Customer Reviews

Madea's Family Reunion (Full Screen Edition)

5 star:		(81)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

Once again, Tyler has put together a grand movie; I went to the first showing of it here in town and the theater was PACKED; not many seats left; yet, it was a great movie; Cicely and Maya giving us lessons; Maya with the wedding poem; The wedding itself;(nothing short of beautiful); the daughters, the men, Joe, Madea; great combination; Like I mentioned on Tyler's site when I commented on the movie; some movies make you think, some leave you with a short feeling, some just leave a lasting impression and make you empowered; this movie did that and more! I higly encourage those to see this movie and be empowered to do wonderful things;

Hats off again to Tyler Perry. This movie was excellent,and definitely a must see!!!

Tyler Perry really did it for me in this movie he shows African American culture at it's finest. He also has some of the best actresses playing in this movie. Add all this with an entertaining funny twist and you will have money well spent. I love the soundtrack as well as the art that is showcased in this movie. My favorite part of the movie is at the family reunion where Cicely Tyson does her thing and SPEAKS to "her family". Well done Tyler keep them coming.WARNING:DO NOT GO TO THIS MOVIE WITHOUT A BOX OF TISSUES BECAUSE YOU WILL BE LAUGHING SO HARD.

I thought that with Tyler Perry would not be able to match "Diary of a Mad Black Woman," but I was wrong!!!! Madea's Family Reunion is actually better. You laugh and you cry: it's a real morality play that's fun to watch.

Pros:
Storyline, cinematography, acting, positive themes, family friendliness

Cons:
Tacky wedding set, sometimes preachy, some content disturbing for kids and victims of abuse

Full Review:
Caution--This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

I first saw this film in the theater in March. I was in the market for a quality show to celebrate Women's History Month and the tail end of "365 Days of African American History." But it was Friday night and I was also in the mood to laugh. So I convinced my date to see "Madea's Family Reunion" rather than the action flick he was lobbying for. We'd both seen the stage version of "Madea's Family Reunion" and all of Tyler Perry's other shows on DVD and knew the film would be fun. But we didn't anticipate the degree to which Mr. Perry and his pistol packin' alter ego, grandma Mabel "Madea" Simmons (one of three characters he plays in the film), would load so many dead-serious and inspirational messages into this scenic gem.

The ethnically diverse audience at the cinema where we saw the film seemed to concur. We all gasped and guffawed, oohed and aahed at the appropriate moments (except one, which I'll address later), and stayed to watch the outtakes and extra treats rolled alongside the credits. Mr. Perry knows his audience...he kept us enraptured, in the palm of his hand, until Madea broke the spell and directed, "You can go home now."

The film's script, music (which writer, producer, actor, director Perry had a hand in), cinematography, casting and wardrobe pleased the senses, with one major exception that profoundly disappointed me. Not everyone seemed to agree; I was surprised (and red faced) to be the only one in the theater to react audibly to the rendering of the "Springtime in Paris" wedding theme pulled together by wedding planner Milay Jenay Lori (played by Jenifer Davis). When I saw it, I couldn't help but blurt out, "That's awful!" Everyone else in the theater was silent. They were probably either wishing I'd pipe down or wondering, as I was, why--given the movie's ample budget, the beauty of some scenes and realistic homeliness of others--the bridal set had to be so goldarn tacky. But that's a minor matter, like a ding in the fender of a top-of-the-line sports car, or the fact that fine-as-wine and manly-but-artistic Frankie (played by Boris Kodjoe) was not as wealthy as the equally fine, "love you to death," Carlos (played by Blair Underwood).

"Madea's Family Reunion" is not just a gem. This blockbuster's also a cash cow. According to Wikipedia, "On opening weekend, February 24, 2006 Mr. Perry's movie version of Madea's Family Reunion opened at number one with $30 million, more than triple the amount it cost to make." Furthermore, as IMDb reports, "After the first week record-breaking release of the first "Madea" film by Perry, Tyler, Lions Gate Home Entertainment acquired a seven-picture deal of the remaining Madea films." In addition to his commercial and critical success, Mr. Perry's website reports that he is currently celebrating being the first playwright of this genre to be sponsored by a major pharmaceutical company, Glaxo Wellcome.

I'm thrilled at Mr. Perry's success. Like single-mother Whoopi and motherless-at-an-early-age Madonna, the N'Awlins native and adult survivor of child abuse has joined the ranks of wildly popular self-made millionaires who have overcome substantial personal tribulations, taken odd jobs to finance their dreams, and even spent time homeless. Mr. Perry began writing stage plays at age 18, and so far has conquered stage and screen. Next on the horizon: his first novel, Don't Make a Black Woman Take Her Earrings Off: Madea's Commentaries on Love and Life. I can't wait to get between those sheets!

