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Tyler Perry's Madea's Family Reunion (PG-13, 2006)

common sense media says

Madea is back. Not meant for kids.

parents & educators say
  • 29% say language is an issue
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this film includes several scenes of violence, some dramatic and some comic. A man abuses his fiancée repeatedly, slapping, walloping, and shaking her, threatening to throw her out a window and throwing her to the floor. Madea threatens violence as punishment (she will "tear that ass up," for example), and in some scenes acts on her warning: She slaps a boy in the head and hits her foster child with a belt for skipping school; she advises her niece on revenge for her abuse, and eventually the niece throws hot grits on her abuser and then beats him with a frying pan. At the reunion, the family matriarchs chastise the younger generation for playing craps, arguing, and dancing provocatively (we see examples of all these bad behaviors). Characters refer to sexual activity and use slang ("get some"), including prostitution (one character says her mother was a "whore"). Characters drink beer, wine, and champagne, and refer to "weed," "the chronic," and "a fix."

Positive messages: Madea knows best, phrasing and acting on her wisdom in raucous fashion; her language is crude and her solutions are comically violent.
Violence: Includes both dramatic and comic violence: Carlos hits Lisa several times, leaving bruises on her face and chest, threatens to throw her out their window; Lisa eventually throws hot grits at Carlos' face and hits him repeatedly; Victoria slaps Vanessa, who punches her back; Madea slaps a boy who bullies Nikki, hits Nikki with a belt, and several times talks about "tearing that ass up," and other slang for her disciplinary methods.
Sex: Carlos removes Lisa's negligee to prepare for her bath (we see her bare shoulders); fiancés appear in bed; a man asks another if he plans to "get some" on a date; an abusive man kisses his fiancé possessively; several references to sex and genitals, a girl is told she's only "smart enough" to "lie on [her] back" a woman reveals her mother gave her (as a child) to her stepfather for sex; teenaged girls wear short shorts, midriff shirts, and dance provocatively.
Language: Moderate language, including s-word, "damn," "hell," and "bitch," as well as slang ("crap," "balls," "wide load" for Madea's large behind).
Consumerism: Heineken beer visible; Bloomingdale's exterior visible; reference to Roc-A-Wear.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Drinking of wine and beer at parties and nightclubs; characters drink champagne in a couple of scenes at home; characters refer to "weed," "the chronic," and a junkie mother selling her daughter for "a fix."
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More on Tyler Perry's Madea's Family Reunion

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about the strong ties among family members, and the power of forgiveness (why is it important that Vanessa forgives her mother, even though Victoria allowed her husband to abuse Vanessa sexually as a child?). How does Lisa feel trapped in her relationship with Carlos? How is Victoria's determination to have her daughter marry a wealthy man explained, so she remains "sympathetic"? How does Madea promote traditional values with practical/comic solutions (hitting an abuser with a frying pan)?

What's the story?

What's the story?
TYLER PERRY'S MADEA'S FAMILY REUNION showcases the traditional wisdom of vibrant Madea Simmons (Tyler Perry, who also plays her brother Joe and nephew Brian). Madea's niece Lisa (Rochelle Aytes) is engaged to banker Carlos (Blair Underwood), a perfectionist who beats her. Lisa confesses her plight to her mother Victoria (Lynn Whitfield), who says "Women sometimes have to deal with things to be comfortable." Victoria's bad judgment also shows when it comes to Lisa's half-sister Vanessa (Lisa Arrindell Anderson), who meets Frank (Boris Kodjoe), who seems perfect for her. Still, Vanessa has reservations due to her tense relationship with Victoria, who treats her as a "failure" and focuses on Lisa's upcoming wedding. As Vanessa is currently living with Madea, the matriarch finds plenty of opportunities to offer opinions on her nieces' situations. Madea also has a new addition to her household, foster child Nikki (Keke Palmer). Madea pushes her to do well in school and believe in herself after learning that a previous foster parent told Nikki she could only make a living "on [her] back".

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
Directed by Perry, this sequel to Diary of a Mad Black Woman is broadly comic and pushes the PG-13 envelope on content. While the sequel shows more confidence and better production values, it essentially repeats the first plot: Madea advises an abused relative on how to save herself. While Madea provides Nikki with a stable home and emotional encouragement, she serves a different function for the film's audience by performing unsubtle comedy like beating Nikki with a belt, trash talking, and threatening (humorously) to beat or kill those who disobey her. It's funny, and sets Madea apart from those she counsels -- they had better not do as she does.

The Madea franchise is premised on this excessive characterization, and audiences love the character. Still, she can be repetitive, and this film is unevenly paced and predictable. Alternately boisterous, syrupy, and endearing, the film bolsters Madea's belief in family strength-in-unity by community-building, history-remembering, spirit-reviving speeches by Maya Angelou and Cicely Tyson, who show up at the reunion and final scene's wedding.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Lionsgate
Director: Tyler Perry
Cast: Blair Underwood, Lynn Whitfield, Tyler Perry
Genre: Comedy
Run time: 107 minutes
Theatrical release: February 24, 2006
DVD release: June 27, 2006
MPAA Rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: for mature thematic material, domestic violence, sex and drug references.
This review was written by Cynthia Fuchs
 
 

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What parents & educators say

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Based on 7 parent & educator reviews:
  • 29% say language is an issue
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Most useful reviews by all members

labourforblair
adult
 
Confusion
It was promoted as a comedy, but turned into a non sensical mess between domestic abuse and comedy. The comedy was funny though.
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cocacola88
teen, 16 years old
 
i loved it
it was soo funny i loved tyler perrys flims and madea . i think it is a dramatic comody.
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Grant
adult
 
THIS MOVIE IS SO GREAT
THIS MOVIE IS SO GREAT
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gabie drummer
teen, 16 years old
 
i laughed
i think longs as you have a little bit of commonsince you will be alright.
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CSM Screen ...
adult
 
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morningglory
adult
 
Must see
Tyler Perry is a great writer, actor, and director. check out his plays
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fitzgebd2
adult
 
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ironkid21
kid, 13 years old
9
 
This was a good movie. It had comedy and drama. The thing that was bad was that a man beats up on his wife. There was also just 1 innapropriate part were old men are "checking out" younger girls. 9+
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CASHMONEY162012
parent of 17 year old
14
 
Funny
Thais movie is one of tyler prerry's best medea goes to jai was good. not as good as this one. the movie was funny everyone learns a leason so it is egucatiomal in a way. good for kids to watch. i really recomend you to watch it.
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9hemmatip
teen, 14 years old
13
 
This is a good sequel to DOAMBW beacuse it had less syrupyness and less drama and more comedy. Mature themes though so 13+
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ilikemusik23
adult
14
 
Dissipointing
I watched this movie thinking it be a comedy but it turned out to be a really bad drama than comedy. It was promoted as a movie about Madea on T.V. but she is only in about a quarter of the movie the rest of the movie is about a women dealing with abuse from her husband. I'd say watch it once and just watch the parts with Madea in it and skip out all the other garbage. Madea Goes To Jail is a lot better!
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Hermitcrab36
teen, 14 years old
 
awesome movie!
This movie is very funny! I laughed for hours!
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