Madea Goes to Jail (2009)

Mischievous grandma Madea lands in jail, where she meets a variety of mixed-up characters.

Director:

Tyler Perry

Writer:

Tyler Perry

Stars:

Tyler Perry, Derek Luke, Keshia Knight Pulliam

1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tyler Perry	...	Madea / Joe / Brian
Derek Luke	...	Joshua Hardaway
Keshia Knight Pulliam	...	Candace Washington
David Mann	...	Brown
Tamela J. Mann	...	Cora (as Tamela Mann)
RonReaco Lee	...	Chuck
Ion Overman	...	Linda
Vanessa Ferlito	...	Donna
Viola Davis	...	Ellen
Sofía Vergara	...	T.T.
Robin Coleman	...	Big Sal
Bobbi Baker	...	Tanya
Aisha Hinds	...	Fran
Benjamín Benítez	...	Arthur
Karan Kendrick	...	Guard Watson

Storyline

Mischievous grandma Madea lands in jail, where she meets a variety of mixed-up characters.

---

Plot Keywords:

cross dressing | sequel | fourth part | remake | directed by star | 

---

Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material, drug content, some violence and sexual situations

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 February 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail

Filming Locations:

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$41,030,947 (USA) (20 February 2009)

Gross:

$90,485,233 (USA) (17 April 2009)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Tyler Perry Company, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

While the exact charges against Madea are not specified at the start of the movie, when she is in court all charges are dismissed due to the police not reading her "Miranda". The sole time Miranda is applicable under U.S. case law is when there is custodial interrogation by the police (questioning where the suspect is not free to leave). Any crimes the police witness they do not need to interrogate the suspect. The violation of fleeing the police is shown and battery on an officer is inferred. Miranda would not need to be read for either of these offenses to be proved, and a lack of it being read would have no bearing on the validity of the charges. If the police violate a suspect's rights by custodial interrogation without the Miranda warning, the sole penalty for the violation is the suppression of any statements made by the suspect.

---

Quotes

Dr. Phil: What is wrong with you? Why do you feel the need that you gotta "get" somebody all the time?
Madea: Well when you gettin' "got" and somebody done "got" you and you go "get" them, when you get 'em everybody's gon' get got.
Dr. Phil: Yea but you're gettin' the gotters when they didn't do anything to even get you.
Madea: Yea but if the gotters get me I'm gonna get my glock.

---

Connections

Referenced in Jeopardy!: Episode #26.12 (2009)

---

Soundtracks

"What Would You Say"
Written by Aaron Albano and Michael Lynche
Performed by Michael Lynche
Published by Kobalt Music (BMI)
Courtesy of Hood Famous Music by arrangement with Shelly Bay Music

User Reviews

According to this, the Lord is always the answer. Whatever.

Now, before anything, I'm a Christian and I do have some religious beliefs. However, I'm not a hardcore Christian. I also can't stand it when people shove religious crap down my throat. I can learn to poke fun at my own religion and laugh because for all I know I could be worshiping the wrong religion. Not a big deal to me. I'm still a decent guy. Religion is always the last thing on my mind.

With that said, this movie was just bad in every way possible. Let me break it down for you: it's not funny, it's not clever, it's not entertaining, it's overlong, it's boring, it's predictable, it's clichéd, the bad acting and dialog make it unwatchable at times with it's stupid one liners. It also tries too hard to be both dramatic and ends up becoming unbearably hammy. It also leaves me wondering: "Is it comedy or drama? Do I even care anymore because of how unlikeable the characters are?" I've seen some comedy/dramas that evenly weigh out each element very well. This film and the rest of Tyler Perry's films don't fit into that category at all.

This also pounds you over the head with religious context and other ridiculous and unrealistic plot elements that just come off as being unintentionally sappy. And why the hell is Dr. Phil in this? Really? Does anyone like this douche bag enough to want him to star in a film (however amateurish)? And not having one pop-culture icon in the film is enough, but they also had to add in another one (Judge Mathis).

Oh, I forgot to tell you the story. Madea goes to jail, but it takes forever before she actually gets there (she's there for the final 20 minutes of the show). Tyler Perry casts his conceded ass into three separate roles in this, which gets tiresome. I have no problem with directors wanting to be in their own films (Braveheart and Annie Hall come to mind) but, damn dude, three roles? Seriously? Oh, yeah, back to the "story". Madea keeps doing dumb stuff so she eventually goes to jail and is ordered anger management (with Dr. Phil of all people) and at the same time a prostitute is trying to get off the streets.

Is there anything in this film that Tyler Perry hasn't done before? Madea? Sexual abuse? Religious elements? Drug addiction? Yes, yes, it's all so sad and so easy for you to get tears jerked from your audience while at the same time giving them a good belly laugh. You are oh-so-clever, Tyler Perry.

All in all, I'm just getting really sick and tired of these stupid Madea movies. Almost as much as those damn "movie" movies with Seltzerberg. The only saving grace in this that I can think of is that the actor who plays Josh is the only one who didn't annoy me. He wasn't good, he just seemed like the only one who was even trying. Kudos to him, but at the same time he should be ashamed to agree to star in a film like this. The man is clearly talented and needs to be in real movies and avoid this kind of crap. He's the only reason why this doesn't get one star out of me. I gave it two for his sake.

Like I said with Not Easily Broken, leave the religious elements out of your films unless it actually does have something to do with it (Last Temptation of Christ, Doubt) but at the same time don't exclude your audience. Next time, Perry, I'm not gonna be so easy on your ass.