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Edwin Davies: As a gimmick, it's a very good one and the result is suitably impressive. As Reagan points out, the appeal of the film is that it offers something that people haven't seen before, so there's a tremendous novelty to it. I'm not sure whether or not this is going to lead to a slew of these sort of action films starring real life soldiers, especially since it's got to be tough to sequelize something when you're trying to protect the identities of those involved so probably can't bring the same character back without taking the soldiers away from active from duty, but as a one-off, this is a very profitable little endeavor.

David Mumpower: Personally, I feel people are working too hard to introduce politics into the equation. This is a fantastic opening for a movie with such a modest budget. It is in the greater scheme a modest debut for an action film. We have seen five openings larger than this already in 2012; to wit, Act of Valor would have been the fourth largest opener a couple of weeks ago. It is effectively tied with Contraband, a similar film in the genre for which we did not debate red/blue state interest. So, I'm going to ignore all the nonsense about politics and say that this is a real life version of Call of Duty. I fully understand why there was some excitement about the project and I think it's awesome than some people who spent their lives in the line of fire are getting a moment in the sun from this. This is a box office triumph since Relativity Media was so frugal with the budget.

Man, now Tyler Perry is bragging about all the great stuff he does.

Kim Hollis: Tyler Perry's Good Deeds, the latest film from one of the most prolific talents in the industry, opened to $15.6 million. What do you think of this result?

Brett Beach: Taken in the ranking of things, it's his second worst opening for his projects going back to Diary of a Mad Black Woman. However, it does represent a departure from both Madea-related features and from the large ensemble pictures he usually does. Perry is the lead, is front and center in the advertising, is in fact, carrying the film on his name alone (even more so than usual). I think it is still a decent opening, and wouldn't be worried until his opening weekend gross drops below $10 million. I think his next project is a Madea film, which is smart and should see the expectedly larger gross.

Bruce Hall: It's not hard to be prolific once you've found a formula. Ask Michael Bay. But Tyler Perry is who he is; the Male Oprah. The Moprah. And he DOES have a formula. Each film is more or less an obvious series of narrative beats punctuated by predictable themes on faith, family and responsibility. For good measure, slather on a generous amount of sugary treacle. Optionally, add Tyler Perry in drag waving a gun around. Half-bake at 250 degrees for 100 minutes.

Serve lukewarm. Count money. Repeat twice a year.

I can't sit here and say why this opening weekend was so relatively lackluster, but what I can say is this: 1) This movie will make a profit, because... 2) It doesn't have cost a lot to make the same movie repeatedly, and... 3) His fans don't seem to mind paying for the same message over and over again because... 4) They're the only ones who go to see his films, because... 5) Each one is a love letter specifically for THEM.

You won't find a more perfect formula outside Coca-Cola headquarters in Atlanta. Oh, and 6) Tyler Perry's next movie IS about Madea, and this time it also stars Denise Richards and Tom Arnold...so...you know...it'll probably be good.

Reagen Sulewski: I wonder if Tyler Perry ever has nightmares where he can't take the Madea suit off.

Edwin Davies: This is towards the lower end of what I expected since I had started to think that, whilst his non-Madea movies will always open lower than his Madea ones, his name alone would be enough to ensure a bigger opening than this. At the same time, this is somewhat unlike a lot of his other films since there isn't the same broad ensemble cast to fall back on: the whole film rests on Perry's shoulders. That his audience continues to follow him regardless of what he does displays almost unheard of consistency in the modern movie industry, so to see him open a film without wearing a fatsuit or relying on other gimmicks to $16 million is very impressive. Though it didn't have to be, considering how cheaply he makes his films.

David Mumpower: I think we are focusing too much on the non-Madea aspect when I believe this is something simpler. Consumers are suffering from Tyler Perry exhaustion. With such a constant onslaught of products, each new release has to differentiate itself in a manner that justifies the price of admission. Good Deeds was lacking in this regard and that's why people are waiting to spend the dollar at Redbox.

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