Nobody's Fool

Danica is a go-getter. She know what she wants to get out of life. She’s been serving as a senior member of an ad agency for quite some. And when it comes to the dating scene? Well she knows what she wants out of that too? See, she has this list for the perfect qualities in a guy. What’s on that list? That’s not really given to us. Let’s just say, though, Danica’s prospects are pretty high, which is why she’s been dating this mysterious guy she’s never met, only talked to on the phone, named Charlie who manages an oil rig off shore and, for all intensive purposes, things seem to be going well. Then of course, there’s that really nice Coffee shop owner Danica’s been flirting with as well, but he has a criminal record…

Speaking of criminals: enter Danica’s sister, Tanya (Tiffany Haddish). Danica is asked by her mother, Lola (Whoopi Goldberg), to pick up her sister Tanya, who has just been paroled after serving a five-year sentence in prison. Of course, Tanya has nowhere to go, so she crashes with Danica while Tanya helps her get a job, which of course Tanya lands a job at the Coffee Shop.

As Tanya and Danica spend more time together, Tanya wonders about this mysterious Charlie that Danica has never met. Is Charlie even real or is he “catfishing” (pretending to be someone online that he actually isn’t, or essentially playing others on their emotions)? So Tanya calls in the hosts of the TV show “Catfishing,” and they help her investigate. They find out that Charlie is a fake.

Danica feels betrayed, but mainly embarrassed. Tanya, though, suggests payback. “Nobody’s Fool” tells us a tale of being cautious about ourselves and of those around us, lest WE become the Fool.

In the past, I’ve come to respect many of Mr. Perry’s films. For example, I’m generally a fan of most of the Madea films he has written (interestingly, he has recently come out in an interview, and in a preview I saw this evening confirming this, stating that the next Madea film, “A Madea Funeral,” will be the last of the Madea film franchise), and a couple of other films he has either co-stared or co-produced in one way or another (“Gone Girl” and “Star Trek” come to mind).

But tonight, after what I just witnessed, I may have very well lost a bit of respect for Mr. Perry, as, frankly “Nobody’s Fool” has to be one of his filthiest films to date. Sure, Perry’s films have always pushed the bar a little as to what is appropriate and inappropriate in film and television, but it feels like in “Nobody’s Fool” he took all the sexual content and dialog he could conjure up, put it in a bottle and then unleashed it upon the masses, as NOTHING was held back (and I do mean NOTHING); there were moments in the theater where the content was so bad my jaw dropped in amazement.

Even if content weren’t an issue, this isn’t his best work. I’ve seen Perry’s films. He can write fantastic, engaging, and endearing television and film, with substance and characters and stories I can care about. This story wasn’t it. As I sat through “Nobody’s Fool,” I was wondering if Mr. Perry was tired of the whole comedy genre in general, as some of the jokes fell flat, despite the best efforts of many of the main cast members (you know you’re in trouble if half the jokes in the film are about doing drugs, which is never funny).

It also didn’t help that the pacing was SLOW, the structure was confusing (once one conflict was resolved another came up that was shallowly, somewhat resolved), and, like I said, the content was disgusting.

Content of Concern

Sexual Content/Dialogue: *Please note this is NOT a full list of all the content and viewer discretion is advised*. References are made to women’s breasts and breast procedures. Tanya is seen having aggressive sexual intercourse in the backseat of a Bronco. During this intercourse, she shouts out to Danica, “You’re going to have a nephew in 9 months.” There’s a reference to different sexual positions. Tanya mentions she would sleep with her probation officer. The term “s*ck your d*ck” is used.” Male genitalia are referenced a few times. Someone mentions another person can become “wet.” Parking spaces are referenced in a sexual manner. There are a few intense scenes involving sexual intercourse between Danica and two different men. The film portrays—and characters encourage—Danica, to have sex for pleasure or performance, not because she actually loves the person. A procedure for male genitalia is referenced. A p*nis injury is mentioned. There is a plethora of other inappropriate sexual dialog I will not reference.

Nudity: We witness Danica, in the morning, coming out of bed in a very revealing, see through nightgown. We see a male’s bare behind and witness him in the bathroom rubbing it with something.

Vulgarity/Profanity: Very Heavy to Extreme. Here’s the count: f**k (17), mother-f*cker (2), sh*t (21), bull-sh*t (1), a** (13), d**n (8), h*ll (7), b**ch (18), SOB (1), b*stard (2), n*gga (10), p*ssy (2), screw (1), sl*t (2), hos (3), coochi (reference for female genitalia) (1), and God’s name is taken in vain as OMG (1).

Violence: A guy has his hair set on fire. Someone is choked out during sex. Various characters are threatened.

Other: People talk about smoking weed and other recreational drugs, and some are even seen doing drugs (i.e. the guy in the Bronco).

Spiritual Issues

The main theme that came across to me was “planning” and how often what we plan never goes accordingly. As I sit here writing this review, I’m thinking “Man, if I could write a book about my life so far and how every time I planned something, God always had a different plan, it’d be one long book!”

The point being is that we can plan to our dying breath, but if it not according to God’s ultimate plan, it doesn’t matter. God’s plan is greater. As Christians, our purpose is to follow through with whatever He has in store for us, and these may be times where we are asked to leave our comfort zone and abandon our original intentions and plans. The Bible says this:

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. —Psalm 119:105

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him… and he will make your paths straight. —Proverbs 3: 5-6

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. -James 1:5

You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. -Hebrews 10:36

Closing Thoughts

I always walk into Tyler Perry’s films with my guard up, and tonight was no exception, although I’ll admit it wasn’t enough. “Nobody’s Fool” is crass, vulgar, and unacceptable for Christian viewing. It is not spiritually edifiying, it glorifies themes such as fornication for pleasure, in addition to an abudance of disgusting dialog splattered throughout the film. Do yourself and the Holy Spirit a favor… skip this film. Do something more gratifying with your time. And remember…

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” —Proverbs 4:23

• Sex: Very Heavy
• Vulgar/Crude language: Very Heavy
• Profane language: Heavy
• Nudity: Moderately Heavy
• Violence: Mild
• Occult: None

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.