Tyler Perry's Marriage Counselor – DVD Review

By June L. Jan 21, 2009, 12:59 GMT

Just wait till the honeymoon is over! The latest and greatest stage play written and directed by American playwright Tyler Perry. "The Marriage Counselor" transforms the art of marriage, life, and family with this fun and fulfilling onstage experience. Featuring original songs by Tyler Perry. ...more

Tyler Perry brings to DVD the performance of one of his best loved plays, The Marriage Counselor.  Judith (Tamar Davis) is a marriage counselor whose problems are on the increase.  As her schedule fills up with dissatisfied couples, her own married life takes a nosedive.  Will the counselor be able to save her marriage?

In a production full of life, colorful moments and song, The Marriage Counselor addresses some very serious problems.  Counselor Judith is married to dull but steady accountant Roger (Tony Grant.)  Their life has become complicated by the arrival after hurricane Katrina of Judith’s mother TeTe (Alltrinna Grayson) and Roger’s dad Stanley (Palmer Williams) as permanent residents in their home. 

TeTe is very religious and Stanley is attempting to grow pot in the backyard and their bantering insults keep the household in an uproar.  Judith’s practice puts her in contact with several couples whose problems are major.  One of these clients turns out to be her old boyfriend Ronald (Timon Kyle Durrett) a rich and flashy sports star. 

One thing leads to another, and Judith is tempted to give up slow and steady Roger for a more glamorous life with Ronald.  She takes a break from her practice, and TeTe and Stanley step in to counsel the couples.  Some of the funniest and most touching moments occur when these two take control.

To be in this play, one not only has to be a good actor or actress, but has to have a sense of comedy and the ability to sing.  The musical numbers seem natural and fit the action, and add to the depth of the characters being portrayed. 

The strength of TeTe’s belief is expressed in her musical numbers and Stanley (who has some of the best lines in the play) is shown to be equally devoted to his lifestyle standards.  Moving from the funny to the tragic, the play never lets hope be quenched by sadness or troubles. 

The plucky Lisa (Garcelle Evans) brings a tear to the eye with her trials  that she brushes off as nothing in this life as she belongs to God.  People make mistakes, and there are misunderstandings amongst the couples. 

With the “expert” handling of these problems by TeTe and Stanley with help from Becky (Stephanie Ferrett) Judith’s opinionated assistant, the audience is both crying and laughing.

The Marriage Counselor is presented in full screen on single disc.  The playing time for the feature is 143 minutes, and it is available in both English and Spanish audio and subtitles.  The Special Features includes a segment “In Session.”  This has cast interviews that add to the enjoyment of the production.

Everyone involved is very enthusiastic about the project, and very serious about portraying their characters honestly. 

Tyler Perry has adeptly used this medium of a play to once again express problems that will resonate with audiences.  He also offers solace and solutions that will be equally recognizable.

Tyler Perry's Marriage Counselor is now available at Amazon. As of yet, there is not a release date for this version of the DVD in the UK. Visit the DVD database for more information.