Doing Life

A troubled love story, Doing Life from filmmaker Tyler Perry explores the impact of prejudice, absent males, and societal pressure in an intimate romantic drama.

The new Netflix movie opens with a startling prison riot in which prison officer Anika (Naomi Baker) is saved from an even more horrific ordeal at the hands of savage convicts by a brave inmate named Carousel (Jay Reeves), who protects her in his cell until help arrives. After leaving her job at the prison, Anika and Carousel reconnect initially through letters and then phone calls. Once Carousel finishes his sentence, the pair face the difficult choice of whether a real relationship is possible when everyone around them is strongly against it.

Tonally adept, Perry’s filmmaking here shows class and a dedication to the humanity of the characters. The familial tensions for Anika are particularly potent, showcased most clearly through her dying mother (Tamberla Perry), whose distaste for useless men is as obvious as her failing health. The anger, resentment, and fear feel palpable in Anika’s family home, and the painful journey of two characters falling in love feels all the more evocative.

The system seems rigged against both Anika, who wants to become a nurse but can’t because of money and her motherly duties, and Carousel, who skipped his formative years by being in jail and now faces intense adjustment as an adult; the pair find a striking connection that becomes the central pull of the movie.

Doing Life benefits from three excellent performances. The chemistry between Baker and Reeves is beautifully developed, and the believable fissures that threaten their characters’ relationship are wonderfully explored with a compelling grace that will appeal to a Netflix audience. Tamberla Perry perhaps steals the show, however, as the jaded mum of three facing oblivion whilst still trying to protect her daughters.

An admirable exploration of modern family issues and societal injustices. Powerfully acted by a strong cast and a smart storyline make this a 2026 Netflix film worth seeking out, and championing.