“Mea Culpa”, a Netflix original, is a steamy crime thriller that takes you on a roller coaster ride of emotions. The film stars Kelly Rowland, of Destiny’s Child fame, and Trevante Rhodes. The story revolves around Mea Harper (Kelly Rowland), a successful criminal defense attorney who takes on a case that she hopes will finally result in her becoming a partner in the firm. The case involves a murder accusation against Zyair Malloy (Trevante Rhodes), a prolific painter. Zyair is accused of murdering his girlfriend, but he insists that he didn’t do it.
Rowland’s character, Mea, is portrayed as strong and fierce, even when the lines she must say are rather cringe-worthy. Rhodes, on the other hand, is often seen wearing very little clothing, adding to the steamy nature of the film. The film has been described as a punny erotic thriller. The puns are evident in the naming of the characters and the situations they find themselves in. For instance, Mea is a lawyer, and the film’s title, “Mea Culpa”, is a Latin phrase that translates to “my fault” or “my mistake” in English.
However, the film has received mixed reviews. Some critics have praised it for its steamy scenes and the performances of the lead actors. Others have criticized it for its jumbled plot lines and for being a bit of a mess. Despite the criticisms, the film is watchable. It falls into the realm of absolute car crash but just like seeing a pile-up on the side of a highway, you feel bad for looking but can’t tear your eyes away from the horror.
In conclusion, “Mea Culpa” is a classic Tyler Perry film, complete with all the elements that fans of his work have come to expect. It’s messy and silly, but also entertaining. The film’s ending and its various plot twists are big, wild, and absolutely crazy. It’s so far from being remotely realistic that any Chris Stokes movie on Netflix or TUBI is equally believable. If you’re a fan of Tyler Perry’s work or if you enjoy steamy crime thrillers, then “Mea Culpa” might be worth a watch. However, if you prefer films with a more coherent plot and less over-the-top elements, then this film might not be for you.