Review | Good Deeds (Blu-ray) | Blu-ray Authority

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Plot: What’s it about?Video: How does it look?Audio: How does it sound?Supplements: What are the extras?

Plot: What’s it about?

Wesley Deeds (Tyler Perry) has found success in his professional life, but his personal life remains unfulfilled. This is in part because he has always done what he was told, rather than what he wanted. So he has been able to live a good life in some ways, but never able to feel like his own man. He is reliable if nothing else, predictable in all ways, down to his fiancee knowing exactly what he is going to say. At the same time, one of his employees finds herself in a bad spot, as she faces eviction and that would cause her and her daughter serious problems. So she heads to the office to pick up a paycheck, but she is in such a rush that she parks in Wesley’s personal space. This leads to a chance encounter that introduces the repressed Wesley to his employee, a free spirited single mother, each with their own issues. Is this just a coincidence and even if it wasn’t, will Wesley be able to overcome the people who holds him back enough to take action?

I have to be honest, Good Deeds wasn’t a movie I was looking forward to. I’ve seen some of Tyler Perry’s Madea films and I wasn’t at all a fan. But Good Deeds seemed a little more grounded, so I wasn’t totally tuned out. While the film is not a classic, Good Deeds is head and shoulders above Perry’s usual work. The story is simple and predictable, but he is able to keep the melodrama to a minimum and that makes a huge difference. The characters and story take the spotlight instead of over the top outbursts, which makes for a more enjoyable experience. As I said, Good Deeds is by no means great however. Perry is mediocre at best, but is smart enough here to surround himself with capable talent. Phylica Rashad has a memorable turn here, while Thandie Newton and Gabrielle Union are solid as well. So if you’re a Tyler Perry fan, you’ll probably love this one, but even for non fans, at least it is better than the Madea movies.

Video: How does it look?

Good Deeds is presented in 2.35:1 widescreen. This is an impressive transfer, as detail is remarkable and depth really shines in numerous scenes. Some of the darker interior scenes lose some of that detail, but most sequences really sparkle and show off some terrific fine detail. The colors look accurate and natural, while contrast is strong in most scenes, but as I said, some interior shots are overly dark. In the end, not quite an elite level transfer, but quite an impressive effort.

Audio: How does it sound?

This movie isn’t driven by high impact audio, but this DTS HD 5.1 soundtrack provides an impressive experience. The surrounds are used not for power, but for atmosphere. This makes even simple conversation scenes seem more natural and alive, which is a boon to the viewer. I found dialogue to be crystal clear, with the background elements serving to add depth and never overshadowing the vocals. The music sounds terrific as well, with lively presence throughout. This release also includes a Spanish language track, as well as subtitles in English and Spanish.