Peeples (2013)

37% of critics liked it
(57 reviews)
67% of users liked it
(6,693 ratings)

Sparks fly in the Hamptons when "regular guy" Wade Walker (Craig Robinson) crashes the preppy Peeples family reunion to ask for their precious daughter Grace's (Kerry Washington) hand in marriage. Wade might be a fish out of water among this picture-perfect East Coast clan always… More Sparks fly in the Hamptons when "regular guy" Wade Walker (Craig Robinson) crashes the preppy Peeples family reunion to ask for their precious daughter Grace's (Kerry Washington) hand in marriage. Wade might be a fish out of water among this picture-perfect East Coast clan always trying to keep up appearances, but he's not about to let himself sink. Instead, in a wild weekend of fun, dysfunction and hilarious surprises, Wade is about to discover there's room for all kinds of Peeples in this family, no matter their differences. Writer and first-time director Tina Gordon Chism (writer of DRUMLINE) joins forces with Tyler Perry to present a laugh-out-loud look at the family ties that freak us out . . . but bind us together with love. (c) Lionsgate

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Directed By: Tina Gordon Chism
Written By: Tina Gordon Chism
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: May 10, 2013 Wide
Studio: Lionsgate Films

Critic Reviews

Laremy Legel, Film.com
Saves itself from a complete belly flop by its good-natured charm.
Ben Sachs, Chicago Reader
Writer-director Tina Gordon Chism implies that people should accept each other for who they are, but with no genuine insight to back up this moral, it feels hollow.
Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor
The slapstick is often clunky, but Robinson has a sweet jester's disposition that keeps many of the gags from collapsing.
Alonso Duralde, The Wrap
It's often rote and by-the-numbers, but writer-director Tina Gordon Chism injects the proceedings with enough smart chat, clever situations and spot-on casting choices to make this well-traveled road feel a little less stale.
Connie Ogle, Miami Herald
A meet-the-parents-and-their-rigid-disapproval comedy, with a bit of fish-out-of-water humor tossed in.
Linda Barnard, Toronto Star
Even the bouncy score sounds like it was lifted from an old Three's Company episode; that is when they're not all belting out a song about where it's not cool to pee.
Kimberley Jones, Austin Chronicle
[Writer/director Tina Gordon Chism is ] good at low-key, observational humor, and the all-around excellent cast swings with aplomb from silly to sweet.
David Berry, National Post
The arch and resolution are some indication of how utterly lifeless Peeples is, both in the sense of lacking vitality and having no real connection to how people think, feel and react to situations.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Let's be honest -- harmless it may be, but bad it most certainly is.
Michael Smith, Tulsa World
No one looks more lost in the movie than Washington, its biggest right-this-moment star.
Susan Granger, SSG Syndicate
Formulaically funny, utterly familiar, fish-out-of-water story with a few absurdly engaging comedic touches.
Linda Cook, Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)
A Tyler Perry in producer-name only, 'Peeples' is an uneven comedy with a few laughs and no surprises.
Mike McGranaghan, Aisle Seat
Craig Robinson deserves better. So do Kerry Washington, David Alan Grier, and everyone else who stands before the camera in this clunker.
S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media
Funny but formulaic comedy has some edgy content.
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture
Pleasant, if inane - helped along by a likable cast that's clearly having fun.
Chris Bumbray, JoBlo's Movie Emporium
Better than pretty much everything else associated with Tyler Perry, but that's still not saying much. A talented cast is wasted.
John Beifuss, Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)
Surely it would have been easier to shoot in Perry's home base of Atlanta, but the significant New England location places the movie at the geographical heart of America's origin story...
Jason Buchanan, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Passably endearing despite its sometimes pronounced shortcomings.
Frank Swietek, One Guy's Opinion
Given the quality of the cast,...this highly uneven, ill-constructed comedy is a disappointment.
Leonard Maltin, Leonard Maltin's Picks
Robinson and Washington make a likable couple, and it's nice to see her playing comedy for a change.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Devon B

