Kim Kardashian, otherwise known as reality TV royalty, recently celebrated her 31st birthday and one of her gifts consisted of a movie role. The socialite and businesswoman landed a co-starring role in Tyler Perry’s new film The Marriage Counselor.
“Big news!! I’m co-starring in Tyler Perry’s new movie!” Kim gushed with excitement via her Twitter. However moviegoers and Tyler Perry fans were not very pleased.
In fact critics were seen saying, “WOW Tyler Perry you just lowered your bar…” and “I won’t be watching this one Tyler, I hope you’re ready to lose money.”
Kim Kardashian is best known for her multi-million dollar brand, curvaceous frame and being the ringleader of the Kardashian clan. Her empire includes books, fragrances and hit reality TV shows. Unfortunately amidst her successes, major acting roles are not included. Except for her small parts in Disaster Movie (2008) and Deep in the Valley (2009), Kim’s filmography resume is quite short. This is a huge production and folks are questioning, did Tyler Perry cast Kim Kardashian off of talent or pure popularity?
The film centers on a marriage counselor, Judith whose own marriage begins to fall apart. She ends up cheating on her husband, and Kardashian will play co-worker Eva who takes her for a makeover to cheer up her spirit. Actress Jurnee Smollett, a veteran in Hollywood, plays Judith.
Smollett’s acting career began at the age of 4, most recognized as the precocious friend of Michelle Tanner on Full House. She landed major roles in critically acclaimed films like 1997’s Eve’s Bayou and 2007’s The Great Debaters. Now while she is experienced and will be a natural in front of the camera, it’s hard to image that Kim will. However, if she was hired based off popularity, perhaps that’s fine. But she will really have to prove herself.
At first I was a little shocked to learn that Kim will star in Tyler Perry’s latest production. Simply because Kim is registered in my mind as a socialite and reality TV star but once I read the description for her role, it was believable. The role suits her, some have questioned Kim’s acting ability and said she cannot act, but it’s silly to make big statements like those if the movie hasn’t been released yet. The last time we’ve seen her on the big screen was four years ago, perhaps she’s improved since then.
Some even say that Tyler Perry is trying to attract a new audience by casting a Kardashian. What is wrong with having a diverse audience? Should black people make black films for only black people to see, forever? Sounds illogical. With Kim’s growing empire, it’s for certain she has the money to pay for top notch acting coaches to prepare her for one of the biggest roles of her career. Others rant that Kim is stealing roles from real actresses in Hollywood that deserve the part, yet Tyler Perry is known for giving every actor/actress in town a shot at stardom, so why can’t he give Kim one?
This is a role that Kim can handle, she is a newlywed and is fashionable and knowledgeable when it comes to giving makeovers, the script will not sound foreign to her.
Both Kim and Tyler are no stranger to controversy. Tyler Perry has caught heat these last few years. Most recently cultural critic Touré compared Perry’s work to “cinematic malt liquor.”
He went on to say “Tyler Perry is one of—if not the worst—director in Hollywood. I can’t think of no aspect of the film making craft that he excels at, certainly not acting or writing or cinematography or directing or set design, he perhaps excels at marketing but that’s not really a film making craft.”
Touré’s commentary aligns with director Spike Lee’s, who famously labeled Perry’s films “Coonery and buffoonery.” While Kim has been trying to clean up the mess her sex tape left behind. Despite heavy criticism, according to Forbes Magazine, Tyler Perry is the highest paid man in Hollywood, grossing $500 million worldwide. And Kim is continuing to climb the success ladder, not to mention she just televised her fabulous wedding to Khris Humphries.
The Marriage Counseler will begin filming on October 26, 2011 in Atlanta.
“This is such an amazing opportunity and I can’t wait to start filming!” Kim announced via her website.
What do you think?
