SHIFTER’s Kevin Bourne says Tyler Perry’s latest film is “easily Tyler Perry’s best work yet” in this The Six Triple Eight review.
Back in 2022, we crowned A Jazzman’s Blues as Tyler Perry’s “best work yet”. Well, the Atlanta-based mogul and multihyphenate has outdone himself once again with his latest film The Six Triple Eight.
In the past, Perry has built a reputation for over-the-top dramas for his loyal, and mostly African-American, audience. Some of his series have been accused of being rushed with sometimes mediocre acting performances and writing. As a result, his previous work has rarely, if ever, received awards or critical acclaim, but that may change with The Six Triple Eight.
Inspired by actual events, The Six Triple Eight tells the story of the first and only Women’s Army Corps unit of color to serve overseas in WWII. What begins as a seemingly menial task of providing mail service to the troops ends up being an almost insurmountable mission of sorting through and delivering a three-year backlog of mail in just six months and providing their fellow soldiers with hope and morale; all while facing sexism, racism and poor work conditions from the very higher ups who deployed them and are hoping they will fail. Charged with leading this group of unlikely heroes and whipping them into shape is Major Charity Adams (Kerry Washington).
Although they were snubbed at the recent Golden Globe Award nomination announcement, the film had some of the best performances of the year (and in my opinion, the Best Original Song). Washington is known for her ability to convey emotion and to act with her eyes without having to say a word, and she brings that to this nuanced character as she goes from tough drill sergeant to caring mother figure. Meanwhile, Ebony Obsidian, who also stars in Tyler Perry’s comedy drama Sistas, did an excellent job in her portrayal of Lena Derricott, who goes from the petite yet tenacious underdog, and the weak link in the unit, to a leader and hero. With previous roles in If Beale Street Could Talk, Sistas, and Wutang: An American Saga, Obsidian is an actor with a bright future and lengthy career ahead of her. Bigger roles loading…
Also delivering a memorable performance was Shanice Williams as the funny and sexy Johnnie Mai, who starts out being a bit of an opp and agitator for Lena Derricott and the rest of the unit, but soon becomes one of the girls. Every group of friends has that one person who is unfiltered and unapologetically themselves. Well, this is her.
Between A Jazzman’s Blues and The Six Triple Eight, Tyler Perry shows that when he takes his time with a project, especially the script, he is able to create award-worthy films. But it’s also in the casting where Tyler Perry shows his continued growth and evolution as a filmmaker. With names like Kerry Washington, Susan Sarandon (Eleanor Roosevelt), and Oprah Winfrey (Mary McLeod Bethune), this is one of the most impressive casts for a Tyler Perry directed film yet, second only to The Family That Preys (2008). We typically see Tyler Perry making shows and movies with predominantly Black casts, so seeing a legend like Sarandon, as well as hundreds of white supporting and background actors, on screen makes The Six Triple Eight a different kind of Tyler Perry movie. Perry has always existed on the periphery of Hollywood, satisfying his dedicated African-American audience, but this is the first Tyler Perry project that doesn’t feel like a Black film or TV show. The Six Triple Eight story isn’t Black history; it’s American history, and dare I say, Perry’s crossover into the mainstream and the big leagues of award-worthy projects. Where his previous films felt like movies, Six Triple Eight is cinema; it’s art. It’s a moving film that will, at times, have you in tears. At the same time, it does a good job of walking the fine line of tackling racism and prejudice while not being Black trauma porn that will be triggering to Black audiences.
As Black folk, not only should we feel proud this film and the real life members of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, but of Tyler Perry and how far he’s come as a writer and filmmaker over the years. Overall, The Six Triple Eight is easily Tyler Perry’s best work yet.
Kevin Bourne is SHIFTER’s Toronto-based editor and Senior Entertainment Reporter focusing on Black music and film & TV. He was named one of 300 international voters for the 81st and 82nd Golden Globe Awards by the Golden Globe Foundation and a Tomatometer-Approved Critic by Rotten Tomatoes.
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