Daddy's Little Girls

2007 movie written and directed by Tyler Perry. Monty James, a mechanic, (Idris Elba) enlists the help of a successful-but-lonely attorney, Julia (Gabrielle Union) while trying to wrest custody of his three daughters China, Lauryn and Sierra from his treacherous ex-wife Jennifer and her larcenous boyfriend. Along the way, the working relationship between the blue collar dad and his uptown attorney grows into something more.


 * Abusive Parents: Jennifer's boyfriend beats the kids and it is implied Jennifer either wants the oldest to sell drugs or become a prostitute. The oldest is 12.
 * Atlanta: Takes place on the historic Auburn Avenue, where Martin Luther King Jr. once lived.
 * Career Versus Man: Julia has this problem.
 * The Danza: Lauryn, Sierra, and China Anne McClain
 * Don't Make Me Take My Belt Off
 * Double Standard: So Julia's friends have no problem with setting her up on a blind date with a 40-year-old unemployed wannabe rapper, but they frown on her dating a kind-hearted mechanic who wants to be a good father.
 * Evil Matriarch: Jennifer. You know she's evil when her own kids are afraid of her.
 * Gang-Bangers: Jennifer's boyfriend runs a drug-trafficking ring.
 * He Knows Too Much: Discussed Trope, the main reason the neighborhood residents refuse to report Joseph, because they are afraid he will kill them if they do.
 * Miscarriage of Justice: Monty
 * Noodle Incident: Why Monty went to jail is kind of hinted at in bits and pieces until the last 30 minutes of the movie.
 * Never Trust a Trailer: commercials for the film make it seem as if its going to be the typical "comedy" scenario of children pulling pranks on the person who's dating their divorced parent.
 * Oner: There's a long Steadicam tracking shot during the scene when Monty brings Julia home. The shot lasts for several minutes.
 * Parent with New Paramour
 * Protagonist-Centered Morality: Monty purposely hits Jennifer and her boyfriend Joseph's car and then opens the door and beats up a dizzy Joseph. At Joseph's trial, the entire neighborhood willingly testifies against him for the drug charges, but keeps their mouth shut when Monty is accused of assaulting him.
 * Real Life Relative: China, Lauryn and Sierra are actually sisters and those are their real names.
 * Roaring Rampage of Revenge: When Monty finds out his kids are being beaten, he hops in his car, finds Jennifer's car, slams into them, gets out, drags Joseph out, and proceeds to deliver a complete and utter ass beating to him.
 * Where Da White Women At?: Discussed, this is the reason.