Powerless peeple

Peeples
Director: Tina Gordon Chism
Starring: Craig Robinson, David Alan Grier, Kerry Washington
**

Tyler Perry produces this story of Wade (Craig Robinson), a love-struck boyfriend who wishes to propose to his girlfriend Grace Peeples (Kerry Washington), but can't do so until he meets her family and gains their approval.

Driven by love, he arrives unannounced at the family's annual get-together and chaos ensues. Can Wade convince her well-to-do father (David Alan Grier) that he's the right man for his daughter?

With a premise strikingly similar to the Ben Stiller comedy, Meet the Parents (a comparison that would not be favourable for this film), one word that aptly describes this knock-around comedy is "broad": in the treatment of its characters, in its humour, in its presentation of stereotypes (particularly Grier's stubborn patriarch). Interestingly, from a producer who, at times, is very keen on exploring the heart of modern relationships, nothing is delved into deeper than is necessary to get to the next gag. On the upside, just because the story isn't fresh, doesn't mean it isn't pleasant - a light and bouncy pace accompanied by a buoyant soundtrack means you're occasionally distracted from the silly nature of the film thanks to the cast's sheer energy.

Spearheading that energy is Robinson, who tones down his usual manic performance (as seen in Hot Tub Time Machine and This is the End) into something still madcap, but more sincere. It proves to be the most positive point of the film, as his casting gives his character an underdog appeal. Most of the support actors are window dressing; it's disappointing to see Kerry Washington follow a strong performance in Django Unchained with such an interchangeable appearance here as "the girlfriend". Grier has some nice moments as Robinson's antagonist, but again, the broadness of the humour prevents him from doing anything that grabs your attention significantly.

Overall, Peeples turns into a forgettable, generic romantic comedy from very early on. The energy and charm are certainly there, but Tyler Perry's name attached to the project hints at a subtext and depth that this film simply doesn't deliver.

artslife@thenational.ae

@LifeNationalUAE

THE BIO: Mohammed Ashiq Ali

Proudest achievement: “I came to a new country and started this shop”

Favourite TV programme: the news

Favourite place in Dubai: Al Fahidi. “They started the metro in 2009 and I didn’t take it yet.”

Family: six sons in Dubai and a daughter in Faisalabad

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

Peeples has its light moments and some energetic performances, but it is too generic a romcom to create a lasting impression.

THE BIO: Mohammed Ashiq Ali