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Movies / Upcoming / Diary of a Mad Black Woman
Diary of a Mad Black Woman

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Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005)

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Reviews Counted:106

Fresh:17

Rotten:89

Average Rating:3.9/10

Consensus: Tyler Perry's successful play can't make the move to the screen; this mix of slapstick, melodrama and spirituality lacks a consistent tone.

Runtime: 1 hr 56 mins

Genre: Television

US Box Office: $50,382,128

Synopsis: Filled with a mix of comedy and drama, the film Diary of a Mad Black Woman is based on the immensely popular play of the same name written by Tyler Perry. The story focuses on Helen McCarter... Filled with a mix of comedy and drama, the film Diary of a Mad Black Woman is based on the immensely popular play of the same name written by Tyler Perry. The story focuses on Helen McCarter (Kimberly Elise), who has seemingly had the perfect life with husband Charles McCarter (Steve Harris). Over the years, Helen has been a faithful and loving wife, while Charles built a successful and lucrative career as a prominent Atlanta attorney. They wear the latest fashions, drive the nicest cars, have all the possessions they need, and they live on an expansive estate complete with an extravagant mansion, swimming pool, tennis court and all the trappings of wealth – a little piece of paradise away from the city. However, on the eve of their 18th wedding anniversary, Helen’s paradise begins to crumble as Charles announces that he wants a divorce. He abruptly and literally tosses Helen out of the mansion to make room for the other woman. With all of her possessions packed in a moving van, Helen starts on her journey to put the pieces of her life back together. Through the assistance of her friends, family, faith, and a twist of fate, Helen finds the strength and empowerment she needs to get control of her circumstances. She also finds that the tragic events of her life soon become comic, especially with the guidance and help-- mostly unsolicited, by the way--of her pot-smoking, gun-toting, and much beloved, grandmother figure Madea (Tyler Perry). Director Darren Grant brings Tyler Perry’s vision to the screen by intricately weaving together a mix of drama and comedy to tell the universal experience of broken hearts, redemption, forgiveness, recovery, new found love, inner strength and the importance of family and faith as revealed through a cast of colorful and sometimes familiar characters. [More]

Starring: Kimberly Elise, Tyler Perry, Steve Harris, Cicely Tyson

Starring: Kimberly Elise, Tyler Perry, Steve Harris, Cicely Tyson, Tamara Taylor, Shemar Moore

Director: Darren Grant

Director: Darren Grant
Screenwriter: Tyler Perry
Producer: Tyler Perry, Reuben Cannon
Composer: Camara Kambon
Studio: Lions Gate Films

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Reviews for Diary of a Mad Black Woman

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1 - 20 (sorted by fresh rating; Australian critics are listed first)
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Darren Grant, a music vid guy making his feature debut, presents it all in a smooth, elegant package that almost disguises the fact that what we're watching is the narrative equivalent of an eight-ring circus.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Daily News | comment Comment
02/25/05
Bob Strauss
Bob Strauss
Los Angeles Daily News

A very curious and very entertaining mix, the Labradoodle of inspirational romantic-comedy-melodramas.

Full Review Source: Philadelphia Inquirer | comment Comment
02/24/05
Carrie Rickey
Carrie Rickey
Philadelphia Inquirer

It becomes clear that the strength of Diary is its refusal to bow to convention.

Full Review Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press | comment Comment
02/24/05
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
St. Paul Pioneer Press

Watch writer Tyler Perry chew up the scenery in 3 roles.

Full Review Source: Compuserve | comment Comment
02/18/05
Harvey S. Karten
Harvey S. Karten
Compuserve

the film's dramatic components are just as outrageous as its comedic moments

Full Review Source: Q Network Film Desk | comment Comment
03/20/05
James Kendrick
James Kendrick
Q Network Film Desk

This movie really touched upon an aspect of black life that we can all identify with. More realistic then all of these ghettofied movies that have been presented as representation of black life previously.

Full Review Source: 3BlackChicks Review | comment 1 Comment
04/27/05
Kamal  'The Diva' Larsuel
Kamal 'The Diva' Larsuel
3BlackChicks Review

Emotionally satisfying (if a bit simplistic), yet Perry dilutes its potency by casting himself in ... sitcom roles.

Full Review Source: Creative Loafing | comment Comment
02/23/05
Matt Brunson
Matt Brunson
Creative Loafing

Three separate movies collide in this uneven but heartfelt drama.

Full Review Source: Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies | comment Comment
02/25/05
Nell Minow
Nell Minow
Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies

Diary is a crock, all right, but a crock made with conviction.

Full Review Source: Entertainment Weekly | comment Comment
02/23/05
Owen Gleiberman
Owen Gleiberman
Entertainment Weekly

It's never less than watchable, a bizarre hybrid that somehow works as a whole, even though its various components don't mesh.

Full Review Source: Toronto Star | comment Comment
03/18/05
Peter Howell
Peter Howell
Toronto Star

A lot of it shouldn't work -- and doesn't -- but even while you're sitting there, thinking that it can't go much farther off track, it manages to be fairly involving.

Full Review Source: Arizona Republic | comment Comment
02/24/05
Randy Cordova
Randy Cordova
Arizona Republic

Raucous and overwrought, the movie is still a hoot to watch and even more fun to talk back to.

Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | comment Comment
02/25/05
Ruthe Stein
Ruthe Stein
San Francisco Chronicle

In an awkward split-personality way, it works some of the time.

Full Review Source: Hollywood Reporter | comment Comment
02/25/05
Sheri Linden
Sheri Linden
Hollywood Reporter

Tyler Perry's movie is so oblivious to genre that it occupies its own special stylistic niche, if you can imagine such a thing as a romantic revenge farce.

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
02/24/05
Stephen Holden
Stephen Holden
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Mr. Perry's irrepressible energy and rapid-fire wit bring Robin Williams to mind.

Full Review Source: Dallas Morning News | comment Comment
02/24/05
Tom Sime
Tom Sime
Dallas Morning News

Here is a brand new genre: A black-Christian romantic revenge comedy. It doesn’t quite work, but Tyler Perry is a jewel.

Full Review Source: FilmsInReview.com | comment 1 Comment
02/25/05
Victoria Alexander
Victoria Alexander
FilmsInReview.com

it's funny enough to overcome the cliches, and sweet enough to make those cliches feel warm and fuzzy

Full Review Source: WaffleMovies.com | comment Comment
03/06/05
Willie Waffle
Willie Waffle
WaffleMovies.com

The trash-talkin' Madea stuff is raunchy and fun (if you're not over that gag by now), but it's totally out of place within the high melodrama that bookends it.

Full Review Source: E! Online | comment Comment
02/25/05
E! Online

The film itself is a touch insane, veering from comedy to cornball melodrama (and torture!) with such startling alacrity that viewers might laugh and not know if they're supposed to.

Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle | comment Comment
02/25/05
Amy Biancolli
Amy Biancolli
Houston Chronicle

this dismal little potboiler delivers only tedium

Full Review Source: Killer Movie Reviews | comment Comment
02/23/05
Andrea Chase
Andrea Chase
Killer Movie Reviews
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by fresh rating; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 >> >|
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