Recommended:
Yes

Available Viewing Format:
Theater, DVD,VHS

A number of viewers has ridicule this film saying that it's just a men in drag trying to be funny which has been done before and that is true, but none of those have been done like this.

Madea's Family Reunion is about family, love, hurt, painful secrets and laughter. It features the infamous, gun-toting tell-it-like-it-is Madea, but this movie introduces a lot of well-rounded characters that are played by some incredible actors. We meet Vanessa the older of the two nieces in the movie. She has two out-of-wedlock children and has moved in with Madea. We also meet her sister Lisa, the younger and meek one who is engaged to a wealthy and violent investment banker named Carlos. To round out this group is Victoria, Lisa and Vanessa's mother, a strong-willed, domineering mother who has a favoritism for Lisa and a troubled past with Vanessa.

Although the film is titled Madea's Family Reunion, the viewer gets caught up in this dual story of the sisters. One finding what love is, and one finding out what love isn't. The movie boasts powerful issues that are acted out to perfection. Tackling such controversial issues is rarely seen in films today where the movie industry has caught remake and horror fever. What is most compelling is the way Perry tells this story of love and pain, it is without color. Anyone, no matter what race or status can relate to this movie.I also liked how the movie tackled foster parenting. Madea takes in Nikki, a rough quick little girl who has been passed around in the foster care system. With a little patience, a lot of love and encouragement, we see her metamorphosis into a sweet young lady.

The film also features strong matriarchs, garnering appearances from both Cicely Tyson and Maya Angelou. The family reunion scene in the movie is exhilarating and honest. It also gives a very moving speech by Cicely Tyson that defies time.

This is a must-see. A movie that tackles the good and the bad. There is good acting, great story lines, great character development, great music and it will leave you feeling stronger, encouraged and educated on the lessons that life deals us. Don't assume this movie is like the play or is simply about a man in drag. Trust me, it is not. You will be pleasantly surprised and definitely entertained.

The Tyler Perry movie Madea's Family Reunion-The Movie is now available on DVD for the first time. The film is an adaptation of the stage play of the same name. Madea's Family Reunion hit theaters in early 2006 on the heels of Perry's successful 2005 movie Diary of a Mad Black Woman. Madea's Family Reunion opened at #1 in the US box office and held that spot for two consecutive weekends. The film was written and directed by Tyler Perry.

Perry stars in the film as Madea and as several other supportin characters . Consider yourself warned, there is far less Madea in this film than in the previous film. In the early scenes of the movie Madea is awarded a foster daughter (Ke Ke Palmer) by the courts. The girl has a bad mouth and is unruly. Naturally Madea "whips" her into shape. Although this storyline was mentioned heavily in the promotion of the film this storyline is actually the least developed in the film.

The primary storylines are those of Madea's Lisa and Vanessa. Lisa is a refined beautiful woman engaged to a wealthy Atlanta businessman named Carlos (Blair Underwood). He is very abusive. Despite the abuse her mother Victoria (Lynn Whittfield) encourages her to stay in the relationship. Lisa's sister Vanessa is emotionally battered and bruised single mother of two. When she meets a handsome bus driver named Brian (Boris Kodjoe), she is afraid to open her heart and love and be loved.

Madea's Family Reunion-The Movie is an excellent film with an all star black cast. Maya Angelou, Cicely Tyson, and Jennifer Lewis are just a few of the talents rounding out the cast. Some of the most impressive acting came from Lisa Arrindell Anderson who portrayed Vanessa in the film.

Madea's mannerism's and one liner's bring needed laughs to a film with a strong and powerful message.

I read a couple of the reviews and laughed when the one guy said he sat in the DARK...'NUFF SAID' This is comedy which is if anyone really understands true comedy , is based on reality. Of course this is over the top but this is how the plays were as well, if you bothered to watch them. In any event I thought the story telling in this movie surpassed Diary of a Mad Black Woman, I go to the movies to laugh and be entertained when it's comedy, and that is what this movie did!!! As for your million dollar movie idea about the "BLACK EXPERIENCE" When you turn into a black man then you can share it with me, Until then NO THANKS!

I saw this movie and really liked it. I love Tyler Perry, and I have seen all of his playwrights, so I was really exicited to see the movies. This movie will make you cry, and the soundtrack is the bomb. I recommend this movie to anyone who wants to see a good-hearted film, with lots of jokes to go along with it.

I went to the theatre and saw the movie and I loved it!! I also own the play. However, the movie is nothing like the play but I loved it just the same. I am a big Madea fan. I own every play that came out thus far.