’t have to decide to stay with that bum for that long.
It is still sad all the disrespect that she endured from that man. I would be remiss to say that I haven’t heard the chorus of “Knuck If You Buck” playing softly in my head, anytime that a man disrespects me or attempts to take advantage of me. BUT, would I put my life on the line to ruin his just because he hurt me..?
Only if I knew I wouldn’t go to prison…
Lemme stop lol. Let’s just say I wouldn’t be trying to also harm his new spouse. That’s her problem now and she’s gonna need all the strength she can get
In conclusion,
This was just another movie where black women cater their life choices around black men for the purpose of love and affection which turns into revenge and retribution.. It is not the worst movie of it’s kind but it’s one of the silliest.
I am going to give it a C-. It could have benefited from some real violence like murder sporadically placed throughout the movie… possibly a stronger plot.
