Peeples

I don't think I laughed the whole time. Why was David Alan Grier WASTED in this travesty of a film? I like the storyline and even the actors but this movie just did not work for me at all. I only watched it to the end in hopes that it would get better but it never did. It was pretty predictable and drawn out and then the ending was rushed. I would have loved to give some spoilers but I couldn't think of anything worth telling. Just a sad hot mess of a story. Kerry Washington is not my favorite and in this movie she did not shine at all. There was no chemistry between her and her "boyfriend". She didn't even pretend to like him well. I would not recommend this to anyone.

My first perception was that Peeples would be a dumb movie and a waste of my valuable time.

I'm a fan of the "Meet the Parents" franchise and regularly quote memorable lines from the screenplay ("you can't say bomb on an airplane!... circle of trust… etc.") from the screenplay. So, I thought I'd give Peeples a shot to see how bad it might be.

I WAS WRONG!

This is a funny movie well worth your time!

From the first scene I was smitten with Craig Robinson's charisma and satisfactorily carried the leading role throughout.

The rest of the characters are PERFECTLY CAST, especially the Robert De Niro father character spot-on played by David Alan Grier. He demanded respect and I never doubted he was a Federal judge.

The only flaw of the movie was perhaps some choppy editing and a scene on a boat that only confused and added no value to the movie… should have been left on the cutting room floor.

Warning: It should be rated R instead of PG-13 for mature topics (sexual spankings, lesbian situations, etc.)

Bottom Line: 4/5 stars. Not as memorable as "Meet the Parents" but perhaps consistently funnier from scene to scene; overall more laughs.

Pete (49 year old Caucasian male in North Carolina)

"Peeples" is an awkward meet-the-parents-type of comedy, that unfortunately doesn't really stand out in any particular way compared to the many other movies in the same genre that has come and gone over the years.

The story is about Wade (played by Craig Robinson) who travel to pay a surprise visit to his girlfriend Grace Peeples (played by Kerry Washington) while she is visiting her family in the Hamptons. The Peeples seem to have it all, but things are not entirely picture-perfect underneath the surface, and situations boil over as Wade enters the picture.

The situations in the movie are good enough and there is an occasional laugh to be found here and there, but be warned that the movie will not have you laughing constantly throughout the entire length.

As for the people on the cast list, then they had put together a good ensemble of people for the various roles, and each did bring something unique to the movie. And the chemistry between the various characters (and actors) be it for a good or bad situation was working quite well. It was David Alan Grier, who played the father in the movie, who was doing the best performance here and carried most of the movie.

However, I am rating "Peeples" a mere 5 out of 10 stars, because it never stepped out of mediocrity, and truth be told, then there are far better comedies in this particular genre. But still, it is good for a laugh or two if you have nothing better to do.

'PEEPLES': Three Stars (Out of Five)

Two former TV comedy stars clash in this family relations film produced by Tyler Perry. Craig Robinson (of 'THE OFFICE' fame) and David Alan Grier (of 'IN LIVING COLOR' fame) play a children's song writer and the father of the woman he wants to marry (who takes a disliking to him). Kerry Washington (of 'DJANGO UNCHAINED' fame) plays the woman they're at odds over. The movie is a lot like 'MEET THE PARENTS' (except for the obvious difference of a black cast rather than a white one). It's funny, even though it's not that original in any way. Definitely not a bad film (like reviews and some cinephiles like to make it out to be).

Robinson plays Wade Walker, a man who makes a living writing and performing songs for children (as a sort of therapy). He's been dating his girlfriend Grace Peeples (Washington) for over a year now and she still hasn't introduced him to her family. The weekend Wade plans to propose to Grace she informs him she's going to her family's annual reunion in the Hamptons (for 'Moby Dick Day'). Receiving advice from his friend Malcolm (Chris Walker) Wade decides to show up at the Peeples reunion unannounced in order to ask Grace's father Virgil (Grier) for his daughter's hand in marriage. Things of course don't go as planned as Virgil immediately dislikes and distrusts Wade (and no man has ever been good enough for his daughter).

The film was written and directed by first time feature film director Tina Gordon Chism (who had previously written the 2006 comedy/crime-drama film 'ATL' and the 2002 marching band comedy flick 'DRUMLINE'). When I first saw the film advertised as 'TYLER PERRY PRESENTS PEEPLES' I had no desire to see it. I'm not a fan or Perry's; I think he sucks at drama and is even worse with comedy (I hate his 'Madea' character). I was intrigued by the pairing of Robinson and Grier though and thought it was great that Robinson was starring in his own movie. I think Robinson was great on 'THE OFFICE' and is awesome as part of the Seth Rogen/Judd Apatow team. He's a talented comedic actor and he's great in this as well. Grier is perfectly paired opposite him (as his antagonist) although it's odd to see him playing the grey-haired older fatherly character. I grew up watching him share the screen with the likes of Jim Carrey, Jamie Fox and the Wayans brothers on 'IN LIVING COLOR' and he doesn't seem like he should be that old already. He's not, he's only 58 (57 at the time of filming) and just 16 years older than Robinson. Still he's perfect in the part. The movie is funny, not hilarious or extremely memorable, but it works and it's much better than the negative word of mouth it's gotten.

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When gilfriend Kerry Washington leaves him to go spend time at a family reunion in Sag Harbor, Craig Robinson follows, intending to propose. But between her federal judge father (David Alan Grier), former rock star mother (S. Epatha Merkerson) and intimidating surroundings, Robinson feels himself outmatched. As he observes, though, he comes to realize that this is less than an ideal family.

It's basically a Black version of MEET THE PARENTS. That said, there are plenty of funny and telling incidents, a fine cast, and event some good photography, even if people seem to think that Sag Harbor is in Connecticut and not on Long Island. Miss Merkerson is very good. After watching her play a tough police captain for more than a decade, I had no idea she could sing.