Words Of Wisdome From "A Madea Christmas"

A Madea Christmas (2013)

Rated PG-13

Starring Tyler Perry, Larry the Cable Guy, Chad Michael Murray, Tika Sumpter

Written and Directed by Tyler Perry

The Story:

Madea (Perry) has to drive a friends to visit her daughter for Christmas. In the town, they want to hold a Christmas celebration, but money is tight.  Of course, in a web of lies, it's only a matter of time until all of the truths are revealed. 

It is a similar Tyler Perry formula of hiding secrets from family and revelations at the end.

Wrapped up in a Christmas formula with the inclusion of Madea, you've got the makings of a comedy instead of a drama.

Adding Larry the Cable Guy actually brings more humor to the story and things actually pick up once his character arrives.

Of course, when you follow the formula, you know that a happy ending is destined to happen, but that's okay.

This ending fits well, and is satisfying.

If you've enjoyed the other Madea movies, you should have no problems with this one either.


Final Grade: C/C+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: This could be one to revisit next year, or down the road. We'll see.

She Might Kill Them First... "Madea's Witness Protection"

Madea's Witness Protection (2012)

Rated PG-13

Starring Tyler Perry, Eugene Levy, Denise Richards, Doris Roberts, Tom Arnold

Written and Directed by Tyler Perry

The Story:

An investment banker (Levy) is framed in a Ponzi scheme by his boss (Arnold). His entire family gets relocated to live with Madea (Perry) who's going to teach them some good ol' fashioned family values, and save their lives in the process.

I usually come across pretty hard on Tyler Perry's non-Madea films.

Either too boring, or with just characters that make me want to punch the tv.

:)

I normally say, "not as good as his Madea films".

Then along comes Witness Protection, which most will say is the bottom of the barrel with this franchise.

Meh.

It's not so bad.

Your typical fish out of water as the uptight, dysfunctional New York family is forced to live with Madea and learn to live life on her terms.

This falls in the realm of mostly harmless fun, and as always, Levy is a delight, making movies more enjoyable just by being himself.


Available to stream instantly on Netflix or Amazon Prime

Final Grade: C

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: It's been about 2 years since I last saw it. Harmless mostly. Another few years, might watch the Madea movies again.

It's Not All Fun And Games In "The Single Moms Club"

The Single Moms Club (2014)

Rated PG-13

Starring Nia Long, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Amy Smart, Zulay Henao, Cocoa Brown, Tyler Perry, Terry Crews

Written and Directed by Tyler Perry

The Story:

5 single mothers (Long/Covey/Smart/Henao/Brown) are forced to work together when their children all misbehave at school.  Initially resistant due to their conflicting personalities and social statuses, as time goes on, they begin realizing that they could help each other out.  They form a Single Moms Club to allow for babysitting and some time out away from the kids.

Well, I actually preferred this one to the last Tyler Perry offering.

Getting away from heavy drama (though there is a bit of drama in this one) and going for more humourous, but not over-the-top Madea comedy, Perry instead gives us a slice of life dramedy.

The ladies all have their issues with their exes, each other, their jobs and the men that are trying to be in their life.

Some characters are more sympathetic than others.

I will give Perry credit for a bit of dialogue that is lost in the middle of the movie.

When Lytia (Brown) is late picking up her kid from her sister (sister!) and is berated for trying to make a better life for her and her son by having a job when she could make so much more on welfare...

Yeah, let that logic sink in for a moment, and realize that a great deal of the population probably thinks that way.

Adding in some love interests for most of the ladies that are a significant step-up over their previous paramours is a smart move.

Hiring Terry Crews as one of those is genius.

:)

While not as crazy as he normally gets to play in movies, he does have some fun in the film and is always fun to watch.

Final Grade: C+/B- range

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: No need to own it, but I could have it playing again in the future. Mostly harmless and a few pretty funny spots.

A Movie About "Alex Cross" Has A Lot To Live Up To...

You sir are no Morgan Freeman!

The Story:

Alex Cross (Tyler Perry), brilliant psychologist and homicide detective is on the trail of Picasso (Matthew Fox), an assassin who is murdering wealthy Detroit businessmen.  Of course, when Cross gets too close to Picasso, Picasso makes it personal.  Now Cross is determined to take this serial killer down, whether he has to break the law or not to do it.

Meh.

It's a serviceable detective flick, but nothing especially awesome to write home about.

Based on the same character that Morgan Freeman played twice before (Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider), and now I have to rewatch both of those to see if they were better than this one, or simply better because of the Morgan Freeman Factor....

: )


I can't imagine them being any worse.

Anyway, it's not a bad film.  Edward Burns tags along as Cross's best friend and partner, and he always does a fine job in whatever role he's in.

However, Cross comes across as almost too smart, out-Holmesing even Sherlock himself.  He'll randomly pull a factual nugget as he's investigating and says it so matter of factly that it comes off as pompous, not brilliant.

Anyway, with all of that said, I've seen worse thrillers.

However, I've also seen better.  Much better.

Final Grade: C

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Neither to either.

Tyler Perry Better Do Some "Good Deeds" To Make Up For This One

No good deed goes unpunished.

The Story:

Businessmen Wesley Deeds (Tyler Perry) is going through the motions of his life.  He is engaged to Natalie (Gabrielle Union) but there doesn't appear to be any love from either party.  Then one day Wesley meets Thandie (Lindsey Wakefield) and tries to help her, but her mouth insists on writing checks her body can't cash.  Naturally, her sass and life problems tug at Wesley's heartstrings, and the audience as well, and we all melt as the two fall in love and live happily ever after.

Vomit.

Dear Tyler Perry, please don't retire Medea just yet.  I much prefer those movies to this one.

Not that there is inherently anything wrong with this movie, but it just rubbed me wrong from the opening and never let go.

Truth be told, I didn't even want to watch it, but had to compromise because I was watching all kinds of good movies, and my wife hated all of those.

:)

So you see exactly how this movie is going to unfold, and that's fine.  Clichés exist for a reason.  Sometimes we like to get from Point A to Point B without taking a scenic tour of Hoboken to get there.

But...

When your love interest is sooo unlikeable...

I mean, it takes her over 2/3rds of the film before she starts to even be remotely nice. At all.

Whether the sparks are flying or not, here's a guy going out of his way to be nice to you, and all you come back with is venom and spite.  That's what's wrong with the world today, and why more people don't want to help their fellow man.

Whoops, where did this soapbox come from?! 

This is a movie, not real life.

Thank goodness.

I still don't like her.



And the grade for the movie suffers because of it.

Available to stream instantly on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: C

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Sorry, no can do.