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Tyler Perry's Madea's Witness Protection
- Review Date: June 30, 2012
- PG-13
- Genre: Comedy
- 2012
Common Sense Media says
The mighty Madea preaches, but with less fire this time.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Madea's Witness Protection -- part of Tyler Perry's popular, long-running Madea franchise -- serves up more of what audiences have come to expect from the series: a righteous Madea putting people in their place. This time it's a Bernie Madoff-like character (only he doesn't know anything about the crime and was just set up) and his family, who have to hide in Madea's Atlanta house for safety. Expect some light cursing (mostly "hell" and "damn"), some sexual references/innuendoes (mostly about strippers and body parts), a few slaps, and plenty of exhortations about the right way to behave.
What's the story?
George Needleman (Eugene Levy) thought he was successful as CFO of the charity arm of Lockwise Industries, a Wall Street investment bank. But then he discovers that his firm is actually a Ponzi scheme and Mafia money laundering unit. He can either be killed by the Mob or make restitution with the help of a well-meaning district attorney (Tyler Perry). But first, George needs a place to hide while he works with the government to catch the bad guys. And what better place to disappear than at the mighty Madea's (Perry) house, where the Needleman family's big-city ways won't make the cut?
Is it any good?
No disrespect to the (usually) formidable Madea, but she seems to be losing her touch. She has less fire in her belly; her diatribes aren't as disarming or funny. (Though fans will be glad for a few of them, especially an initial one she unleashes on a poor soul who tries to rob her in her car.) A teenage girl who's quite nasty to her parents, especially her step-mother, is upbraided in a fairly tame and passive-aggressive, roundabout way, when a full-on righteous tongue-lashing would have been more audience-pleasing. Could it be that Madea has softened with age? Or is Tyler Perry tiring of his muse? (We're not even getting into the movie's weak script or the wasted potential of the New York banker-in-relocated-down-South setup.)
The beauty of Madea is that she says what she thinks, so when she doesn't, we're left unsatisfied, wondering what's holding her back. It also takes much too long to get a glimpse of the film's headliner as the Ponzi scheme storyline is explained. Levy is predictably hilarious, and watching his character and Madea reference a Whoopi Goldberg-in-Ghost moment is gold. But not much else is.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about whether Madea is a role model here, if she indulges in some rude behavior (primarily screaming and threats of bodily harm) herself. Does it matter that what she's doing is played for laughs?
Talk about Madea's message about the youth of today and their sense of entitlement. Is she right?
Parents, talk to your kids about the crime at the heart of this plot and what it might have been influenced by.
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- Teens & kids
Kid, 12 years old
July 2, 2012
AGE
Madea's Witness Protection
This was only OK. There was TONS of innuendo. From stripping, to body parts, to having sex. And there was some language. I mean this was good, but not as good as 'I Can Do Bad All by Myself'. That is a better, more family-oriented hit with some comedy.
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Teen, 16 years old
July 3, 2012
AGE
One must love Madea.
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Parent of 6 year old
July 6, 2012
AGE
tyler perrys madeas witness protection
Families can talk about whether Madea is a role model here, if she indulges in some rude behavior (primarily screaming and threats of bodily harm) herself. Does it matter that what she's doing is played for laughs?
Talk about Madea's message about the youth of today and their sense of entitlement. Is she right?
Parents, talk to your kids about the crime at the heart of this plot and what it might have been influenced by.
What other families should know:
Was this review useful?
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Teen, 16 years old
July 11, 2012
AGE
Laughs with a less mature subject
It is always fun to watch a Madea movie if you go into it knowing there may be some deep concepts in the movie. Witness protection, in my opinion has less sensitive topics than previous Tyler Perry movies. Which is an admirable factor if you just want to laugh at Madea's' straight-forward opinions and comments. Going into the movie, you should know that race is one of the main parts of the movie. Which, in term leads to comments and jokes dealing with race. Overall, it was a fun movie that led to laughs from viewers.
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Adult
July 6, 2012
AGE
13 and up.
Tyler Perry's Madea's Witness Protection is a great comedy movie filled with lots of laughs this is a good madea movie for the whole family to enjoy and of course good for your teens and parent's there's only a few thing's that you need to look out for in this film the movie has some some crude sexual remarks used and some mild language used and some drinking and drugs used such as cigarettes and A bottle of champagne is seen the message in this movie is clear that to Be a good citizen, old or young, and the world is a much better place Also, don't take any guff and the role models are that Madea cusses and screams and sometimes resorts to corporal punishment i.e. a slap or two to get her point across, but that point is usually well-meaning She thinks children should respect their elders, adults should be responsible and capable no whining and everyone should be mindful of their contribution to this world.
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Teen, 13 years old
July 27, 2012
AGE
Hellir!
This is a good movie. Sure it has a few bad words here and there, but overall Madea teaches a good lesson to the audience. Don't listen to CSM!
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AGE
Awesome movie!
LOL! Madea is SO hilarious! There is some sexual jokes and violence in it plus some innapropriate stuff, but besides that, great movie!
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AGE
Awesome movie!
LOL! Madea is SO hilarious! There is some sexual jokes and violence in it plus some innapropriate stuff, but besides that, great movie!
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Kid, 11 years old
January 22, 2013
AGE
Best Madea Movie
Great movie.
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Teen, 16 years old
November 16, 2012
AGE
Worth Watching?
In Madea's Witness Protection, a character is said to be laundering money and doesn't know about it. He is taken to police headquarters and is forced to go into hiding and he and his family moves in with an elderly woman named Madea.
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| Topics: | friendship |
| Studio: | Lionsgate |
| Director: | Tyler Perry |
| Cast: | Denise Richards, Doris Roberts, Eugene Levy, Tyler Perry |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Run time: | 114 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | June 29, 2012 |
| DVD release date: | October 23, 2012 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | some crude sexual remarks and brief drug references |
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