Madea: Il ritorno

Not as good as former Madea movies. It just wasn't as fun and a too preachy. The worst thing was that several of the performers seemed to have missed too many acting classes.

I see a lot of strong opinions against this film here, but I'm gonna go out on a limb and say I liked it. I love the way Madea is always calling everyone baby, and I love her and Mrs. Brown's accents- the old-time southern US accent, and the Irish accent- they were a joy to the ears!

This movie is silly, but it's meant to be. So for what it is, I say well done! I hope Mrs. Brown and Madea come together for even more fun in the future too!

This is my first dose of Madea after only knowing her from The Boondocks. However I am pretty familiar with Agnes Brown. Not a fan but I can take her fine.

It's a fun cross-over concept though Madea never lets her steal the show. I feel very outside looking in at this constellation of stereotypes that feels at times like it was written to appeal to Klan members with its charicatures of the Urban black population. I admire the cynicism against the family member who is now a cop but I do wonder exactly whose side Mr. Perry meant me to be on. The ebonic rantings can be quite overwhelming and I feel almost guilty watching it the same way I feel guilty enjoying those penny dolls from that Raggedy Ann movie or Song of the South.

There is a jarring juxtaposition of tone as we go from broad sitcom comedy to some kind of Lifetime Drama. It's not even a parody kind of sentimental like Family Guy but deadly serious. They do these crazy collage style scene transitions. Words don't do them justice, I don't know what they thought they were doing.

Madea is a lot like Mrs. Brown, not just in being a parody of an ethnic Matriarch played by a man but in that while she is very goofy and shameless she also dispenses some good wisdom.

I don't want to hate this but it must be said that Robot Chicken got it nail on the head when they said it feels like a 16 year olds idea of what a problem-picture should sound like. There isn't really an issue to talk about here, it's just character comedy and soapy drama but you can feel it.

Kind of a fascinating experience, at one point they have a black and white flashback to Rosa Parks with anachronisms but I am reluctant to consider this much more than a bit of racially insensitive prolefeed.

"Don't get your knickers in a twist." Aunt Agnes (Brendan O'Carroll)

Tyler Perry owns one of the great impersonations in cinema history. His Mabel "Medea" Simmons is a gigantic grandma to a bunch of wild-ass relatives who mostly, like her, say what they think regardless the cost. Her malapropisms are as out there as her character (even repeating her mistaking Ireland for Iran is funny each time, so invested in the authenticity of Madea as Perry is). When White Agnes's "knickers" (above) is heard as "niggers," chaos and mirth ensue.

Tyler Perry's A Madea Homecoming is a raucous comedy inducing laughter at each culturally-incendiary thought so well expressed by an almost totally Black cast who must have had a blast making this movie. Of course, director Perry has cast actors who know how to give a line that tips near the politically incorrect without crossing it but producing even laughs from this jaded critic.

I am struck at the ingenuity of a piece where a female cop wears her uniform to the graduation party of Madea's grandson. Madea is beside herself at how much her neighborhood will react at seeing the police car that comes with that officer's presence. Defunding police to beefing up police are simultaneously hidden under the surface of the witty lines as Madea tries to get her to move the car. How timely and considerate Perry is of issues that challenge both Blacks and Whites in these parlous times.

There are multiple cases of Perry's offering divisive societal challenges including someone coming out of the closet in front of a conservative family, which turns out to be enjoyably accepting. Everyone wins in Perry's picture, even the surly and antisocial, for Perry's mantra is the need for love and acceptance in all lives.

Rarely does a motion picture make me laugh and think at the same time. Once again Netflix does it with its commitment to a Black filmmaker with wit and intelligence-and that's just his writing because his playing the lead character is remarkable acting job for our remarkable times.

I always get a kick out of Madea movies. Of course it's silly and over the top but it is entertaining and makes me laugh. For that I give it an 8. I'm glad Tyler Perry decided to bring her back. Right now the world needs a little bit of mindless entertainment and laughter.