Send Madea to “Death Row,” not “Jail”
Don’t be fooled by the #1 Box Office ranking Madea received this weekend. Clearly with Tyler Perry fans, the support will always make it to theaters…I just wish I hadn’t.
Following his creation of the dramatic and thrilling hits, “Why Did I Get Married” and “The Family that Preys,” Perry has revived the hugely popular and iconic Madea in the comedy “Madea Goes to Jail.” After seeing it, however, viewers may question whether Madea should have bypassed jail all together and gone straight to the Electric Chair.
This Madea installment offers the usual characters as well as the now-expected bold-faced, self-help doctrine. But where, oh where, was the Script(ure?)! After all, without a solid written foundation, all movies fall flat, and “Madea Goes to Jail” is no exception.
Here’s the good: The plot, which revolves around Madea’s crazy family, a tortured prostitute, and a few high-powered and attractive lawyers, certainly had its nuances and strengths. The new characters brought the welcomed character depth that we received in Perry’s most recent dramatic movie ventures. With quality performances by Derek Luke, Keshia Knight Pulliam (Rudy from “the Cosby Show”) and the surprising appearances of Dr. Phil and the ladies of “The View,” the film found a touch of redemption. Also, as with all Tyler Perry films, “Madea Goes to Jail” offered an inspiring, instructional, and honest message of hope.
So where did the film fail? Quite frankly, the predictability, blatant ideological banter, and underdeveloped dialogue made it difficult to ever fully enjoy the experience. In viewing this film, it becomes evident that Madea’s family is solely there for comedic relief. Unfortunately their character development is stagnant and the family’s over-the-top antics have become too familiar. Much like Perry’s spin-off shows “Meet the Browns” and “House of Payne,” the funny-factor is fleeting. In fact, most of the “laugh out loud” scenes have already been broadcast in the movie trailers.
Mr. Perry still needs to learn that while “wild and crazy” makes for a great time, without enough footing in reality, viewers won’t often find the world believable. The art of comic subtlety...
Ultimately, if you have a few hours to kill and are in the mood for a mediocre, pretty funny flick, then check out “Madea Goes to Jail.” Feel free to object to my verdict on the film and be your own judge. I’m curious to see what your ruling will be.
“Madea Goes to Jail” is in theaters now.
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