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Daddy s Little Girls is a 2007 American film written and directed by Tyler Perry and produced by Perry and Reuben Cannon. The film stars Idris Elba, Gabrielle Union, Louis Gossett Jr., and Tracee Ellis Ross. It tells the story of a lawyer who helps a mechanic in a custody battle against his mean-spirited ex-wife over who will get custody of their daughters.
Daddy s Little Girls was released on February 14, 2007 by Lions Gate Entertainment. This is one of only four films directed by Perry that he does not appear in (the other three being Acrimony, For Colored Girls and Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor) as well as the first of Perry s films to not be based on any of the filmmaker s stage plays.
Plot
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This article s plot summary may be too long or excessively detailed. (April 2022)
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In Edgewood, Atlanta, Monty James (Idris Elba) is a mechanic working for Willie (Louis Gossett Jr.) who dreams of owning his own shop. He has three daughters: Sierra (Sierra McClain), Lauryn (Lauryn McClain), and China (China Anne McClain). The children have been cared for by their elderly maternal grandmother Kat (Juanita Jennings) with frequent visits from Monty along with financial support. Before her death from lung cancer, Kat asks Monty to take custody of his daughters since her daughter/Monty s ex-wife Jennifer (Tasha Smith) is both mean-spirited and self-serving. Jennifer has little to no interest in her daughters, having not visited them in several months prior to her mother’s death. She is preferably more involved in the business activity of her live-in boyfriend Joe (Gary Anthony Sturgis), the main drug dealer in the neighborhood who people are afraid of testifying against or else he ll have them killed.
Following Kat s funeral, Jennifer arrives with Joe and his thugs upset that no one notified her of her mother’s death. Jennifer tries to physically take the girls from Monty demanding that they leave with her and Joe, but her aunt Rita (Cassi Davis) steps in and stops her. She leaves, but informs Monty that she intends to seek full custody of the girls.
In an effort to earn extra money, Monty accepts a job as a driver for Julia Rossmore (Gabrielle Union), an attorney, at the recommendation of his next-door neighbor Maya (Malinda Williams) who works as her assistant. When Monty and Julia meet, she insists they refrain from fraternizing and keeps a strict schedule. Monty has to work later than expected one night after Julia’s friends, Brenda (Terri J. Vaughn) and Cynthia (Tracee Ellis Ross), set Julia up on a blind date with Byron (Craig Robinson) who turns out to be an unemployed and obnoxious aspiring rapper. While driving Julia home, Monty receives a call that his children were involved in a house fire. Without explanation to Julia, Monty immediately heads to the hospital against the protest of an uninformed Julia who fires him.
When Monty arrives at the hospital, it is revealed that Sierra accidentally started a fire and that the girls were home alone with no adult supervision until Maya rescued them. Julia follows Monty into the hospital to demand she be driven home in time to hear the Social Services representative Laurie Bell (Donna Biscoe) who was notified by the hospital, make the decision based on the circumstances, to grant immediate temporary custody to their mother, setting a date for a custody hearing. Monty drives Julia home and they part ways. Julia hires a replacement driver and Monty returns to work as a mechanic. Meanwhile, the girls face constant abuse and neglect from Joe and Jennifer.
Monty is called to Sierra s school after she is caught with drugs according to the principal (Bennet Guillory). Sierra explains to Monty that Joe and Jennifer are forcing her to sell drugs under the threat of hurting Monty if she refused. Jennifer and Joe arrive and are enraged that the school contacted Monty. Joe threatens Monty during a brief altercation in the principal s office. Aware that Joe can afford a high-power attorney for the custody hearing, Monty goes to Julia for help. Julia knows that he cannot afford to hire the firm and turns him away, interpreting his actions as an attempt to use her to get custody of the girls solely so he can use them to get government assistance. Feeling Insulted, Monty leaves after telling Julia to get a life and a man.
Julia goes on another blind date with the attorney Christopher (Brian J. White) who she thinks is perfect for her until his wife and kids expose him. On the day of Monty’s custody hearing, Julia is leaving a different courtroom and overhears Monty’s failing attempt to represent himself. After listening to Monty try to inform the judge that the girls are living with a drug dealer, she steps in as his attorney and is able to get the hearing delayed. Julia agrees to represent him provided that case preparation occurs after office hours. Later, while preparing for the hearing, Julia asks Monty if there is anything bad she should know about him so that she is not surprised in court. They are interrupted by a phone call and the question goes unanswered.
