Review: 'Madea's Family Reunion' misses its mark

At least if one hits the donkey at a birthday party, there’s candy involved. This time I only got more confused. In doing research for this film, I found that a DVD titled “Madea’s Family Reunion” was released in 2003. Many times entirely different films share a title. But the Tyler Perry connection with both “Madea’s” led me to wonder what was up. I’m way out of the Tyler Perry loop.

Here are the basic facts: “Madea’s Family Reunion” (originally a play) was written by Tyler Perry. In 2003 a filmed version of the play was released to the home video market.

In 2006, the film was released to the Hollywood big screen circuit. While the 2003 DVD was merely Perry’s play captured on film, the 2006 “Madea” is an all new, full-blown production made just for the big screen.

The operative word in that sentence is “blown.”

Perry blew his chances at turning his play – which has had great success and critical acclaim – into a substantial piece of cinema.

When it’s good, it’s very, very good. But when it’s bad, it’s HORRID.

The sociological points Perry makes are well-thought-out and to-the-point; at times the humor is highbrow, and even when it’s lowbrow, it’s funny enough; the cast is fine, and at times, very fine.

But then there’s the sophomoric, self-explanatory dialogue.

“Whoa, you livin’ large, girl. Up here on the 30th floor.”

OK, we get it. They live on the 30th FLOOR.

Anytime dialogue has to explain details as mundane as what floor someone lives on, the viewer can only say, “Houston, we have a problem.”

Perry tries too hard as he triple-stars as 1. the main character, 2. the typically irascible old fool/foil and 3. the young voice of reason.

Peter Sellers could pull off multiple roles but most times (think Eddie Murphy) this approach chokes.

Perry’s attempt falls as short as most. While his ancillary characters are fine, he should have farmed them out and concentrated on Madea, a role he obviously wrote for himself.

Madea is the under-matriarch (Maya Angelou and Cicely Tyson show up later to cement their places) of a large African-American family. Madea is planning her family reunion, and while she’s doing so, things in her life begin to go awry.

First, she’s saddled with a court-appointed foster child. The pre-teen at first has a sour attitude. Madea soon slaps that out of her.

The most interesting subplot – it’s actually the real focus of the film – concerns Madea’s niece Lisa (the breathtaking Rochelle Aytes). Lisa is about to be married to a highly successful banker. Lisa’s mom has all but arranged the marriage and portrays it as a heavenly match. The big problem is the fact that Lisa’s hubby to be beats her on a daily basis.

Lisa’s half sister, Vanessa, is a single mom of two. She’s found the Lord and sworn off men. She meets a decent man who is a single father and has an interest in her.

The dynamics between Lisa, Vanessa and their mom (played to the cold extreme by Lynn Whitfield) always head in the right dramatic direction but end up being soap-operatic.

Writer/director/star Tyler Perry addresses some issues that really need to be explored. In trying to be and do all things at once, he misses hitting the mark on each count.

I didn’t dislike “Madea’s Family Reunion” as much as I felt sorry for it.

Jim Wunderle owns Wunderle Sound Services and is a Springfield free-lance writer and musician. He can be reached at www.wunderlesound.com of info@wunderlesound.com.[[In-content Ad]]