Analyze This | The Brothers from Tyler Perry’s Good Deeds Decoded

Tyler Perry’s Good Deeds movie opened in theaters a few weeks ago, and although I was planning to see the movie during opening weekend, I became very ill and could not make it to the theater. Once I finally did, I discovered that the movie was far more than what was on the surface. Tyler Perry’s Good Deeds is a movie that is filled with a host of life experiences that we can all relate to in one form or another. This is not more evident than with the characters Wesley Deeds, played by Tyler Perry, and his brother Walter Deeds, played by actor Brian White. In what will be a two-part series, I will (without spilling the beans of the storyline of the movie! ) decode the anatomy of the Deeds brothers, and show how their life experiences are very parallel to some of our own.

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I will first begin with the character Walter Deeds. He is Wesley’s younger brother.

Walter Deeds was very confident in his skills and abilities. He was also very assured of the weight of his contributions. However his skills and contributions were almost always overshadowed by others, sometimes going unrecognized. It made me think of how often in life do we feel the very same way: that our talents go unnoticed, or our contributions are overshadowed by other factors (or people), be it in the professional realm or the personal realm. I also thought about how dealing with such a thing can be extremely difficult.

In addition to having to deal with being under-appreciated, Walter Deeds also watched as others lived out the dreams that he yearned for. Carrying a huge load of pain and frustration, he really didn’t know how to properly handle it, which led to him engaging in self-destructive and sabotaging behaviors. I pondered how many of us allow our emotions and life circumstances to get the best of us, and we find ourselves acting out instead of taking the actions needed to either resolve our problems completely, or at the very least try to make them better. In times when we are unsure of how to do that or even where to start, I wondered how many of us actually seek outside sources for additional help before things get too severe.

(Photo Credit: Tyler Perry Studios)

Even though Walter was not too fond of being protected by his family, he expected it. In his mind, it was a given that no matter what his situation or action, his family would always be readily available to come to his aid and pick up the pieces. This convenience became more of a crutch for Walter than it did a help, and a huge burden for his family. It made me reflect on how much we rely on the availability and agreement of our family, friends, business partners, etc. for our problems. I thought about how such dependence can cause us to place a low value on their time and take their care and love for us for granted. I wondered how often we consider their feelings or what we may be putting them through with our behaviors, or if we even try to explore other solutions that would be better for both parties involved.

Walter Deeds had many issues, but he also had many pains—pains that he wasn’t sure how to tackle, and those who were closest to him were not sure how to assist with. Like Walter, many of us are dealing with life situations where we are experiencing the same dilemma. No matter what the problem may be, it is important to stop and take time to do serious self-reflection. Think about what is taking place, the way that it may be impacting you and those around you, and what can be done to make changes. Don’t be afraid to seek professional help if needed. The moment that you do, you will find that it will make life a lot better for everyone—especially for yourself.

Have you ever had one of the experiences or thougts listed above? If so, how did you deal with them? What are your ways of managing such feelings? Share with me below or tell me about it at: melisasource@yahoo.com.

(additional photo credit: BET)

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