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My Life Without the Extras

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Submitted By lburns1974
Words 1217
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Eng. 111
Thematic Movie Review
My Life Without The Extras

My life without the extras is depicted very eloquently in one of my favorite movies in the past year, The Single Moms Club. The Single Moms Club is a 2014 American comedy-drama film produced, written, and directed by Tyler Perry. Released in theatres on May 9, 2014 and to DVD on July 22, 2014, The Single Moms Club is an adequate depiction of the struggles in the life of these single mothers. The lead actresses of this movie are Jan (Wendi McLendon-Covey), May (Nia Long), Esperanza (Zulay Henao), Hillary (Amy Smart), and Lytia (Cocoa Brown).
In The Single moms club, schoolyard child’s play at an Atlanta prep school brings a diverse group of women to the principal's office. Their misfits were caught smoking and tagging at school, so these culture clashed women are tasked with organizing a dance and fundraiser as the “parental punishment.” The plot and the characters make The Single Moms Club the wonderful and home hitting movie that I will watch time and time again. The moms are a diverse bunch. Jan is a stern, all-business type trying to make partner where she works but not without the snotty attitude of her little trouble-making daughter. In one of the film's many coincidences, she recently rejected a story idea from May for being urban. May is a journalist and aspiring author, trying to guide her troubled son Rick through the rough waters of having a father that does what he wants but at the expense of everyone else. Then there's Esperanza, who wants to cohabitate with her new man but is unwilling to test the shark infested, financial support waters that her ex-husband has surrounded her with. Now, the opposite of Esperanza is Hillary. She's recovering from a nasty divorce from her attorney husband, who has enough people in “high places” to get an undeserved reduction in the amount of alimony he pays. This forces her to let go of the one person who knows more about her three kids than she does. Lastly there's Lytia, a straight-talking waitress and mother of five who’s youngest earned a scholarship to the exclusive private school. The Single Moms Club hits home with the struggles that many single mothers go through. May’s character, was one of my favorites. She put my life out front in this movie. Dealing with a child who has obvious anger issues due to a father who is absent, is a typical yet well portrayed role. Although, in one scene she waited for her son for several hours after his father was supposed to come get him from school and did not. He gets an attitude and raises his voice at May and storms off. Had this been me and my child it would have ended an entirely different way. Her reaction to his blatant disrespect was almost nonexistent. “Whatever class anxiety and double binds Mr. Perry sets up lose their bite as the film concocts a last-minute conflict and then melts away.” (Rapold, C6) The other characters in this movie, like May, struggle with their own distinct issues. The biggest issue is how they will all get along with this obvious culture clash between them. Although they range from upper professional to fast-food worker, the women find they have one thing in common: that in being a single mom there is a need for a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on. They form an inseparable bond that is complicated when a tragic situation arises. As for the plot of this movie, it was invigorating while keeping my attention throughout the movie. Every time I watch the movie I find one more thing to love. The subtle comedy is amazing. The scene when all of the ladies went out to the movies and they were waiting on Jan’s blind date to show. May turned to Jan and pointed into a crowd of people where an old man with a walker was standing. Jan about had a heart attack. As the elderly man walked past, there was one man left standing, and boy was he sexy. The ladies got a great laugh out of this moment.
Fig. 1: The Single Moms Club. May, Jan, Espiranza, and Lytia out on dates to the movies. Dir. Tyler Perry. Lionsgate. 2014. Source: Google.
Fig. 1: The Single Moms Club. May, Jan, Espiranza, and Lytia out on dates to the movies. Dir. Tyler Perry. Lionsgate. 2014. Source: Google.

This movie is one that shows real challenges of people trying to parent alone. That is what I like most about this movie. As I parent alone with my three children, I feel as Lytia does. With the exception of none of my children going or being in jail we are one in the same. We work and work, just to make sure that our children are afforded the same opportunities that any other child receives and even more. Lytia pushes the one man away that wants to help her deal with all of the things that are going on in her world. As a single mother she lets nothing get in the way of the vision that she has for her children. I can relate to her character one hundred percent. “The movie shows a good balance in the dynamic, and it makes sense that these different women might become friends.” (O’Malley)

Fig. 2: The Single Moms Club. Lytia hard at work at the diner annoyed by one of her frequent customers. Dir. Tyler Perry. Lionsgate. 2014. Source: Google.
Fig. 2: The Single Moms Club. Lytia hard at work at the diner annoyed by one of her frequent customers. Dir. Tyler Perry. Lionsgate. 2014. Source: Google.

In seeing this movie more than 20 times, I can say that this movie is my favorite movie in many years. Out of 5 stars, I would definitely give it a 5 star rating. I have enjoyed watching this movie so much that I have given copies to my single friends as gifts for those days when the struggle gets to be too much. This movie takes an aspect of life that many people face these days, and puts a spin on it adding humor, but giving women grace. The grace to handle their single mother issues and still find happiness in an otherwise unhappy time. “A movie-length act of affirmation, Tyler Perry’s The Single Moms Club saunters through the struggles, hopes, and reconciliations among five mothers making do.” (Rapold, C6) The relationship between snobby Jan and struggling Lytia is a nice mix of comedy and genuine race/class tension. The single Moms Club is a movie I will keep in a safe place for years. When times get rough, and I’m sure they will, this movie will help me see that there is definitely light at the end of the tunnel.

WORKS CITED
The Single Moms Club. Dir. Tyler Perry. Perf. Nia Long, Cocoa Brown, Zulay Henao, Amy Smart, and Wendi McLendon-Covey. Lionsgate, 2014. DVD.
Rapold, Nicolas. “A Cranky Bonding Agent for Society’s Oil and Water.” NYTimes. The New York Times Company, 15 Mar. 2014
O’Malley, Sheila. “The Single Moms Club.” RogerEbert. RogerEbert.com, 14 Mar 2014. Web. 16 April 2014

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