Upon discovering it s her birthday and that Julia has no plans, Monty takes her to the jazz club in his neighborhood where they drink with his friends and dance. Julia kisses Monty and asks him to spend the night. Monty obliges, but a drunken Julia vomiting in the bathroom changes her mind and tells him to go home.
Over the next few weeks, they begin to have strong romantic feelings for each other. Monty invites her to meet his daughters at his apartment during his visitation. She continues to spend time with Monty and his girls and they take a trip to the aquarium. Julia runs into Brenda, who met Monty previously when he was Julia’s driver and figures out that they are now a couple. Brenda pulls Julia to the side and berates Monty, stating that he is beneath her status. Monty overhears Julia’s friend and is hurt. Julia later opens up to Monty and tearfully tells him about her last relationship that ended in betrayal. Monty promises that he won’t betray her and they continue dating.
Monty goes to work and finds Willie has been injured in a robbery. Willie is ready to retire and offers to sell the shop to Monty for a $10,000 deposit that can be paid on a payment schedule. Monty accepts his offer.
At the child custody hearing, Julia argues that it would be in the children s best interest for Monty to be awarded custody and provided the court with a written statement from Jennifer’s deceased mother stating the same. Jennifer s lawyer (Mark Oliver) fights back and claims that Monty is not suitable to raise the girls due to a conviction of statutory rape that occurred 16 years prior. Julia is disgusted and feels betrayed as Monty never told her this information. She refuses to provide him further assistance with his case and leaves. Julia is later comforted by her friends.
At 3:00 am, Monty s daughters arrive at his house and inform him that Joe has been hitting them, proving it by revealing that China s back is bruised while Jennifer just watched and did nothing about it when China was crying. While his daughters are asleep, a livid Monty flashes back to his arrest. Then he drives away and crashes into Jennifer and Joe s car after which he mercilessly beats Joe for his abusive treatment toward his daughters. The rest of the neighborhood gathers to watch the assault, as Joe s thugs arrive and begin to attack Monty to get him off Joe. Having had enough of Joe s terrorism, the neighbors attack Joe s thugs to get them off of Monty as he continues attacking Joe. Julia sees a news report about the police having stopped a near-riot while learning Monty was wrongfully convicted of the supposed rape charges when he was among those arrested. Upon hearing this, Julia rushes to help Monty.
Jennifer and Joe face drug charges in court as the district attorney (Leland L. Jones) stated that crack, cocaine, and marijuana were found in Joe s car and house. All of the neighbors decide to testify against Jennifer, Joe, and his thugs as the judge (Giulia Pagano) has them taken into custody with no bond. Monty is then charged with domestic battery toward Joe. Julia walks in to represent Monty, apologizing for not hearing his side of the story. The witnesses refuse to testify against Monty, so the judge dismisses the case. Monty tells Julia that he loves her.
Monty s daughters greet him and Julia at the auto shop that now bears his name, as the rest of the neighborhood celebrates that Monty now owns the auto shop with full custody of his daughters.
Cast
- Idris Elba as Monty James, a loving, hard-working mechanic with three daughters who dreams of owning his own garage Aaron Momon portrays a younger Monty
- Aaron Momon portrays a younger Monty
- Gabrielle Union as Julia Rossmore, Monty s lawyer and love interest, who struggles to find a decent boyfriend
- Louis Gossett Jr. as Willie, Monty s elderly boss, best friend, and mechanic
- Tracee Ellis Ross as Cynthia, Julia s colleague and friend who sets Julia up on blind dates
