Madea's Big Happy Family (2011)

Let me give some background about my anticipation for this movie: This was Tyler Perry's next movie after "For Colored Girls," the best movie he released at the time. This movie is based on "Madea's Big Happy Family: The Play," the best Tyler Perry play he released at the time. I saw the trailer and got excited, but what really impressed me was a teaser which included a hip-hop song called "That's Why There's Madea!" I was really excited to see this film! My roommate and I watched it together, and...I was very unsatisfied. There were so many things working for this movie, and it did not live up to expectation at all! I was greatly saddened.So, what, pray tell, is wrong with this play? Well, first of all, this play does the best job of taking material from stage play...Maybe a little too much. But some of the moments they took from play weren't appropriate for the screen. Take, for example, the first scene with Aunt Bam and Shirley in the hospital; this same exact scene is in the play. But everything from Aunt Bam's first lines to the time she leaves is very awkward when I'm watching it in the movie. On stage, it works fine. Sure, it's not needed, but it works a lot better on stage than it does on screen. I can say the same thing when Aunt Bam sings her "nursery rhyme" to Byron's girlfriend, or when Madea mentions the Bible verse "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so." These moments works so well on stage, but they're so awkward in film. I feel the same way about the 2005 remake of Mel Brooks' "The Producers." There are a lot of moments they pulled from the Broadway musical that worked so much better on stage than it did in the movie.Also, remember how I said Madea spoke a lot of wisdom in the play? She does here, too, and she uses those same lines. But sometimes, those lines are used for comedy. When she's smacking Tammy and Harold's kids around she's using some of the lines from the play, but they're used mostly for laughs. I don't like that. I love Madea when she's funny, don't get me wrong, but when it's time for her to be wise, let her be wise! Finally, I feel really bad for Byron's character here. He's facing a lot of crap, including the mother of his child, Sabrina. What I don't like is that he's doing everything he's supposed to do for his child, but no one is supporting him. Of course Sabrina is yelling at him, but so is everyone else! The only one who acknowledges the fact that he's doing the right thing is Calvin.OK, that's all my bad stuff. What do I like about this movie. Well, I like the subplot with Brown and Cora. The story about Brown possibly not being Cora's father is hilarious, and the way they tell that story is funny, too! Although, first of all, if this is Brown's first ever colonoscopy, why did he say he had one in "Madea Goes to Jail?" Second of all, did anyone notice that the "Meet the Browns" TV show ended around the time or sometime after the movie came out? Was it canceled because there's nothing else they can do with Brown or Cora? I don't know, but seeing the grown, older adults get on TV and act like teenagers or immature young adults is funny as all get out! Also, Isaiah Mustafa is awesome! Who is Isaiah Mustafa? Tell me if you recognize this line: "Hello ladies. Look at you man, now back to me; now back at your man, now back to me." YES! THE OLD SPICE MAN IS IN THIS MOVIE! Just his presence alone here makes this film awesome! Rude to say, I like the part where Madea smacks the boys around. Yeah, I don't like the lines she says taken from the play, but I love seeing good-for-nothing, spoiled, rude kids getting what they deserve.Finally, there are some funny moments here that work well, and there are some dramatic moments that work well, too. But as a whole, I wasn't too impressed by this movie. I'm really unhappy about that because I was expecting something really great due to everything I said earlier. This, in my opinion is worse than "Meet the Browns." Whereas that movie was good with the exception of the exposition, there are a lot of things stopping this movie from being as good as it could be. But, with that being said, I still kind of like this movie. I don't like it as much as the rest of Tyler Perry's movies, but there are still some good moments, even some that I didn't mention. I like it. You might too, but if what I said above turns you off, then it's probably safe to skip. BOOYIKA!

