Madea’s Back to Her Old Tricks

I’m not sure why Tyler Perry’s Madea character cracks me up, but I’ll tell you one thing; Tyler Perry is the one who is laughing all the way to the bank! Madea topped the box office last weekend with the biggest Perry opening to date; 41 million. Don’t underestimate Perry, he’s a sharp businessman and has found a formula that sells. From the beginning of the film, the audience knows that the film is written, produced, directed and stars ‘the’ one and only Tyler Perry.

Maybe I have a warped sense of humor? I’m not really sure why I find Madea so hysterical but then again, I loved “Big Mama’s House” (2000) with Martin Lawrence. I also enjoyed Madea in her other two films “Diary of a Mad Black Women” (2005) and “Madea’s Family Reunion” (2006).  Basically it’s Perry’s physical stature he’s 6’5” tall and over 200 lbs. When he’s on screen as Madea he’s simply looks funny. The costumes are perfect down to the precious accessories; pins, gloves, hats and handbags.

The film has lots of people you’ll recognize. Remember Keshia Knight Pullman, she played little Rudy on ‘The Crosby TV Show’?  In this film she plays a down-on-her-luck prostitute, whom Academy Award nominee Viola Davis tries to mentor. The ladies from ‘The View’ have a cameo as well as Dr. Phil. Assistant District Attorney Joshua Hardaway (Derek Luke) plays an old college friend to Pullman. His fiancé fellow ADA Linda Holmes is played by Ion Overman.

‘Madea’ opens with the Tom Jones song “She’s a Lady,” at which time we are introduced to Madea whose name in the film is Mabel Simmons. Mabel gets angry very easily and she reacts by doing something about her anger and it’s usually physical. This leads to lots of trouble with the law and subsequent arrests. Madea has a rap sheet as tall as she is. The judge decides that ‘anger management’ classes are the answer and next we view good ole’ Dr. Phil.

A parallel story-line plays out when Assistant District Attorney Joshua Hardaway is confronted with a case he can’t take due to his involvement with the client during his college years. Keshia Knight Pullman plays the college friend who is now a drug addict and prostitute. Hardaway’s fiancé played by Ion Overman doesn’t like this connection and tries to sabotage her case.

Madea’s character is set up so that we know she can’t control herself and the sessions with Dr. Phil are useless. We know the big scene is coming as to why she is sent to jail and thus the stage is set. When Madea is robbed out of a parking space at the local K-Mart by a cutesy red convertible, she reacts by driving a forklift and moving the car. This time –she’s ordered to jail. Georgia’s DeKalb police SWAT team show up at Madea’s house and haul her off. The jail scenes are very funny as you can imagine because Madea won’t let anyone get the best of her and she even takes control of the group sessions led by Viola Davis.

The scenes with Hardaway, Overman and Pullman are serious and hard to believe due to the fact that we’ve just been laughing at some crazy thing Perry did and next we are supposed to feel compassion for serious circumstances; drug abuse and prostitution. Frankly, the audience can’t handle the flip-flopping between comedy and drama. This film would have played better if it remained a pure comedy.

Bottom line–Madea the character is hysterical; the serious scenes don’t work well.

Sarah Adamson © 2009