This dawn as I hit the multiplex to see “We Own the Night,” a very by-the-numbers cop flick salvaged only by atmosphere and tremendous acting, I noticed there were at least twice as many cars in the parking lot as usual for the early shows.

It still didn’t hit me until I saw who was actually in line - 50 to 100 black women, many of whom knew each other well - that I realized what was going on: It’s that annual phenomenon known as a Tyler Perry movie.

Now, though I’m far from target audience for a Tyler Perry movie, up until now I’ve loved every one I’ve seen. They’re never terribly deep, but as solidly entertaining escapist movie fare, they are ideal. And I thought his last one, “Daddy’s Little Girls” with Idris Elba and Gabrielle Union, was his best work yet.

But, since like I said I didn’t see his new flick, “Why Did I Get Married,” on Friday, I’m not really here to discuss its merits or faults (it’s on the viewing agenda for Sunday daylight, most likely.)

Instead I’m just kind of wondering, and admittedly probably in a less than completely cogent way, why it is that whether black citizens line up to see movies in which public who look like them in a positive light, Hollywood doesn’t assemble more of them?

The last instance I experienced anything like that was on Christmas day of last year, when I had the gratification of squeezing into a packed showing of “Dreamgirls.” Now, “Dreamgirls” was a damn fine flick, in my opinion, and watching it with so many eager citizens just made it that much more fun. I’m not certain in hindsight it quite deserved the minutes-long standing ovation it received at the end, but caught up in the moment as I was thereupon it certainly seemed appropriate at the day.

I have to get to work now before I get into hot water, but whether anyone has insight into why more movies like that aren’t made (and no, putting Martin Lawrence in another buddy movie doesn’t count), please let me know.

Original post by Reel Fanatic