Ingredient #14: Vital Secondary Character - Fine Brother to the Rescue
Diary of a Mad Black Woman
Who: Shemar Moore, Kimberly Elise
What: When Helen comes home to find that her cheating husband is having her clothes loaded into a U-Haul in the name of hooking up with his mistress, she meets Orlando, the truck's driver who empathizes with her situation and soon takes a shine to Helen.
Meet the Browns
Who: Rick Fox, Angela Bassett
What: Brenda, an attractive struggling Chicago single mom who loses her job, takes her three children to Georgia for her estranged father's funeral where she finds a crass, fun-loving Southern clan--and the possibility of romance with the handsome Harry.
The 'Perry Secret': This "secondary character" or "brother in the wings"--a favorite prototype of Perry's--often arrives on a messy scene with his fine face, surprising depth and fantasy-like sensitivity to bring comfort to the strong, neglected woman-in-need, who's finally getting in touch with a layer of her own vulnerability. He swoops in like a knight, but warning ladies: this is the movies--not real life.
"I think for myself, especially going through it twice, being divorced twice, it would be more of a spiritual commitment. Finding your soul mate and exchanging vows, that's still marriage in a different way. That’s enough for me."
--Janet Jackson, Why Did I Get Married