Why are they still surprised?

Tyler Perry's new movie kicked arse at the box office, this weekend, and the headlines registered surprise.

Why?

Because summer's blockbusters were so blood soaked that we've forgotten how to enjoy a movie without a body count?

Because "A-listers" like George Clooney and Cate Blanchett are supposed to automatically draw every human being near a theatre inside?

Or is it something a little more covert? Something publications are too polite to say outright?

Many of the headlines announcing how well Why did I get married? did, did so with an undertone of "Boy can you believe Michael Clayton and Elizabeth: The Golden Age weren't number one, this weekend?"

Of course those movies had a bigger budget than Perry's and the marketing hype alone should have equaled dollars. Yeah, after all the hype, I'm surprised they didn't win either. Except that's now how the game is played.

Now and then a movie or book comes along that rests on its quality and not the promo machine.

I think what the headlines really wanted to say is - Oh my God, can you believe a black movie beat out all the "mainstream" flicks?!

Yes, I pulled the race card. Because sometimes it has to be pulled. It has to be said.

I'm sick of the labels "black" movies, "black" books, "black" television shows. But then I wasn't the one who invented those labels. So I take great pleasure when those "black" vehicles pull in "white" numbers.

Wait? You mean the numbers aren't white? Or black? Merely green you say?

You're right. And it's been proven time and again that when a movie's story line offers something besides the stereotypical shoot 'em up, gangsta hood movie, African Americans will spend their money to see it.

Just as they'll spend money to see mainstream fare with themes that cross the races.

Yet, here we are October 15, 2007 with people still astounded that Tyler Perry's movie opened number one and pulled in $21.5 million. Even though Madea's Family Reunion pulled in $30 its opening weekend.

How many times does a black director not named Spike Lee have to pull in those kind of numbers before it's no longer a fluke? An anamoly? A freak of nature?

I've been quite vocal that I'm not a huge Tyler Perry fan. His "faith-based" movies tend to be a bit too message-y for me. Yet, I've seen two of them now and enjoyed both once I squashed the inner critic that wanted to scream, "These storylines are way too nicely tied up!"

I rarely go to opening night of a movie. But I did Friday. And I enjoyed the movie. Apparently so did $21.5 million dollars worth of other people. If you can ignore the fact that the there was definitely going to be a happy ending and that things were going to be a bit sappy, it's a really good movie. A movie that any couple - married, engaged or otherwise - can relate.

The movie never answers the title's question, but instead proves that the answer is an ever evolving thing for all couples.

If a movie like Knocked Up can pull in the big bucks and the critic's adoration, why shouldn't a sweet, sincere movie like "Married?"

Just once, I'd like to pick up a copy of EW or USA Today and see a headline that puts some confidence in a "black" movie instead of the usual healthy dose of incredulity.

And to the Yahoo reviewer who called Perry a racist because the movie didn't have any white people...you are the reason there are "black" movies and "white" movies. SHUT UP!!!