Boo 2! A Madea Halloween
Common Sense says
- PG-13
- 2017
- 101 minutes
Parents say
Kids say
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Boo 2! A Madea Halloween is the 10th Tyler Perry Madea film and a sequel to 2016's Boo! A Madea Halloween. Like that movie, this film revolves around Madea and her elderly squad of relatives having to protect her grandniece Tiffany. But this one is a little edgier than its predecessor. Most of the movie takes place at a fraternity's haunted Halloween party, which takes place at a spooky campground where it seems a family of crazed murderers is on the loose. Madea and her fellow retirees often bicker, curse, and -- in the case of her brother Joe -- make nonstop sexual innuendos/jokes (he claims to have been a successful pimp and even propositions his granddaughter's friend, albeit in a humorous way). The language is occasionally salty ("s--t," "bitch," "ass"), although it's more often along the lines of "damn," "shut the hell up," and "bull crap." Underage characters drink, and Joe loves to talk about his devotion to weed (and he smokes a joint). Despite the scares, substance use, and moderately raunchy humor, the movie does have positive messages about parent-teen and intergenerational relationships.
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User Reviews
Misses every mark.
Not for kids or teens for that matter.
Uninteresting, few "jumpscares".
What's the story?
BOO 2! A MADEA HALLOWEEN is a sequel to 2016's Boo! A Madea Halloween, set one year later. It's Oct. 30, and Tiffany (Diamond White), who's just turned 18, gets headphones from dad Brian (Tyler Perry) ... and a brand-new Mini Cooper from mom Deborah (Taja V. Simpson) and her stepdad. The first thing Tiffany does is secure an invite to the local college fraternity's annual Halloween party (the same party she got in trouble for attending in the original). This time, however, the party is set to take place at Lake Derrick, an eerie campground where a man allegedly killed his entire family. Tiffany convinces her mom to let her go to the party with best friends Gabriella (Inanna Sarkis) and Leah (Lexy Panterra), but Madea (Perry) knows it's a bad idea and drags Joe (also Perry), Bam (Cassi Davis), and Hattie (Patrice Lovely) along to spy on and protect Tiffany. Then, at the party, young people start disappearing, courtesy of a chainsaw-wielding madman and a pair of creepy twins...
Is it any good?
Even devoted Madea fans who know what they're getting into may end up disappointed by this unnecessary sequel to Perry's first Halloween-themed comedy. While a few moments elicit laughs, and some of the jokes land the first time they're told, several of the running gags fall flat. And Uncle Joe's constant crude references to his storied career as a pimp are cringe-worthy, particularly when he tries to flirt with his granddaughter's teenage friend. The tired scares are all borrowed from various other horror movies, but at least the carnage seems to take place off-camera (for a reason that's revealed late in the movie).
The worst part of the movie is how unlikable Tiffany is -- although she does manage to redeem herself slightly. She's selfish and ungrateful, she lies, she peer-pressures her best friend, and she cares more about hooking up with a dimwit frat guy than staying safe. Madea isn't as over-the-top here as she's been in previous movies, and she shares the spotlight with Joe, Bam, and Hattie -- all of whom have a chance to show off their comedy skills throughout the movie. Unfortunately, the humor is limited to themes like urinary incontinence, sexual conquests, and fat jokes. Perhaps it's time for Madea to retire -- or at least return to form.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about why Madea movies continue to be so popular. What is Perry's signature character's appeal? How does Boo 2! A Madea Halloween compare to other Madea movies?
How is substance use portrayed in the movie? Is Joe's love of marijuana/drugs in general appropriate for a movie with teen appeal? What message does his devotion to weed send?
Who are the role models in the movie? What are their character strengths?
Talk about the way Tiffany pressures Gabby to do what she wants, even though Gabby regularly protests. Do you think Tiffany is a good friend? What about Gabby? How would you handle things if you were Tiffany or Gabby?
Movie details
- In theaters: October 20, 2017
- On DVD or streaming: January 30, 2018
- Cast: Tyler Perry, Cassi Davis, Patrice Lovely
- Director: Tyler Perry
- Studio: Lionsgate
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Holidays, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- Run time: 101 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: sexual references, drug content, language and some horror images
Themes & Topics
For kids who love Halloween
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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.