I have a confession: I have not seen the new Star Trek yet. I'm not a Trekkie, but I absolutely love Sci-Fi. The idea of life beyond Earth where new rules and new possibilities of humanity [or humanoid-anity] is the biggest turn on since the British Imports of the 80s invaded the 'burbs of southern Ohio. I guess that's why I got a little nauseous when a friend mentioned over dinner that Tyler Perry was sitting front and center in the Star Trek movie.
I know I've ranted and "raged" in the past about Perry and his intentionally-thin and melodramatic stories, but quiet as it's kept I think Perry as Madea is funny. Not so much because of the dress, the faux Big Momma boobs, or when he mocks the sound of "Cantonese", but his timing and his "soundbite parodies" are priceless. However, I don't subscribe to the Tyler Perry Franchise and I don't want to see him in space, the final frontier. Hey, I know Star Trek is part uber-technology and part imagined-future, but the final frontier is a sacred place and to cast a Franchise icon who represents intentionally-thin stories to keep black audiences happy seems very… anti-future.
What are your thoughts?
Keith Josef Adkins is an award-winning playwright, screenwriter and social commentator.