Is Tyler Perry's 'Madea' persona a drag on 'Alex Cross'?

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That said, actors mostly known for their comic chops have successfully transitioned into action before. Eddie Murphy, Chris Tucker and Will Smith (just to name a few) have all headlined blockbuster, stereotypically macho movies. But unlike Perry, their genre shifts retained the comedic roots that made them famous.

“I know my lane; I know it really well. I realized here is a moment for me to learn,” Perry told theGrio’s Courtney Garcia.

In Alex Cross, Perry is attempting something he has not really done successfully before — play it straight. His last attempt at portraying a serious male lead role in Good Deeds fell flat even with some of his most dedicated fans and his attempts to play romantic scenes in his Why Did I Get Married? films have been criticized as awkward, to say the least.

Originally, when this reboot of the Morgan Freeman franchise (which in turn drew its inspiration from a series of best-selling James Patterson novels) was conceived, producers cast rising star Idris Elba as the titular hero. But the studio behind the film decided to go with the more unorthodox choice of Perry because of his impressive box office track record.

Bill Block, CEO of QED International, which is behind the Alex Cross reboot, told Entertainment Weekly that “Sure, Idris is a great actor; Tyler Perry is a phenomenon. Tyler Perry is one of the most significant entertainers in all of media.”

Perry has proven to be arguably the most consistent black box office draw of the past decade. He is also one of the few stars that is largely critic-proof. While his films almost always receive a tepid critical reaction at best, his fanbase has been reliable for him, especially on those crucial opening weekends.

Most prognosticators expect Alex Cross to debut strongly but whether the film has real staying power will largely depend on whether he can broaden his appeal with his most challenging role to date.

Right or wrong, the film’s failure or success will be hung on his shoulders, which, uncharacteristically, aren’t hidden under a house-dress and a wig.

Follow Adam Howard on Twitter at @at_howard