I loved this Movie, just as I love everything Tyler Perry has done. It doesn't bother me to see the negative side of family, I have a family with a lot of drama and negative and violent things happened to at least one of us. It's reality for some people. I think that's what Tyler Perry draws on. With God, we can hold on to the hope and promise of something better. That's why I buy his movies and plays, he is not shy about sharing God's word, even if at it's misquoted by Madea. Tyler Perry produces entertaining morality plays. Why do people get upset that it is NOT high art? Other movies are fluff and fun and don't have a decent message. At least Tyler Perry gives us a nice message with the silliness. I appreciate the fact that Tyler brings humor into people's lives. I've always seen the ability to make others laugh as one of the most precious gifts a person could have. This world needs more happiness; I know I could use a good laugh daily. Tyler has created a character or two who can be a little over the top -zany - but as a whole I enjoy his work. Laughter is only one thing his films bring to my life. What I like most is the lessons he teaches with his movies. When she's not acting crazy and going off on people, Madea shares words of wisdom that can reach my heart like a good Bible teaching. (Don't ask her about The Bible, though, because she is not very good at interpreting Scripture). And even when Madea doesn't play a part in a movie, somebody is going to say something thought-provoking. I have All of Tyler Perry's plays on DVD. I will continue to support his work.danceability-1 Amsterdam Holland

I have to make a confession. I watch Tyler Perry's Madea films. OK, JUST HEAR ME OUT! Now, I think they're all FAR from perfect films, but at the very least, I do enjoy watching the portions featuring Madea. Such was the case of my latest viewing, Madea's Big Happy Family. It's a bit embarrassing to say, but let's just get down to my review.First of all, we have a tangled web of subplots. The mother of a family, Shirley, is devastated to discover that her case of cancer has worsened, prompting her to plan a family dinner to tell her children about her condition. This includes her daughters, Kimberly and Tammy. Kimberly is a secretive woman (Improperly focused character #1), and Tammy is having trouble with her marriage, and her two disobedient children. This also includes Byron, a man on an unlucky streak, having served jail time for selling drugs, and behind on paying child support to his insufferably obnoxious ex-girlfriend. There's also some drama between Cora and Mr. Brown. But leave it to Madea to set things straight, and not be afraid to beat the living hell out of anyone who steps out of line.This movie is textbook Tyler Perry. As always, he gathers together a cast that could have been quite good, with good material, but their characters are inconsistently written, and their focus tends to blur because the script is overly cluttered with subplots. It's not a problem because they're hard to follow (They really aren't), but it's because it doesn't give these characters all the attention they deserve.This isn't even mentioning Tyler Perry's ubiquitous switch in tone. His rhythm moves as comedic scene, dramatic scene, comedic scene, etc. I think the comedy portions are better than the dramatic portions, but the flip flopping between the two makes things feel dull. At the end of the day, I didn't emotionally connect with the story like I feel I should have. For once, I wish Perry would construct a film that's sure of what it wants to be.I give it ** out of ****

Let me start I have watched all of his films. Tyler Perry I implore you, please! bring us Afro-Americans, etc., more colored girls, the family that preys, why did I get married and less of this drivel. OK! I will give it to you maybe 1 of your other Tyler Perry presents, Madia.... was OK, 7 maybe out of 10.After the first 5 minutes of the movie, I promise you this, if you are cracking up and find it hilarious, stay. However, if you watch the first 5 minutes and think WTF; don't waste the other 1 hr and 40 minutes. Wait till Netflix, wait till HBO, wait till TBS/BET carry the movie. Do not encourage this, and just to remind you yes I typically like Tyler Perry Movies.The most infuriating thing about this is that I know he is capable, as a writer, producer and director of more. Subsequently, in this movie he took lots of short cuts, and it seemed like these scenes were shot and wrapped on the first take. I could excuse it more if this was his first movie and he continually got better from there....at the end of the movie, and I have never done this but I got my money back, and there is nothing more than what I would like than to support black movies, any of them Wayans, Spike, Martin, Eddie, and yes I will still see the next Tyler Perry Movie.Think of it this way out of a 10 rating there is a reason why the average is 2.5, ouch!