The subject of today’s review is Tyler Perry. His frequent character Madea is not in the house, but Mr. Deeds is.

Tyler Perry’s “Good Deeds,” recently released to home video, puts Perry in the shoes of Wesley Deeds, a wealthy CEO who gets mixed up in the troubles of a maid (Thandie Newton) who works in his building. As we’ve come to expect, Perry wrote and directed the film.

You’ve seen similar films before with the theme of rags versus riches. Jennifer Lopez’s work in “Maid in Manhattan” comes to mind. But “Good Deeds” wasn’t what I expected. Perry earns points by tossing in some dimension and the unexpected into this piece and avoiding some more cliché choices.

Phylicia Rashad reminds audiences that she’s a force to be reckoned with in her role as Wesley’s somewhat domineering mother. And the always-beautiful Gabrielle Union is as capable as ever in the part of Wesley’s live-in fiancée. Add Newton to this mix, and you have some powerful women on the screen. That’s not unusual for a Perry project. However, Rebecca Romjin, as the fiancée’s best friend, is grossly under-utilized.

“Good Deeds” is a decent drama, but it pales in comparison to “The Family that Preys,” my favorite Perry film. While I remain a fan of Perry’s work, this one lacked some true sparkle.

I’m not that much of a fan!

However, Perry is gearing up for a crime thriller called “Alex Cross,” which will be released in October. Cross, the detective from several James Patterson novels, was acted by Morgan Freeman in “Kiss the Girls” and “Along Came a Spider.” I’m excited to see Perry in this role.

McBrayer’s column appears weekly in the Courier. If you’re a fan of Showtime with Sasha, watch reviews at www.coastalcourier.com.