Madea's Family Reunion

By: The Dude

Director: Tyler Perry
Cast: Tyler Perry, Lyn Whitfield, Blair Underwood, Rochelle Aytes, Boris Kodjoe, Lisa Arrindell Anderson.
Rating: 2 out of 5

You know, I’ve gotta say that I haven't been this confused since Hugh Grant sought some ‘Divine’ intervention for his relationship with Liz Hurley. I mean, Hugh, what were you thinking, man? Liz is one fine woman. Divine on the other hand … well she looks like Tyler Perry dressed in drag - which is pretty much what happens in this here Madea's Family Reunion madness. Perry – writer, director, actor extroardinaire – reaches inside to find the woman within. Why? Well I'm not too damn sure. What is it with these Hollywood male types and their need to dress up as fat chicks? Mrs Doubtfire aside, when was the last time you saw a great movie about a guy dressing up as a fat chick? Martin Lawrence in Big Momma’s House? I think not. Eddie Murphy in Norbit? Pa-lease.

“You knobs!” is what The Dude would yell if he saw any of them in the street. “Leave the dressing up as chicks thing to drag queens and football players.”

As the so-called heroine in Madea's Family Reunion, Perry plays Grandma Mabel who sets out to reunite her family for the first time in five years. In theory, it's a nice idea – but so was the fake moon landing and at all manner of strife that got NASA into. It’s pretty clear that Mabel's mob is falling apart

There are only two highlights in Madea's Family Reunion – Rochelle Aytes and Lisa Arrindell Anderson. These two glamour pusses play half-sisters Lisa and Vanessa and had The Dude hooked the minute they stepped on set. Lisa is trapped in an abusive relationship with mega rich husband to be Carlos (Blair Underwood), while Lisa is struggling to raise her two children, until she meets Frankie (Boris Kodjoe).

Unfortunately, their bitchy mother Victoria (Lyn Whitfield) is too self absorbed to consider their problems. Just when their lives are on the brink of imminent disaster, the reunion rolls around and Grandma Mabel and her sisters step in to solve the their love lives.

Warning: plot spoiler in previous paragraph.

It's supposed to be a comedy drama, I didn't come close to laughing. Hell, not even a snigger crept across The Dude’s face. So whoever decided to send me Madea's Family Reunion for review clearly wasn't thinking. 

In a word: Painful 

Verbatim:
Madea Simmons: "She don't know me. I'm a straight-up thug. I shot Tupac. Yes, I did. We was arguing over a parking place. I didn't kill him, though. No, that wasn't me.