Nobody's Fool

If "Nobody's Fool" had been made in the '80s or '90s, it could have been rated PG-13. With solidly sexual and romantic themes, the heat is set to sizzle from the very first scene. Still, the sumptuous shots of beautiful Black bodies entwined are certainly less objectionable than what one would see in violent and sexual films starring white people, such as all of the Daniel Craig Bond movies.

With no deaths by gun or poison and few swear words, it is hard not to think of the rating as anything other than a backhanded way to keep this movie from earning decent box office returns. Racist MPAA ratings aside, Tyler Perry puts in a lot of work to keep the upbeat vibe going in a feel good modern romantic comedy that has all Black leads. Most folks may think of his work as not compatible with ribald humor, but that has never been true. Tyler Perry typically employs humor to defuse difficult situations and ease an audience after a character has failed in some way.

Tiffany Haddish and Tika Sumter play sisters Tanya and Danica. Danica seems to have it all together, she has found the perfect long-distance man and has a great job. She has it so together that she can house her sister Tanya, who is finally returning from doing five years upstate. Tanya needs to lean on her family, including her mom Lola (Whoopi Goldberg), as she gets back on her feet. They all pitch in to help Danica as she navigates her assumptions when it comes to dating.

Farcical twists and turns keep the meet cutes and obvious kismet scenes from becoming sickeningly cute. Although there is no cheating, there certainly is lying, miscommunication and bad decisions - standards in modern romantic comedies. Tyler Perry's women are empowered, but not omnipotent, while the male heroes are proud and hardworking with complex backgrounds. It is a nice escape into the possibility of true romance: Fueled by the follies of initial attraction and tempered by the knowledge that a real person can't be everything on your wish list.