- Tasha Smith as Jennifer Jackson, Monty s selfish, drug-dealing ex-wife who is bent on getting custody of their three daughters
- Malinda Williams as Maya, Monty s next-door neighbor and Julia s personal assistant
- Terri J. Vaughn as Brenda, Julia s lawyer friend who despises Monty
- Gary Sturgis as Joe, Jennifer s gangster boyfriend and drug dealer who has the neighborhood in fear
- Cassi Davis as Rita, Jennifer s aunt and one of Monty s neighbors
- Sierra Aylina McClain as Sierra James, Monty s oldest daughter
- Lauryn Alisa McClain as Lauryn James, Monty s middle daughter
- China Anne McClain as China James, Monty s youngest daughter
- Juanita Jennings as Kat Jackson, Jennifer s mom and Rita sister who died in the beginning of the film
- LaVan Davis as Lester, a friend of Monty that works in a bar as the lead singer of a band
- Craig Robinson as Byron, a low-classed, loud-mouthed, middle-aged rapper
- Maria Howell as Christopher s wife
- Rochelle Dewberry as Miss Rochelle
- Bob Banks as Mr. Jones
- Donna Biscoe as Laurie Bell, a representative of the Department of Social Services
- Eddie Long as himself
- Leland L. Jones as a district attorney
- Bennet Guillory as Principal
- Joey Nappo as Player #1
- Arvell Poe as Player #2
- Javon Johnson as Brenda s Husband
- Mark Oliver as Jennifer s lawyer
- Dan Albright as a judge that previously oversaw Monty s trial
- Dan Beasley as a family court judge that oversees the custody battle between Monty and Joe
- Greyson Chadwick as Amanda, a girl that Monty was falsely accused of raping
- Ric Reitz as Amanda s father who had Monty arrested for supposedly raping his daughter
- Joan Pringle as a civil court judge that oversees the case against Joe which is dismissed due to lack of witnesses
- E. Roger Mitchell as Joe s criminal lawyer
- Giulia Pagano as a criminal judge that oversees the cases against Monty and Joe, Jennifer, and Joe s thugs following a near-riot in the Edgewood community
- Brian J. White as Christopher (uncredited)
Reception
Box office
The film opened at #5 on Valentine s Day 2007 behind Ghost Rider, Bridge to Terabithia, Norbit s second weekend, and Music and Lyrics, and has grossed $31,609,243 worldwide, making it Tyler Perry s lowest-grossing film.
Critical reaction
On Rotten Tomatoes the film holds an approval rating of 26% based on 54 reviews, with an average rating of 4.9/10. The site s critical consensus reads: Daddy s Little Girls boasts fine performances and a poignant message, but is ultimately let down by amateurish filmmaking. Metacritic assigned the film a weighted average score of 49 out of 100, based on 17 critics, indicating mixed or average reviews . Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of A− on an A+ to F scale.
Soundtrack
Atlantic Records released Music inspired by the film: Tyler Perry s Daddy s Little Girls, in stores and online on January 16, 2007. Among the highlights of the album is Family First, the first-ever recording by the Houston Family — Whitney Houston, Dionne Warwick, and Cissy Houston. The song Can t Let You Go by Anthony Hamilton is not on the soundtrack. Also, the song Beautiful by Meshell Ndegeocello is featured in the movie.
| Year | 2007 |
| ReleaseDate | 2007-02-14 |
| RuntimeMins | 100 |
| RuntimeStr | 1h 40min |
| Plot | A mechanic falls in love with his attorney. |
| Awards | Awards, 1 nomination |
| Directors | Tyler Perry |
| Writers | Tyler Perry |
| Stars | Gabrielle Union, Idris Elba, Tracee Ellis Ross |
| Produced by | Roger M. Bobb,Reuben Cannon,D. Scott Lumpkin,Michael Paseornek,Tyler Perry |
| Music by | Brian McKnight |
| Cinematography by | Toyomichi Kurita |
| Film Editing by | Maysie Hoy |
| Casting By | Shay Griffin,Kim Williams |
| Production Design by | Ina Mayhew |
| Set Decoration by | Rafael Garcia,Lance Totten |
| Costume Design by | Keith G. Lewis |
