“Duplicity”: A Twisty Legal Thriller Undone by Tyler Perry’s Signature Shortcuts.

The latest film from Tyler Perry titled Duplicity aspires to become a gripping legal thriller mixed with social critique but falls into confusion because of its inconsistent storytelling methods and uncertain tone. The film introduces an intriguing premise: Top-tier lawyer Marley (Kat Graham) needs to discover what really happened when her closest friend Fela’s (Meagan Tandy) spouse Caleb (Joshua Adeyeye) was shot in an unexplained incident. Marley investigates a complex network of hidden truths and shaky alliances with assistance from her boyfriend Kevin (Tyler Lepley) who transitioned from being a police officer to a private investigator.

At first, Duplicity teases an ambitious idea. The film starts by showing the shooting incident but keeps the identity of the shooter hidden. The movie presents the possibility that Perry will delve into themes related to perception while investigating biases and the perilous consequences of making assumptions. Sadly, that promising thread is abandoned early. Instead, the story veers into more familiar Perry territory: The narrative shifts its focus from innovative beginnings to familiar Perry territory which includes courtroom drama, social upheaval and exaggerated confrontation scenes.

Marley begins a battle for significant civil damages when Caleb is revealed to be the officer who killed unarmed Rodney which leads to a campaign built on unclear evidence and dramatic news coverage. Marley faces additional complications when his closest ally Kevin claims he has no information about the event. The pivotal body cam footage shown to Marley leaves viewers without any explanation. Even with modern HD technology and numerous camera perspectives, Perry absurdly maintains the case presentation as a mystery while stretching credibility to create suspense which is no longer necessary.

The story ends with a solid third-act twist that provides meaningful dramatic results. And to their credit, the cast delivers committed performances: Kat Graham enhances her character with depth despite a limited script while Meagan Tandy delivers powerful emotional performances and Tyler Lepley charms viewers even though his talent remains underused. Duplicity fails to surpass its director's typical style which includes expository dialogue, tonal whiplash along with missed opportunities.

Duplicity attempts to explore themes of race and justice while commenting on authenticity in the digital era yet its message becomes unclear because Perry prefers exposition over demonstration. The film approaches complex themes yet ends up relying on predictable clichés.

Final Grade : C

Tyler Perry's Duplicity is available to stream on Prime Vide now.