- Familiar faces like Tasha Smith's Angela and Jill Scott's Sheila draw praise, while Richard T. Jones' wig becomes a hot topic.
- The film's breakneck 4-day shoot across Georgia and Italy leaves some panel members wanting more from the Italian setting.
- The panel debates the toxicity of the characters' relationships and whether the group truly likes each other.
Tyler Perry is asking Why Did I Get Married Again?, and BOSSIP and Cassius are unpacking the matrimonial mess featuring a wayward wiglette and Lake Como confessions.
On the latest episode of The Black Watch, the brands’ editorial-led series examining notable film and television projects through thoughtful discussion and cultural commentary, the panel unpacked Why Did I Get Married Again?, Perry’s third installment in the franchise that began nearly two decades ago.
BOSSIP Managing Editor Dani Canada and ONE Digital Director of Content for the Men’s Division Alvin Blanco were joined by comedians Tiffany Burke and Carl Foreman Jr. to discuss the Netflix dramedy’s familiar faces, new generation, relationship revelations, and one particularly perplexing piece of hair.
Written, directed, produced by, and starring Perry, Why Did I Get Married Again? reunites much of the original ensemble while introducing a younger generation whose impending nuptials bring the longtime friend group back together.
For Dani, revisiting the characters worked in part because Perry knows exactly who’s tuning in.
“Tyler Perry knows his audience, and he knows what people want to see,” she said, noting that she appreciated the callbacks connecting the new film to its predecessors.
Despite seeing plenty of online discourse from viewers who said they couldn’t make it through the opening minutes, Dani said she watched from beginning to end and found enough funny moments to keep her entertained–especially when it came to Tasha Smith.
“I was excited to see my girl Tasha Smith come back with her ‘MARCUUUUUUS!’ antics,” she said.
Tiffany also welcomed the return of Smith’s Angela and Michael Jai White’s Marcus, noting that their deliciously dysfunctional dynamic gets significantly more room to breathe this time around.
“I love that in this movie, it felt like they were the lead,” Tiffany said. “Traditionally, in the past, their relationship wasn’t the lead.”
Alvin agreed that Smith remains one of the franchise’s scene-stealers.
“Anytime she’s on the screen, she’s gonna steal the show,” he said.
Jill Scott Gets Her Flowers, While Mike’s Mane Gets The Side-Eye
Angela wasn’t the only familiar face earning flowers.
Dani said she was happy to see Jill Scott return as Sheila after watching the character endure more than her fair share of heartbreak in the previous films.
“My girl has gone through some things. She came out on the other side,” Dani said, before giving a special shoutout to Scott’s styling, considering that she looked pretty and perched throughout the film.
“She looked amazing,” Tiffany agreed.
Then there was Mike.
Richard T. Jones reprises his role as Sheila’s ex-husband, but it wasn’t just the character’s questionable choices capturing the panel’s attention. His conspicuous coif quickly became a conversation of its own.
“I appreciate that Tyler kind of put it in everybody’s face, like, ‘Oh, you want to talk about my wigs? Yeah, here go one for y’all to talk about right here,’” Dani joked about the man wiglette.
Carl was equally follicle-focused.
“We’re gonna take a man who’s known for being bald, and we’re gonna put him in an unbelievable hairpiece,” he said.
The bigger question for Alvin was why Mike, who has a history of horrible behavior, was still invited anywhere with this group, but luckily Carl had a theory.
“You know why he’s still a friend, Alvin? Because everyone in this movie is extremely toxic,” he joked. “There is not a single healthy relationship happening in this entire film at any level.”
“They just have a lot of money, and they’re pretty stylish,” he continued. “I don’t know if these people like each other at all.”
For Carl, the matrimonial mayhem became so relentless that watching it practically became a wellness concern.
“It’s messy to the point my cortisol levels were going up,” he said. “I was a little stressed out for much of it.”
Janet Jackson Is Missing, But Taraji P. Henson Joins The Group
One significant member of the original ensemble is absent from the reunion.
Janet Jackson, who starred as Patricia in the first two films, does not return for Why Did I Get Married Again? Perry has said scheduling conflicts and Jackson’s hesitation about revisiting the emotional weight of Patricia’s story prevented her from participating.
“I miss Janet Jackson’s character and that storyline,” Tiffany said.
Alvin agreed, pointing out that Jackson was integral to both previous installments, while Carl noted that Patricia was central to bringing the original friend group together.
The new film does, however, add Taraji P. Henson to the mix, marking another collaboration between the actress and Perry.
While the panel welcomed Henson’s presence, Alvin felt the Oscar-nominated actress didn’t get enough material to truly dig into.
“Taraji was underutilized,” Alvin said, adding that the film eventually gives viewers a glimpse of what she could have been doing throughout the story. “She’s just that great of an actor and barely used.”
Four Days, Two Countries & One Fast-Moving Film
The panel also pondered Perry’s famously fast production process after discussing reports from the cast that Why Did I Get Married Again? was filmed over four days between Georgia and Italy.
For Carl, who works in the industry, the abbreviated production wasn’t particularly surprising.
“It is a trademark of the Tyler Perry creative process that they shoot quick, and they get it done efficiently,” he said.
Still, Carl argued that the expedited approach was occasionally apparent onscreen, particularly in the film’s lighting, repeated dialogue, and reliance on improvisation and ad-libs.
Tiffany, meanwhile, wanted a little more cinematic bang for the international buck.
“If the whole thing was in four days and that included a trip to Italy, I feel like you gotta get more out of your Italy trip,” she said.
Having visited Lake Como herself, Tiffany thought the famously picturesque destination deserved considerably more screen time.
“I don’t feel like you really maximized Lake Como,” she said. “Lake Como is amazing. I didn’t see enough Lake Como for the Lake Como trip for me.”
Watch the latest episode of The Black Watch below.