| Makeup Department | Matiki Anoff,Ralph J. Astarita,Kyndra Beaudoin,Dana Boisseau,Andrea C. Brotherton,Cynthia L. Chapman,Char Coats-Crump,Patrice Coleman,Craig Damon,Deaundra Harris-Metzger,T.A. Henderson,Chauntelle Langston,Denise Tunnell,Janice Tunnell,Dawn Turner,Dionne Wynn,Mi Young |
| Production Management | Jennifer Booth,Rosemary Lara,Mark W. McCoy,Carl Pedregal |
| Second Unit Director or Assistant Director | Roger M. Bobb,Angi Bones,Rhonda Guthrie |
| Art Department | Calvin Ashford,Ted Boonthanakit,Cristina Lucia Cesari,Russ Dickerson,Karen A. Felix,Lauren Fitzsimmons,Sammy Ray Hill,Mark Keever,Sam Knaffl,Chris Lukas,Jeremy McGuire,Drew Meyers,David H. Nash,Dan Post,Ryan Shelor,Roland Spence,James Vasilovic,Jay Womer |
| Sound Department | Joshua Adeniji,Mark DeSimone,Jon DeStefano,Jason Gaya,Jim Hawkins,Scott Hinkley,Ahmad Ibrahim,Cody King,Richard Kitting,Colt Logan,Kate Lumpkin,Jonathan Miller,Chris Navarro,Jay Nierenberg,Angelo Palazzo,Bryan Pennington,Matt Serrecchio,Cathie Speakman,Tom Syrowski,Jonathan Wales |
| Special Effects by | David Fletcher,Heath Hood |
| Visual Effects by | Jamie Baxter,Mark Intravartolo,Roger Mocenigo,Jeff Smithwick,Mike Uguccioni |
| Stunts | Carlos Guity,Curtis Lyons,David Andrew Nash,Derrick Simmons,Guss Williams |
| Camera and Electrical Department | Chris ‘Barefoot’ Allen,Chris Antignane,Brent Bazinski,J. Christopher Campbell,Quantrell D. Colbert,Stephen Crowley,Alfeo Dixon,Taifa Graves,Eric Leftridge,Levi Loy,Halley Manning,Ronald ‘Ronnie’ Martin,Jim McKinney,David McLean,James H. Pair III,Daniel Pederson,Mike Robertson,Chad Schroeder,Ross Sebek,Steve Sudge,Randy Tharpe,Joseph Thomas,Troy Toebben,Trey Twitty,Mike Tyson,Porter Versfelt III |
| Casting Department | Barbara Harris,Shannon Kaiser,Xavion Lay |
| Costume and Wardrobe Department | Queensylvia Akuchie,Shilla Benning,Jason Sky Bland,Layne Brightwell,Sekinah Brown,Katherine Dover,Kate Duke,Gertrude Moore,Barbara Vazquez,Amanda Zenil |
| Editorial Department | Jenny Cho,Joe Finley,Melissa Gearhart,Cortney Haile,Jeff Smithwick |
| Location Management | Phillip David Collins,John Findley,Matthew Peters |
| Music Department | Rick Aoyama,Kyle Kenneth Batter,Robert Cosio,Terri DiPaolo,Reggie Dozier,Jay Faires,Jeane Fay,Frank Fontaine,Joel C. High,Camara Kambon,Oh No,Ashera J. Powell,Rebecca Rienks,Tim Rodier,Mary Ann Souza,Robert Thomas,Jay Weigel,Chris Wood,Benjamin Wright |
| Script and Continuity Department | Melinda Taksen |
| Transportation Department | Dennis G. Carter,Ricky Damazio,Randy Southerland |
| Additional Crew | Barbara Abell,Ozzie Areu,Bree Bailey,Kimberly Bailey,Cassandra Barbour,Diana Beas,Justin Bones,Jerome Butler,Jennifer M. Byrne,Dwight O. Campbell,Cathy Cavadini,Lanei Chapman,Marisa Clayton,Django Craig,John DeMita,Jennifer DiQuollo,Derrick Doose,Yon Elvira,Deborah Evans,Roslyn D. Evans,Greg Finley,Amanda Shamis Flannery,Latisha Fortune,Sheila Frazier,Anna Fuson,Brittney Glaze,Jackie Goldston,Pamela B. Green,Evans Griffin,Isa Hall,Joseph Hampton,Barbara Harris,Liam Hearne,David K. Henry,Alexander Hooper,Justin C. Hosp,Bill Jacks,Lieve Jansen,Samuel Jerome Johnson,Chris Kelsey,Arif S. Kinchen,Abbey Lessanu,Konrad Lewis,Daniel MacArthur,Terence Mathews,L’Oréal McCollum,Jeanette L. McDuffie,Robert M. Melnik,Curtis A. Miller,Christopher Mills,Khanya Mkhize,Winifred Murungi,Tim Palen,Richard Penn,Hernany Perla,Senia Phillips,Allen Phoenix,George Pierre,Virginia Powers Hendry,Emily Rice,Crystle Roberson,Sia Sapoundjieva,Laura Sevier,Cheryl D. Sims,Donna Sloan,Michael C. Smith,Rozanne Stark,Jamie Starr,Katie Willard Troebs,Shawn Trotman,Tez Valenzuela |
| Thanks | Manny Dubon,Ingrid Jones,J. Michael Marlett,William H.D. Marlett |
| Genres | Drama, Romance |
| Companies | Lions Gate Films, The Tyler Perry Company |
| Countries | USA |
| Languages | English |
| ContentRating | PG-13 |
| ImDbRating | 5.7 |
| ImDbRatingVotes | 7741 |
| MetacriticRating | 49 |
| Keywords | three word title,written by director,african american protagonist,family relationships,working class |