SEEMS PISTOL-PACKIN’ MADEA HAS FINALLY WORN OUT HER WELCOME. By Wayne Hodges
SHAWNEE MISSION, Kan – Watching a Tyler Perry film is sort of comparable to that drunken uncle who shows up inebriated at every family function. Even though he constantly makes a spectacle of himself, you’re never disappointed because that’s the expectation.
Let’s just say Liongate’s “Madea’s Big Happy Family” didn’t disappoint. I’ll try to choose my words meticulously. And I’ll begin by saying something nice.
The Cast:
Madea/Joe – Tyler Perry
Shirley – Loretta Devine
Aunt Bam – Cassi Davis
Kimberly – Shannon Kane
Calvin – Isaiah Mustafa
Tammy – Natalie Desselle-Reid
Harold – Rodney Perry
Cora – Tamela Mann
Mr. Brown – David Mann
Byron – Shad “Bow Wow” Moss
Sabrina – Teyana Taylor
Renee – Lauren London
Maury Povich – Himself
THE GOOD: The animated intro is actually pretty neat and remarkably creative by Perry’s primitive standards. Also, Madea’s reckless decision to drive her raggedy ‘hooptie’ through the dining hall of a fast food restaurant added both an element of surprise and action to the film.
Now the rest.
Aside from the repetitive abuse of the English language, the flick served viewers a heaping helping of ‘hot ghetto mess’ normally associated with Perry’s productions. The omission includes the typical weed-smoking elder (Aunt Bam played by Cassi Davis) accompanied by:
1) Big Mama melodramatics. 2) Madea’s sass & opprobrious attacks on disenchanted youth. 3) Mr. Brown’s hideous attire. 4) A black man fresh out of jail. 5) Contumacious, profanity-spewing children. 6) Inadequate acting. And 7) a rustic, predictable storyline which concluded with a Madea counseling session coupled with a reconciliation between bitter, rivaling parties.
All of these items, according to Perry, are endorsed through the heavenly name of Jesus.
“It’s crazy the things people print without any facts. What is also interesting is how hard they work to try and discourage (people) from going to see my films…,” said an irritated Perry in response to his critics.
“They don’t get the spiritual side of this… They don’t get that it’s about uplifting and encouraging the soul.”
Yep. Nothing uplifts the soul like a $20 bag of marijuana. “Hallelujer!”
Look, the goal is not to sabotage Perry’s character. Really it isn’t. Although he dons drag down to the tee, the man has bright spots. Let’s start with finances. With African-American unemployment fluctuating to 16%, I can’t help but applaud and appreciate the many job opportunities Perry has given to blacks.
Hell, if it wasn’t for him, black joblessness would probably swell above 50%.
So it’s probably safe to conclude Perry is a better businessman than filmmaker.
That being said, I’d just prefer he leave Jesus out given the abundance of negative images and examples that are routinely portrayed in his films.
Perhaps most concerning is the inexcusable fact Perry stole the script of George Tillman’s 1997 film classic “Soul Food,” gave it a sloppy makeover, then shoved it to the box office.
Maybe he didn’t think we would notice?
Well, we did.
I’m serious. Like Soul Food, the film evolved around the premature death of ‘Big Mama’ (Shirley played by Loretta Devine) amid complications inflicted from an incurable disease.
Check.
You also had two bickering sisters, a confused grandson (Byron played by Bow Wow), a pair of “Charmin” soft husbands lacking backbones (Calvin & Harold), and a controversial family dinner where everyone found it inexplicably necessary to air out their dirty laundry in full view of each other.
Check. Check. Check. And Check.
Why didn’t Perry name the movie “Soul Food Remix?”
To compound matters, the film did absolutely nothing to dispel the dysfunctional perception of black marriages. I literally lost count of the number of times the wives told their husbands to “shut up.”
Are you kidding me?
Somebody should tell the ‘Ghetto Housewives of Atlanta’ 70 percent of African-American women are single.
70 ‘frickin’ percent.
Meaning?
Husbands are at a premium in the black community. Ladies, if you have a ring on your finger, you better treat him right or risk becoming a statistic. As expected, black men received no respect in this movie.
None, nada, zilch.
Mr. Brown tells his daughter Cora he’s not interested in a prostate exam
As previously mentioned, the film took the implementation and distortion of Ebonics to an entirely new level.
Between the elementary speech of Madea, Mr. Brown, Uncle Joe and Byron’s annoying baby mama Sabrina, the English language took a savage beating of epic levels; giving the sad depiction that blacks are generally uneducated and grammar-challenged.
EXHIBIT A: After enduring Sabrina’s repulsive chant of “Byronnnnnnnnnn” for roughly two hours, yours truly was driven to the brink of a nervous breakdown. Sabrina, who epitomizes ‘low class,’ commenced to uttering Bryon’s name over and over again in a very irritating, drawn-out, screechy tone.
Why did Perry allow this to happen?
Does he find this form of twaddle funny?
Entertaining perhaps? Why?
Even talk-show host Maury Povich received some Perry love for his despicable role in giving national television exposure to irresponsible parents and paternity issues commonly linked to urban despair.
I’m confused. Maury and others alike have made millions of dollars through the filming, production and dissemination of African-American incompetence.
Does Perry have to follow suit?
Rating: 2 Popcorn Bags out of 5
*** View this commentary, and others, on ILoveBlackMovies.com by clicking here ***
Wayne Hodges, an MBA from St. Mary University, is the Editor-in-Chief of “Mass Appeal News.” He also serves as a business/political columnist with The Atlanta Post, he’s a Democrat reporter for the Examiner, and he’s a movie critic and journalist with ILoveBlackMovies.com. Wayne welcomes your comments 24/7 at whodges@massappealnews.com
