9 / 10

Over the weekend, Tyler Perry introduced his second romantic comedy of 2007.

Perry moves from the focus of “Daddy’s Little Girls” (his first release this year) and highlights the joys and hardships of marriage in his latest film, “Why Did I get Married?”

Perry stars in the film, which he also wrote and directed. This movie creatively offers answers as to why people choose to wed.

The best surprise of the film is the introduction of Patricia, a psychologist played by Janet Jackson. Breaking away from her singing career, Jackson offers a believable portrayal of a woman who focuses on the problems in her friend’s marriage to avoid facing her own.

The story is uniquely narrated by Patricia as she relays the experience of an outing with her friends to a college class.

With four couples who have more issues to work out than an episode of Maury, this movie has plenty of laughs. Terry (Tyler Perry) and his wife Diane (Sharon Leal) deal with Diane’s time at work. Mike (Richard T. Jones) and Sheila (Jill Scott) struggle with Mike’s horrible attitude towards Sheila’s weight. The couple is on the brink of a divorce, and Mike needs to examine himself.

The most comedic relationship is between Angela (Tasha Smith) and Marcus (Michael Jai White), who are a duo of demanding wife and an unfaithful husband.

As if all of those issues weren’t enough, the most dramatic couple in the film is Patricia and her husband Gavin (Malik Yoba). The two fight to get through the death of their son.

Perry’s acting was not as strong as it has been. However, “Why Did I Get Married?” does a wonderful job at remaining captivating.

Though it speaks from the viewpoint of marriage, the film also answers why people struggle through rough times of relationships at any stage. “Why Did I Get Married?” is the perfect reminder that with the help of good friends, communication and lots of hugs, love can prevail.