Doctor Detroit (1983)

I have always liked Dan Aykroyd, ever since his days as a cast member during the first five years of "Saturday Night Live" (1975-present). He's not only funny, but he is a fine dramatic actor, having been nominated for an Best Supporting Actor Oscar in 1990 for the film Driving Miss Daisy (1989). Doctor Detroit was released a couple of years after Neighbors (1981), a film he had done with his late buddy, John Belushi.

The movie could have been funnier in a lot of spots, but it's not horrible. Clifford Skirdlow (Aykroyd) is a conservative and somewhat eccentric college professor who finds himself in the position of protecting four hookers (Donna Dixon, Lydia Lei, Fran Drescher, Lynn Whitfield) after their pimp, Diavolo (T.K. Carter), gets in trouble with a crime boss known as Mom (Kate Murtaugh). Diavolo makes up a story to Mom that he's been intimidated by a guy named Doctor Detroit. Clifford has to pull many a ruse to keep the girls out of trouble, including taking on the Doctor Detroit persona.

There's a scene where Thelma (Lynn Whitfield) is hauled into court for streetwalking. Clifford peeks in and notices the judge (Parley Baer) is a Southern good old boy. Clifford gets a white suit and pretends that he's a country lawyer, gets on the judge's good side, and convinces him to let Thelma go. The judge then sees Thelma, who is brought into the room after the charges has been dropped. As Clifford hustles her out, the prejudiced judge protests, "That girl is colored!" Thelma snapped back, "Ain't nobody took no crayon to me!"

Aykroyd's younger brother, Peter, has a small role. Ms. Drescher had her own TV series, "The Nanny"(1993-1998) and she was in the film This Is Spinal Tap (1984). Ms. Whitfield was in "The Josephine Baker Story" (1991) and won an Emmy for her portrayal of the famous performer. The late James Brown performs in this movie, and Ms. Dixon married Aykroyd in real life.

Madea's Family Reunion (2006)

The film is somewhat different than the popular stage play. The granddaughter engaged to a well-to-do man who beat her is still there, but the plot about another granddaughter with a drug problem is gone. Also, the story about the granddaughter trying to salvage her troubled marriage to an ex-con is missing. Added is a granddaughter who is being wooed by a bus driver, and a mouthy foster kid whom Madea is forced to take in.

There is a lot of sermonizing in the movie. In addition to advice Madea gives out to family members, Cicely Tyson and Maya Angelou have scenes where they have speeches about love and respect. The story is heavy-handed, but amusing in spots. A scene where Madea slaps around a bully who's messing with her foster daughter is a crowd pleaser. Blair Underwood proves that he can play a good bad guy, as the odious fiance of one of the granddaughters. Lynn Whitfield also has good scenes as a calculating witch of a mother. Tyler Perry, the star, director, and writer of the film, has three roles as outspoken Madea, outspoken Uncle Joe, and a lawyer who's a nephew of Madea.

Ms. Tyson is a respected actress with numerous appearances on TV and in film, including the excellent made-for-TV- film, "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman". Ms. Angelou is an well-known author and speaker. Mr. Underwood had been a cast member on TV's "L.A. Law", and appeared as Jada Pinkett Smith's love interest in the movie Set It Off.