Tyler Perry has brought back the much-loved and acclaimed ‘Why did I get married?’ movie and for third instalment, – it is aptly called “Why did I get married again?”
Why did I get married again? was released in 2026 on the 9th of September on Netflix. As someone who has followed the movie franchise and story from the first and second editions, I had a keen interest in watching this movie to see how the story develops.
The original, Why did I get married? was released in 2007 while the sequel, Why did I get married too? was released in 2009.
It was great to see all the couples return and reunited as Angela and Marcus played by Tasha Smith and Michael Jai White, open the movie as dinner hosts in their home before everyone jets off to a destination wedding in Italy. All couples return except Patricia (The author who was among the main characters for both instalments, played by Janet Jackson). Her absence was evident and felt.
Patricia played the key role of unifying all the characters particularly towards the end of Why did I get married too?, where she suffered a meltdown before tragically losing her husband, Gavin (played my Mark Yoba). Gavin passed away on Why did I get married too? after being ran over by a moving truck, following a heated argument with his wife, Patricia, that turned lethal. Also back are Terry and Dianne (portrayed by Tyler Perry and Sharon Leal), Troy and Sheila (portrayed by Lamman Rucker and Jill Scott respectively).
New additions
Why did I get married again? introduces Taraji P Henson (Roselyn) who is a long-time friend of the group and the mother of the groom-to-be. The movie centres around the wedding of two new characters Jasmine (bride-to-be) and Wesley (groom-to-be) who are portrayed by Armani Greer and Everette Osborne. Jasmine is the daughter of Angela and Marcus while Wesley is the son of the new character, Roselyn. The movie introduces the kids of the couples we have grown to love and follow over the years – Kenya and T.J. portrayed by Laya Deleon Hayes and Jaden Michael (who are Dianne and Terry’s children), Marcus Jr. played by Da’Vinchi (Angela and Marcus’s son) and Denver (Sheila and Troy’s son). Other new characters include Nick and Regina who are potrayed by Derrick A. King and Sydney Winbush. The movie does a good job in introducing the old generation cast to the new ones as the story looks set to possibly develop further. Some characters are more pivotal to the story this time around than others.
Stunning location
The story focuses on the complicated love story between Jasmine and Wesley who are the bride and groom to be respectively. The lovebirds are set to get married in Italy and the movie takes place for much of the time in Italy where the drama, secrets and wedding itself, take place – a beautiful setting for the development of the love story that we’ve grown to enjoy following.
Main theme
The main idea through the movie is showing the children how there is no such a concept as a perfect couple or marriage when the couples get a chance to come clean and be vulnerable in front of their children – being open and honest about their respective marriages. This is to set a solid foundation for the newlyweds – who also have a secret of their own that aims to be a litmus test for their marriage foundation. It’s the reassurance from the parents, about the real truth behind marriage to their kids that makes for a beautiful moment of connection and closeness. This is what I believe to be the main message of the movie.
Concerns
I however noticed two points of concern that I believe, weigh the beautiful story down for me. – flat and misplaced characters in terms of development and storyline.
1. Flat character development
There are a number of characters who I find are flat. They don’t change, evolve or show growth with the story. I don’t see the need of the Mike character, returning to his old self, unchanged and not adding value but mere light humour to the story. Mike comes back with a new younger girlfriend and still has a grudge over being left by Shelia, who she once married, abused then divorced in the first instalment of the movie. He returns with a wig on that serves no purpose. I would have expected him to turn over a new leaf as someone who has grown to appreciate his mistakes and who works on rebuilding his life outside of Shelia. Instead, he is still in the picture – I don’t know for what purpose – still bitter and hell bent on exposing everyone’s secrets and cause distraction yet again. He still refers to Sheila as his ex and inappropriately so as “his leftover” in the movie. He clearly hasn’t moved on.
The other characters who remain flat and disappointing are Sheila and Troy. These two are the couple that we’ve grown to love in the movie. After the traumatic experience of being in a toxic relationship with Mike, Sheila finally moved on and found her soul mate through Troy, when she least expected it. Years later, she is still reeling from the toxic relationship that she had with Mike that she even projects it onto the bride-to-be as her attempt to address an issue that is brought to her attention, which is not clearly laid out at first. She is still insecure and not fully embracing her new life now with Troy. Sheila’s husband is also back, though also flat with no growth.
Both are now parents to Denver, and that aspect of their growth is not fully explored in the movie. Troy is still easily angered by Mike’s presence and the two’s relation is non-existent. Not that they should have a relationship but to cordially deal with their differences as adults and move on beyond them. That part is not addressed. Troy also returns with a grey hairdo, possibly to reflect their age now but still struggling to make ends meet as it is portrayed. The movie fails to give him an opportunity to elevate his status and to sharpen his approach on relating with people whom he doesn’t get along with. The movie missed an opportunity to show us who and how they are now as parents. Dianne and Terry both remain as a flat couple, with nothing new to offer except their picture-perfect projections onto their kids, who are now bearing the brunt of it.
2.Misplaced characters
I know the production team had to navigate not having Janet Jackson return as Patricia and toil around the idea of possibly replacing her or making room for a new character that will act as a diversion. Taraji P Henson enters the story to offer that aspect, in my view. She enters as someone who appears to be a celebrity when two ladies approach her, asking for a selfie as she lands at the airport but that’s as far as the aspect of her fame in the story reaches. I found it difficult to place her role and significance in the story, with how she relates to all the other returning characters. I found her a complete misfit. She comes in strong as a troubled divorcee who’s fresh from a settlement and happens to be the mother to the groom-to-be. We are introduced to both mother and son who have do not eye to eye and have some unresolved issues, that get ironed out eventually in Italy before the wedding. Taraji does offer a strong performance as Roselyn, who’s navigating motherhood and finding love at the same time. But her placement and how she tries to fit into the story through with the other characters, gets confusing and feels forced and rushed. There was a missed opportunity on the Mike, Sheila and Troy characters.
The missing link and final verdict
I’ve attempted finding out the reason behind Janet Jackson no-show for the third instalment and according to Timeslive, there was a scheduling conflict between where she lives and where the movie was shot and perhaps a tour in-between that she was on at the time of filming. It is also said that she did not want to relive the trauma and emotional turmoil of the character she left on Why did I get married too?. Whichever the reason, her absence was felt and may be one of the reasons why the third instalment of this movie fails to launch for me. The first two movies were solid and good.
When a movie returns, it becomes crucial for the storyline to be kept intact and to flow seamlessly from where things left off. Viewers can easily piggyback from the last movie. New characters can be brought in but there must be a careful transition and clear link. There must also be an intentional growth and development aspect for the characters from the producers and writing team to reflect the evolution with time factor.
Reports also reveal that Tyler Perry has kept the room open for Janet Jackson to return to the franchise, potentially in the future. You would remember the last scene on Why did I get married too? when Patricia was approached by a new character, Daniel Franklin played by Dwayne ‘The Rock‘ Johnson in a cameo role. It remains to be told, what develops from that encounter.
On the flip side though, does the movie change your perspectives on marriage and the concept around “there is no such thing as a perfect couple or marriage”?
Reference
https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2026-09-15-tyler-perry-reveals-why-janet-jackson-did-not-return-for-why-did-i-get-married-again/
