MOVIE REVIEW (ACRIMONY by Tyler Perry) PT 2

So in my previous post, I wrote about Melinda. Here, I'll be focusing on the the rest of the characters in ACRIMONY.

Robert: First of; I must confess that Robert is persistent, consistent and a relentless dream chaser. For someone who has been continuously rejected for over eighteen years, I must say that unlike Melinda, his wife, he is one hell of a strong being both psychologically and emotionally.  However, I'll still state that Robert was a weak man. Yes! He was pathetically weak! He took advantage of Melinda. He was fully aware of the depth of her love for him, he knew that she would go to any mile to please him so he conveniently settled into the role of the poor orphan who needs help, love and care and when he found himself a young woman like Melinda who was comfortable with playing the role of provider, he tagged along with promises of a better life which when it eventually came, he didn't think twice about closing that chapter of his life that reminded him of his past where he had to be the leech. He was too quick to adjust into his new role of being the billionaire with the best house, yacht, cars, and wife; all of which he had continuously promised Melinda for eighteen years.

Although, he loved Melinda, I must confess that Robert was selfish. Jeez! He is manipulative which is evident in the way he got Melinda to spend all of her inheritance in getting him a car, supporting his research/ battery invention. He didn't have to ask, all he had to do was to paint a sorry picture of him losing years of his "hard work" or a perfect picture of both of them living in a pent house, driving the best cars, going on yacht cruises, him buying her a diamond ring and all the best things of life. He had her "mumu button" and he subtly pressed it for 18 years.

For me, the cheat scene which led to Melinda's accident was quite significant in the movie. What I saw at that point was what Robert was capable of doing when he turned wealthy and I think the young Melinda at that point saw that as well which was what triggered her temper into causing the accident that cost her her womb.

Robert truly loves his wife as he proved it by not cheating on her for eighteen years, but his fault is that he allowed his obsession with his battery/dream to cause a strain in his relationship with his wife. The least he could do since he couldn't get a great job and support her financially was to give her all the emotional support she needed but instead, he starved her sexually for months. Then when he became wealthy, he tries to clear his conscience by gifting her a $10 million check and her mother's house she had invested in his dream. How convenient! For me, that was the height of selfishness! And then some of you were saying, "Melinda should have just walked away and built a life with the $10 million bla bla ba ..." WOW! How does that work out? Melinda's life is Robert! How was she supposed to build something she didn't have? Robert knew that Melinda wanted him back but he was comfortable staying away from the past that reminded him of his days of lack as a man.

Finally, what killed me that Robert did was, he had to go and marry Diana, the same girl he cheated on Melinda with. That not being enough, he gave her ALL the things he promised Melinda and a child even. I mean, for God's sake! Come on man! That was evil! Yeah, some of you will whine and say that "oh! but Diana was there for him when Melinda gave up on him. yen yen yen yen..." So f**king what?! I say! Melinda stood by him at his lowest for eighteen damn years! She gave him eighteen years of countless chances to become the genius he envisioned  for himself, for them. Yes he was relentless with his dream but he gave up on their love long before Melinda divorced him. Why couldn't he just give her another chance? Instead, he had easily moved on with Diana.

Let's be real. You see that life Robert kept promising Melinda, it wasn't tailored specifically for her. He created that life for himself and any other woman that would be available to share it with him when it came to reality. My conclusion on Robert is, he's strong willed but weak and selfish in character.

Diana: She was Robert's past one night stand who didn't even know she was a side chick. She's beautiful, classy and smart. But this is what I think of her. Owing to how she and Robert parted ways in the past, she was bent on not helping him set up a meeting with Mr. Preston whom he had been trying to see for eighteen years. She even went as far as asking the security of the building to call him and warn him not to come within inches of the premises anymore. But then her interest in him was rekindled again when she started watching videos of him and Melinda talking about their love for his wife and his Gayle Force Battery. During those moments, she became obsessed with the thought of being Mrs. Gayle.

Let's be honest, that look wasn't a look of  "oh! this man is smart. I believe in him" No way! She wanted him back and she knew Melinda's weak point. So, she feigned forgetfulness and left her purse in his truck knowing fully well that it will be found somehow by Melinda. It happened eventually and when through her help Robert gets his deal with Preston, she didn't waste anytime taking him in, getting pregnant and becoming Mrs. Robert Gayle.

She is  an opportunist. This is evident when she said to Robert "... when people leave your life, maybe you're supposed to let them go...". Those words came at the right time cos that was exactly the conviction that Robert needed to justify himself that he didn't need Melinda anymore. She gave him the illusion that he was safer with her. And seeing that it worked, Diana ensured he got the deal which sealed her own fate too. I mean, the look on her face when she introduced herself to Melinda said it all; "I won Bitch! I got the diamond and your trophy of a husband whom you almost killed me for years back!". And to rub it in, she had to show Melinda her diamond engagement ring first before turning her hand for the handshake. How savage can a woman get! She also had to rub it in that she was pregnant during their court session.

My thoughts about Diana; she saw an opportunity to get back at Melinda and she used it richly to get EVERYTHING Melinda would have had.

Brenda: She's Melinda's oldest sister and the mother figure of the three siblings after their parent's demise. Now; Brenda is loud, a snob and that one sibling you never want to interfere in your marriage or relationship. She was the first to write off Robert as a low lifer and the second to quickly admit when he struck gold, that she knew he was destined for great things. Check out the power of money in action there!

Although, she was right to some extent about him getting a job but she was disrespectful to Robert at every given opportunity which is wrong! In-laws! Nobody deserves the way she addressed Robert in ACRIMONY. She was too extra and she caused the divorce between the couple because she knew how hot tempered Melinda was and thus she wasted no time in going to Melinda's office to report the found purse! smh


My Conclusion

This movie is for everyone (18 years above). ACRIMONY isn't just a movie; it is a reality, a bitter one that exists in this here society and the world over. Tyler Perry has succeeded in capturing the intricacies of a typical flawed relationship and the fact that he left a blank slate for everyone to fill with their own thoughts about the movie is the icing on the cake for me. Tyler leaves a take home lesson for everyone so, I'm gonna list briefly some of the lessons I learnt out of the many lessons he shared.

1. Be consistent, persistent and strong willed just like Robert. Dreams do come true!
2. Never stop believing in yourself.
3. Never stop investing in yourself like Melinda. She gave up on herself development and invested all of her life, time, emotions, and strength for Robert hoping that he would lift her up which never happened. Bad decision!
4. Relationships shouldn't be parasitical
5. A man should man up, take responsibility and stop settling.
6. Women, you can't be the man in your marriage /relationship. You can only assist but you just can't. It's not your duty and it's not your role. Don't spoon feed your man. Allow him the space to man up!
7. Siblings/family interference in your relationship isn't always unhealthy for relationships/marriages. This is not to reject advise from family cos of course, they care but it should be to a minimum
8. Always stand up for your spouse. Defend them. Their honor is yours too.
9. Selfishness will only ruin you and not elevate you. Robert got the life he wanted, riding on the wings of selfishness but his ordeal with Melinda in the end will leave him a scar for life (that's if he lives to tell his story)
10. The fruit of anger is death in different ways. Melinda's anger cost her her womb, her marriage, her self esteem, her sanity and eventually her life.

As usual, this is me FRANKLY SPEAKING. If you have anything contrary to my thoughts, do not hesitate to comment below.

Cheers!

Now I can breathe.