Students critique Tyler Perry’s ‘Acrimony’

 

Relationships are often complicated.

Too often, there’s an unequal balance of power in a relationship. And after a relationship ends, there is usually a one-sided view of who was right and who was wrong in the situation.

Tyler Perry challenges our views on this thorny topic with his new thriller, “Acrimony.” The suspenseful film portrays the love life of a wife, Melinda (Taraji P. Henson) and husband, Robert (Lyriq Bent) who strive to keep their marriage afloat. The husband’s inability to be a reliable mate and his obsession with a failed business idea drive a wedge in the marriage.

 When the wife reaches her breaking point, she ends the 18-year relationship and asks for a divorce. The husband, hesitant about his wife’s decision, meets an old friend who helps his business take off. When the business becomes a success, he marries his old friend, driving the first wife to the point of insanity.

After seeing the film, FAMU students voiced their opinion on the relationship aspects portrayed in the movie.

“I really enjoyed the movie, I think it’s a film that everyone should go watch. It has a lot to do with marriage and relationships that people need to understand because in today’s society people don’t know the value of healthy relationships,” said Semaj Lockett, a first-year psychology student.

Tayler McKinnon, a first-year environmental studies student, said the movie allowed her to see relationship issues from both a male and female perspective. She said she found the situation relevant to issues seen in today’s society.

“I could relate to both of the main characters in the movie. I could relate more to the first wife and I could understand her pain from feeling betrayed by her ex-husband who promised her all of these things but it never came to pass. I think that movie was good for men and women because both of the characters were wrong and it was an example for everyone in the audience,” said McKinnon.

Myeisha Gibson joined the conversation with more relationship advice she took away from the movie.

 “From watching this movie, I learned how to view situations from both sides. Many people take one side in a situation and stick with it, but this movie opened my eyes to understand where each of the main characters were coming from,” she said.

Most students agreed that the movie was worth the watch but they would suggest a sequel or different ending.

 “I would rate this movie a 7 out of 10, I was a little confused in the beginning of the movie but overall, I did enjoy it. The only part I didn’t enjoy was the ending. The preview drew me in but didn’t show a good depiction of the movie. I would add more to the ending and I would’ve also added a part where Taraji actually got over her mental illness at therapy,” said Gibson.