Nobody’s Fool is a romantic comedy by Tyler Perry that is good, but I think he tried to put too many lover’s scenarios into one story. You almost get lost trying to remember where you are in the story and the wrap up is a little weak, with the girl singing in the rain outside waiting for the man to open the door. The idea of being “catfishes” is introduced, when someone pretends to be someone else online, and you almost have too much to keep up with.
The romantic story is a good one, a talented ad exec, Danica played by lovely Tika Sumpter, lands a lucrative pitch for a new product, right at the same time as her obnoxious, ex-convict sister, Tanya, comes to stay. She needs to help her get a job and straighten out and also help herself keep the new account, date a man long distance that she’s never seen and seemingly fend off the advances of an undesirable suitor. Omari Harwick plays Frank – those eyes, that face! – with smoldering intensity, you know he’s the good one from the start. Of course, Danica looks the other way once she learns he’s also an ex-convict and thinks he’s not the one for her. Meanwhile, Tanya goes behind her back to investigate the never seen boyfriend, Charlie.
I think the comedy part was way too much, the delivery by Tiffany Haddish is overbearing and harsh, filled with profanity, and only funny for the first 10 seconds. After that, I think it needed to be toned down. Whoopi Goldberg is the girl’s mother, Lola, popping in and out in a marijuana haze to drop her pearls of wisdom. I never liked the idea that she wants to wear wigs during her performances, it looked fake and unnecessary. Chris Rock has a small part that’s a little corny but important to the movie.
It turns out that the unseen boyfriend is real, and when he shows up, Danica learns the real truth about being involved with someone you’ve never met and that what you have in front of you is what you should be looking at. All in all it was a good story. I think this batch of movies with Tiffany Haddish are a vehicle to promote her comedy, I think she may need to work on her acting a bit now. We get it, you are funny (sometimes), so let’s see what your acting is really like.
Overall, thumbs up, nice for a matinee or weeknight movie, see it with a friend, you will laugh and have a good time.