Tyler Perry's Daddy's Little Girls

If Spike Lee has been the Malcolm X of black filmmakers, knocking down barriers, Perry is more a Booker T. Washington. His movies are social studies classes, exercises in ignoring class consciousness and taking down fences. He panders, at times, playing for the low laughs and simple platitudes. But his message, aimed squarely at a black audience, is always clear — these are our problems, and we are the ones who can solve them.

Which is why it is perfect that his movies are all set in Atlanta. You can eliminate race from the discussion when your story is set among various classes in the capital of Black America. This is the first film with a significant white presence, and the only one that almost plays the race card, in a finale that pretty much falls to pieces.

But Atlanta should do whatever it takes to keep Perry happy. As fast as he's picking up this film thing, when he finally fills in the hollows in his writing, he's going to be a force, with or without Hollywood help.

"Tyler Perry's Daddy's Little Girls" is rated PG-13 for thematic material, drug and sexual content, some violence and language. Running time: 95 minutes.

---

E-MAIL: jeff@desnews.com