A Tyler Perry-produced version of "Meet The Parents"? Sure, why not? Wade (Craig Robinson of "The Office" and "Hot Tub Time Machine") is heading up to the Hamptons to meet his girlfriend's family and to propose marriage. The girlfriend's dad… More
A Tyler Perry-produced version of "Meet The Parents"? Sure, why not? Wade (Craig Robinson of "The Office" and "Hot Tub Time Machine") is heading up to the Hamptons to meet his girlfriend's family and to propose marriage. The girlfriend's dad is Judge Virgil Peeples (David Alan Grier), a control freak who feels that Wade is a big loser. Wade must somehow prove to the dad that he's not a loser and is indeed fit for his daughter's hand in marriage, but with the rest of the Peeples family throwing monkey wrenches into the works, it's going to be difficult. No, I wasn't being flippant when I said this was Tyler Perry's "Meet The Parents". Much like the interaction between Robert DeNiro and Ben Stiller, it's the relationship between David Alan Grier and Craig Robinson that's the focus. The other characters may have a moment or two, but for the most part remain in the background. Of course, what Peeples has over Meet the Parents is that David Alan Grier is actually funny compared to Robert DeNiro. Like Bob Hope or even Chevy Chase, Grier plays his part simultaneously straight and winking at the camera. Grier is so adept at deadpan that some might mistake his performance as overly dramatic and unnecessarily heavy. I can assure you this is not the case. Apart from that particular performance, Peeples is your typical dumb summer comedy. Being dumb isn't necessarily bad for a movie like this, as long as it provides laughs or at the least entertainment. I laughed at times, and for the most part was entertained, and so this film was a success in that aspect.
Jeff B

Meeting is such sweet sorrow when it comes to Peeples, a Focker of a dreadful comedy from producer Tyler Perry. Despite a willing and able name cast, the movie amounts to the opposite of a famous left-handed compliment: It's pretty, but doesn't have a great personality.… More
Meeting is such sweet sorrow when it comes to Peeples, a Focker of a dreadful comedy from producer Tyler Perry. Despite a willing and able name cast, the movie amounts to the opposite of a famous left-handed compliment: It's pretty, but doesn't have a great personality. Indeed, for the most part, the energetic ensemble really tries to bring this formulaic "Evil In-Law" schlock to life, regardless of a trail of tearfully tired gags. Truly, moviegoers have seen it all before. Granted, they may not have seen it with all African-American cast but the material will taste like cold second helpings to any and all demographic. In this PG-13-rated supposed comedy, sparks fly when odd-man-out Wade Walker (Robinson) crashes the preppy Peeples annual Hamptons reunion to propose to their precious daughter Grace (Washington). In her first time as a multi-hyphenate, writer/director Tina Chism definitely handles one job better than the other. While she capably helms the breezy goings-on, her script amounts to more yawns than yuks, which is surprising given that she made her name in H'Wood screenwriting decent efforts like ATL and Drumline. It's as if she watched the Meet the Parents trilogy and then took a winning bet that she could improbably do even worse. In his first leading role, proven funnyman Robinson (Hot Tub Time Machine, NBC's The Office) seems willing and able to wring laughs from moviegoers, but he won't earn a second starring turn doing recycled fish-out-of-water shtick like this. Worse, David Allen Grier scuttles his welcome return to cinema screens by overacting. Bottom line: We the Feebles.

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Cast

Craig Robinson
as Wade Walker
Kerry Washington
as Grace Peeples
David Alan Grier
as Virgil Peeples
S. Epatha Merkerson
as Daphne Peeples
Tyler James Williams
as Simon Peeples
Melvin Van Peebles
as Grandpa Peeples
Diahann Carroll
as Nana Peeples
Malcolm Barrett
as Chris Walker
Kali Hawk
as Gloria Peeples
Ana Gasteyer
as Mayor Hodge
Kimrie Lewis-Davis
as Meg
Tyler Williams

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Peeples (2013)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Devon B

Jeff B

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