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Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail (2009)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:43
Fresh:12
Rotten:31
Average Rating:4.9/10
Consensus: Divided between sincere melodrama and populist comedy, Madea Goes to Jail fails to provide enough laughs -- or screen time -- for its titular heroine.
Runtime: 2 hrs 17 mins
Genre: Comedies
US Box Office: $90,485,233
Synopsis: Multitalented screenwriter, director, playwright, and actor Tyler Perry delivers yet another comedy feature from his popular MADEA film series. Largely concerned with African American family life,... Multitalented screenwriter, director, playwright, and actor Tyler Perry delivers yet another comedy feature from his popular MADEA film series. Largely concerned with African American family life, Perry splits his efforts between the outrageous Madea films and other, slightly more serious features such as 2008’s THE FAMILY THAT PREYS. As the name suggests, MADEA GOES TO JAIL, based on the 2006 play of the same title, once again stars Perry himself as Mabel B. Simmons (nicknamed Madea), the feisty, gun-loving grandmother audiences have adored on stage and screen since she first appeared in the 2002 play MADEA’S FAMILY REUNION. When Madea ends up in jail following a series of violent outbursts, she finds herself in equally eccentric company and causes chaos among her fellow inmates. In a fat suit and women’s clothing, Perry keeps things light while exploring signature themes of redemption, such as the young attorney (Derek Luke, NOTORIOUS) who sets out to help a prostitute (Keshia Knight Pulliam, THE COSBY SHOW) who holds a special place in his heart. The New Orleans-born Renaissance man once again proves himself to be comfortable wearing many hats: as star, producer, writer, and director, Perry retains a constant presence but is careful not to outshine his talented co-stars, including Viola Davis (Oscar-nominated for her role in 2008’s DOUBT) as a determined social worker. Rivaling Woody Allen with the speed at which he releases films, Perry manages to pack Christian values, positive messages regarding the power of forgiveness, and plenty of laughs into his quickly produced features. This is all communicated through his signature blend of outrageous comedy and almost soap-operatic drama. [More]
Starring: Tyler Perry, Derek Luke, Keshia Knight Pulliam, David Mann
Starring: Tyler Perry, Derek Luke, Keshia Knight Pulliam, David Mann, Tamela Mann, Ronreaco Lee, Ion Overman, Vanessa Ferlito, Viola Davis, Sofia Vergara
Director: Tyler Perry
Director: Tyler Perry
Screenwriter: Tyler Perry
Producer: Reuben Cannon
Composer: Aaron Zigman
Studio: Lions Gate Films
Reviews for Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail
Madea is the antithesis of the moralistic soapbox Perry's movies stand on, which is why she is usually the enjoyable ingredient in his films.
if it doesn't work quite as well as some of Tyler Perry's previous efforts, it certainly isn't for lack of trying.
I like Tyler Perry's movies best when the character of Medea isn't in them.
Perry knows what his fans want (that would be Madea) and so his fans should be well-pleased by his latest film.
It is, in short, not nearly as funny as Madea's Family Reunion, Perry's benchmark for freewheeling, low humour.
Pulliam lends the material emotional shadings that Perry does not write into the script himself.
[Tyler Perry's] talent, however heedless and untidy, is real...it's clear that he can make better movies than Madea Goes to Jail. The pity is that, with the enthusiastic audience he's already found, he may never feel the need to.
The predictable, even absurd twists that the movie takes to reach its happily-ever-after conclusion are amusing, as are the smart-ass quips and disposition of Perry’s popular alter ego.
would have been so much better had he simply left Madea behind to clown around in another film.
As ridiculous as his films frequently are, Perry, a shrewd yet benevolent showman, knows and loves his audience.
Hokey and ham-fisted, cheaply made and appallingly edited. Even good actors like Derek Luke and Viola Davis are at a loss to get past the dialogue and the characters.
Two movies for the price of one, but the comedy smashed against the drama makes the whole thing less entertaining
King of all media Tyler Perry gives fans what they want: irreverent, pistol-packin' big momma Madea, who's going to make those confused, disrespectful young people see sense if she has to slap it into them.
Perry's playing-to-the-cheap-seats drag shenanigans hijack a morose street melodrama every 15 minutes and haul it into places even Flavor Flav fears to tread.
Adapting his own play, Perry has pared the plot way back while giving his law-breaking matriarch more room to run free.
Latest News for Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail
March 08, 2009:
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The adult-themed superhero film Watchmen seized control of the North American box office posting the biggest debut of the year with an estimated $55.7M in ticket sales over the... More...
March 01, 2009:
Box Office Guru Wrapup: Madea Schools Jonas Bros., Chun Li
Despite the arrival of rocking teens, Tyler Perry enjoyed a back-to-back stint at number one with the hit comedy Madea Goes to Jail which led a sluggish frame despite suffering... More...
February 22, 2009:
Box Office Wrapup: Madea Crushes The Competition
THIS WEEKEND Tyler Perry once again showed why he is the King (and Madea his Queen) of the box office as Madea Goes to Jail slaughtered the competition this weekend. Holdovers... More...
February 21, 2009:
Tyler Perry back in drag for another modern morality play. ![]()
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