Unlimitedia Sick Product of a Sick System

MamaGravity good back-story, and good acting

Beanbioca As Good As It Gets

Borserie it is finally so absorbing because it plays like a lyrical road odyssey that’s also a detective story.

shawnw007 I initially saw this film in my 20's, and I remember liking the slapstick scenes with Madea and absorbing the "abusive female" storyline with interest. However, now, ten years later, I realize that there are many episodes of inconsistency in the plot direction, and most of the characters are pretty static. That being said, the film is still wholly entertaining, though I understand the main criticism that it "doesn't know what it wants to be". Is it a drama? Drama-comedy? Indie? Or is it simply existing on it's own, as a Christian-themed, laughable variation of an African-American "Peyton Place"? I guess it's up to the viewer to decide. But let's take a look at some of the characters...First there's Madea...the matriarch and pistol-packing grandma, spewing laughable one-liners, slaps, kicks, and endless words of wisdom. Truth be told, despite her comedy, I'm not sure how essential Madea really is to the multitude of story lines in this film, other than to appear in random intervals, inserting comical dialogue here and there in an effort to prevent the film from crashing in on it's own seriousness.Then there's Madea's brother Joe, who serves no utter purpose here except as a horny, ornery comical sidekick who simply presents himself as someone who works on Madea's nerves. The "sleazy old man" thing was funny at times, but in other instances, Joe's routine got old (no pun intended).Next you have Lisa...a whimpering, spoiled protagonist destined to marry the rich man next door. There was nothing about the character that was appealing...nor did Rochelle Aytes' acting skills impress me. Other than her perpetual watery eyes and shaky gasps for air whenever her abusive fiancé rough-handled her, they didn't do enough for this character to help win over my sympathy. In fact, her posture as a victim became downright irritating. Then there's Vanessa, the older, stronger and emotionally-damaged sister, who comes across initially as a hard bitch...but we, as viewers, are inevitably forced to forgive her as her unfortunate past is reveal through the plot line. Though I initially disliked Vanessa (I perpetually get tired of our black women routinely being portrayed as "hard" or having an attitude, simply because of life's struggles), she was the only person who seemed multi-faceted, as if the writers seemed more vested in making her story a priority in the many subplots that take place here.Victoria, portrayed by the lovely Lynn Whitfield, was a ridiculous cliché in every sense of the word. I didn't find her cruelty and conspicuous favoritism among her daughters credible (at one point, she even openly admits to "loving one daughter more than the other") and it seemed as if she was written verbatim with Disney's wicked Stepmother in mind. In a deleted scene that I was privy to, Victoria even confides in her spouse-slapping son-in-law to possibly beat on her daughter "just a little bit" in order to keep her in line, but not necessarily turn her off. Yeah, right. As for Moms of the Year, this one takes the pits. I can see why this over-the-top scene was subsequently removed.Finally, there's Frankie, Vanessa's picture-perfect boyfriend. It's hard not to denounce him as a cliché, either. I mean, the man has it all: Looks, body, nice apartment, nice car (in one split second scene, we also see he drives a BMW), Christianity, and he's the existential father. Oh yes, and early on, he reminds us that he's not interested in sex at all...just the ability to help "restore". I find it wonderful that Tyler Perry has made an effort to portray some of our black men in an extraordinarily positive light...but in my book, Frankie was just too perfect. I mean, not only can he shoot hoops, but the man never curses, looks good in blue jeans, buys ice cream for children, and is ready to provide hugs on-demand. Really? Yet, Vanessa wouldn't give this man the time of day except for cold eyes and angry sighs? For the sake of the plot, I get it. But there comes a time when writers appear downright foolish.Either way, despite it's flaws, the film is entertaining enough to enjoy. As for ratings, I'd say it ranks Number 2 in the "I'll-go-ahead-and-watch- this-since-nothing-else-is-on-and-I'm-too-lazy-to-get-up-and-change- the- channel" awards.

SingtheSorrow13999 I don't understand why people are giving this movie such a bad rating based on the Christian element of this film. I happen to like the storyline, I think Madea is hilarious, and the movie is filled with a message that goes beyond religion. This movie isn't sugar coated either. This is real life, people are struggling with drugs and prostitution, families and relationships are being torn apart, but there is always redemption. Redemption can mean many things to different people of races, and creeds. Granted, I am not religious, but I know a good story when I see one, and this is one. So if you didn't enjoy it before, or you're watching if for the first time I implore you to throw out your predispositions, your convictions, your bias, and just enjoy it.

relichunter96 Being white, South African and predominantly Afrikaans speaking, This film tickled me absolutely pink! When i saw the trailers, I thought..."Maybe not". But while working one day, I was bored, so I rented this film. Bloody hell, Madea is a gem and Tyler Perry should be honored by someone for saying the things he said. This is a man, not afraid of saying what he believes and has the "balls" to use his faith in a film. Wake up Hollywood. Maybe this isn't a "Mainstream" film, but I will be watching Perry's films whatever they may be. And whoever reads this and disagrees, That's your choice. My choice is to watch the films that are uplifting, not degrading.

chucksax Last night, in a fit of baby-induced insomnia, I watched "Madea's Family Reunion," which my mother-in-law had given to us on DVD. Considering the fact that Molly's entire family has adopted several Madea-speak phrases into their family lexicon (specifically, that Molly's mother is "diabetical"), I expected a somewhat silly parody of modern African-American life. I expected a bunch of scenes similar to the family scenes in those Eddie Murray movies ("Hercules! Hercules!").Instead, the movie is about two love stories, centered around Medea's nieces (sisters). One was a young woman in an abusive relationship, where her rich, socially-accepted Investment Banker fiancée beat her and emotionally abused her. The second was a romance the other sister developed with the bus driver who takes her home from work every day, a relationship complicated by the fact that, having some personal issues, she was not willing to have a physical relationship until marriage.By themselves, those stories were interesting and somewhat compelling. The psyche of an abused woman, and an abusive man, is a fascinating place. Thank God that I have never been there, but the struggle to overcome that abuse is, excuse the repetition, compelling. Relationships that are out of the norm of pop culture relationships - gasp! no sex after the first date or any other dates! How Biblical! - are interesting, although I would have likely enjoyed seeing some of their family dynamic develop a little bit more. (She has two children from two different fathers - how modern - and he has one child.) Where the movie breaks down - and becomes considerably less than it could have been - is in the myriad sub-plots and alternative story threads that are thrown into the picture. This movie, in one hour and fifty minutes, attempts to address every major issue that affects African-American culture in 2006, and the movie falls short in addressing every single one of them.Sub-plots (hopefully, I'll get them all): Madea starts the movie in court because she violated the house-arrest anklet (how'd she get that? I didn't see "Diary of a Mad Black Woman"). She has a foster child forced on her - a truly obnoxious teenage girl that Madea "beats into submission." No mention is made of any of her struggles - except that they exist - nor how she overcame them. This girl suddenly figures out her social issues and school issues without anyone's help and turns her life around, simply by being close to Madea. There's a rape subplot involving the sister dating the bus driver & one of her step-fathers - the father of the other sister. The mother becomes an enabler of the abusive relationship, and we discover that the abusive fiancée is helping her steal money from the trust fund his fiancée. (This plot is never developed past its reveal.) In addition, at the family reunion, a speech is given by one of the clan elders which will, apparently, keep the young black men with their families, make the young black women dress respectfully and become "more than they are," and keep this black family - having been started by former slaves - learning the lessons of the past and staying together to help one another.This could have been a good movie. Not a great one, as the real plot topics have been covered, better, by others. But, this movie tried to do so much and failed at most of it.