Where The Hell Is Mo’Nique?

Nearly five years ago, Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire was released in theaters. Not only did it introduce us to Gabourey Sidibe and provide me with my then-favorite cocktail party joke (“Have you seen Precious?” “Uhh, do you mean Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” By Sapphire?“), it also established stand-up comedian Mo’Nique, who won an Oscar for her incredible performance as the title character’s abusive mother, as a legitimate actress.

Not that I doubted her abilities before, as I’ve always loved Mo’Nique as an actress, not that she had a lot of chances to prove herself. Sure, she had the lead role on The Parkers, which ran for five years, and regularly popped up in small roles in films and guest appearances on other TV shows. She is first and foremost a comedian (which is why her turn in Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire was so stunning).

Despite her Oscar win in 2010, Mo’Nique has appeared in just one movie since Precious — an independent feature called Blackbird — and since her BET late-night talk show was cancelled in October 2010, she’s has had sporadic TV appearances. I mean, what have we been doing without Mo’Nique?

Think of all the movies that have come out this year. Are you able to sit by and say that they were just fine the way they are, or are you willing to admit the woeful absence of Mo’Nique on screen?

Think about Richard Linklater’s Boyhood. Three hours of that movie, and not one moment featured Mo’Nique. Do you know how many children Mo’Nique has ushered into adulthood with her wisdom and humor?

I would have probably enjoyed Interstellar, another movie with an intolerably long running time, had Mo’Nique been there to explain to Matthew McConaughey (and, frankly, me) what the hell was going on.

Quite frankly, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) could have been called Birdman or (The Unfortunate and Disappointing Lack of Mo’Nique). I probably wouldn’t have disliked it so much had she been in it.

Something must be done, people. If we don’t show Mo’Nique how important she is, she might just refuse to come back to us. And honestly, I wouldn’t blame her.

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Photos: Everett Collection, Art: Jaclyn Kessel