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Movies / On DVD / Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail
Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail

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Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail (2009)

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Reviews Counted:11

Fresh:3

Rotten:8

Average Rating:4.5/10

Consensus: Divided between sincere melodrama and populist comedy, Madea Goes to Jail fails to provide enough laughs -- or screen time -- for its titular heroine.

Rated: PG-13 [See Full Rating] for mature thematic material, drug content, some violence and sexual situations.

Runtime: 2 hrs 17 mins

Genre: Comedies

Theatrical Release:Feb 20, 2009 Wide

Box Office: $90,485,233

Synopsis: Multitalented screenwriter, director, playwright, and actor Tyler Perry delivers yet another comedy feature from his popular MADEA film series. Largely concerned with African American family life,... Multitalented screenwriter, director, playwright, and actor Tyler Perry delivers yet another comedy feature from his popular MADEA film series. Largely concerned with African American family life, Perry splits his efforts between the outrageous Madea films and other, slightly more serious features such as 2008’s THE FAMILY THAT PREYS. As the name suggests, MADEA GOES TO JAIL, based on the 2006 play of the same title, once again stars Perry himself as Mabel B. Simmons (nicknamed Madea), the feisty, gun-loving grandmother audiences have adored on stage and screen since she first appeared in the 2002 play MADEA’S FAMILY REUNION. When Madea ends up in jail following a series of violent outbursts, she finds herself in equally eccentric company and causes chaos among her fellow inmates. In a fat suit and women’s clothing, Perry keeps things light while exploring signature themes of redemption, such as the young attorney (Derek Luke, NOTORIOUS) who sets out to help a prostitute (Keshia Knight Pulliam, THE COSBY SHOW) who holds a special place in his heart. The New Orleans-born Renaissance man once again proves himself to be comfortable wearing many hats: as star, producer, writer, and director, Perry retains a constant presence but is careful not to outshine his talented co-stars, including Viola Davis (Oscar-nominated for her role in 2008’s DOUBT) as a determined social worker. Rivaling Woody Allen with the speed at which he releases films, Perry manages to pack Christian values, positive messages regarding the power of forgiveness, and plenty of laughs into his quickly produced features. This is all communicated through his signature blend of outrageous comedy and almost soap-operatic drama. [More]

Starring: Tyler Perry, Derek Luke, Keshia Knight Pulliam, David Mann

Starring: Tyler Perry, Derek Luke, Keshia Knight Pulliam, David Mann, Tamela Mann, Ronreaco Lee, Ion Overman, Vanessa Ferlito, Viola Davis, Sofia Vergara

Director: Tyler Perry

Director: Tyler Perry
Screenwriter: Tyler Perry
Producer: Reuben Cannon
Composer: Aaron Zigman
Studio: Lions Gate Films

[See More Credits]

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Release:

Jun 16, 2009

[DVD Details]
 
 

DVD Features:

  • Region [unknown]
  • NTSC
  • Keep Case
  • Full Frame

Audio:

  • Dolby Digital 2.0, Dolby Digital 5.1 - English, Spanish
  • Subtitles - English, Spanish

Additional Release Material:

Featurette:

  • 1. Madea Is Back
  • 2. "Leroy” Law Brown
  • 3. Looking for the Big House
  • 4. You Have the Right to Remain Silent!
  • 5. Bringing in the Heavy Hitters
  • 6. Madea’s Crazy
 
 
 
 

Reviews for Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail

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1 - 11 (sorted by date)
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As ridiculous as his films frequently are, Perry, a shrewd yet benevolent showman, knows and loves his audience.

Full Review Source: Village Voice | comment Comment
02/25/09
Melissa Anderson
Melissa Anderson
Village Voice
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The women's prison dramedy I wanted never really happens.

Full Review Source: Boston Globe | comment Comment
02/23/09
Wesley Morris
Wesley Morris
Boston Globe
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Adapting his own play, Perry has pared the plot way back while giving his law-breaking matriarch more room to run free.

Full Review Source: New York Daily News | comment Comment
02/23/09
Elizabeth Weitzman
Elizabeth Weitzman
New York Daily News
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Perry brings his own sensibility to every movie he makes and has enjoyed great success by following his own path. But he leaves you wanting more.

Full Review Source: Arizona Republic | comment 1 Comment
02/23/09
Bill Goodykoontz
Bill Goodykoontz
Arizona Republic
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

If the movie is a mess, it's a purposeful mess, cannily, if not artfully, pushing all the right buttons to ensure Perry will be back for another round.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | comment Comment
02/23/09
Sam Adams
Sam Adams
Los Angeles Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Crowd-pleasing African-American filmmaker Tyler Perry has been heralded as an entrepreneur, a populist, and an expert on the wants of female audiences, but none of that would have been possible if he weren’t also an expert drag performer.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment 1 Comment
02/23/09
J. R. Jones
J. R. Jones
Chicago Reader
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

As an alternative to the Hollywood mainstream, which doesn't provide many good roles for African-American actors, Perry's movies are at least a stopgap solution. It's just too bad they're not better.

Full Review Source: Salon.com | comment Comment
02/23/09
Stephanie Zacharek
Stephanie Zacharek
Salon.com
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The best parts of Madea Goes to Jail are the title character's motormouthed harangues. The rest of it is a fairly clumsy tale of sin and redemption.

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
02/23/09
A.O. Scott
A.O. Scott
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Its comedy is from the do-anything-for-a-laugh school, without even the polish of the Three Stooges, and the melodrama evolves from rote characters and cliched situations.

Full Review Source: Hollywood Reporter | comment Comment
02/23/09
Kirk Honeycutt
Kirk Honeycutt
Hollywood Reporter
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Tyler Perry's latest soul operetta lives up to the mischief promised by its title. But that isn't nearly enough of the time.

Full Review Source: Entertainment Weekly | comment Comment
02/23/09
Owen Gleiberman
Owen Gleiberman
Entertainment Weekly
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The law of diminishing returns catches up with the mega-successful multihyphenate in this wildly uneven effort.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment 1 Comment
02/23/09
Joe Leydon
Joe Leydon
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
 
 
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Latest News for Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail

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The adult-themed superhero film Watchmen seized control of the North American box office posting the biggest debut of the year with an estimated $55.7M in ticket sales over the... More...

March 01, 2009: Box Office Guru Wrapup: Madea Schools Jonas Bros., Chun Li
Despite the arrival of rocking teens, Tyler Perry enjoyed a back-to-back stint at number one with the hit comedy Madea Goes to Jail which led a sluggish frame despite suffering... More...

February 22, 2009: Box Office Wrapup: Madea Crushes The Competition
THIS WEEKEND Tyler Perry once again showed why he is the King (and Madea his Queen) of the box office as Madea Goes to Jail slaughtered the competition this weekend. Holdovers... More...

February 21, 2009: Tyler Perry back in drag for another modern morality play. Opens in new window
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