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Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail

Buzz says:   MPAA Rating: PG-13
Current Showtimes: No showtimes available

Moviegoers should not rush to judgment with these Tyler Perry films. While not terribly profound, his films, which he writes, directs and stars in, such as his latest Madea Goes to Jail, contain simple, honest pleasures that are wrapped in lots of narrative silliness.

This story’s main focus surrounds the family matriarch Madea’s arrest for a high-speed highway chase and her court ordered anger management therapy sessions. Perry hams it up, creating three separate characters, including Madea, with lots of comical banter and foolish insults. Interwoven in the slapstick episodes is a serious subplot with a no-nonsense, up-and-coming assistant district attorney named Josh Hardaway (Derek Luke), who’s about to be married to Linda, a beautiful defense attorney (Ion Overman). When he reconnects with an old neighborhood friend, Candace, who’s been accused of drug addiction and prostitution, his life is about to spin out of control.

These comical/serious moments frequently clash awkwardly, from the madcap antics of Perry to the near-soap opera melodramatics of the Josh/Linda/Candace triangle. But through these moments, the plot delivers subtle messages about accepting responsibilities for one’s actions, standing by longtime friends in need and rejecting the need to feel victimized by society.

Perry’s cast of regulars from his television shows and previous films plays a comfortable comic ensemble. Former Cosby kid Keshia Knight Pulliam is surprisingly impressive as the troubled, drugged-out street hooker Candace. Also look for numerous cameo appearances by famed radio and television talk show hosts, including hilarious moments with Dr. Phil McGraw and Judge Mathis. Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail proves to be a pleasant crowd-pleaser.