Tyler Perry's Madea's Big Happy Family (2011)
Average Rating: 4.6/10
Reviews Counted: 39
Fresh: 15 | Rotten: 24
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: 4.5/10
Critic Reviews: 12
Fresh: 7 | Rotten: 5
No consensus yet.
liked it
Average Rating: 3.9/5
User Ratings: 28,655
My Rating
Movie Info
Adapted from the multi-talented playwright/filmmaker's hit stage play of the same name, Tyler Perry's Madea's Big Happy Family finds the cantankerous family matriarch using her unique brand of tough love to help her family weather some particularly rough waters. Madea's niece Shirley has received a frightening medical diagnosis, and she's having a hard time figuring out how to break the news to the rest of the family. Unfortunately she's not the only one in the midst of a crisis, either:
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Cast
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Isaiah Mustafa
Calvin -
Loretta Devine
Shirley -
Shad "Bow Wow" Moss
Byron -
Tyler Perry
Joe, Madea -
Cassi Davis
Aunt Bam -
Shannon Kane
Kimberly -
Natalie Desselle Reid
Tammy -
Rodney Perry
Harold -
Tamela Mann
Cora -
David Mann
Brown -
Teyana Taylor
Sabrina -
Lauren London
Renee -
Steven Wash Jr.
H.J. -
Nicholas Milton
Will -
Benjamin "LB" Aiken
C.J. -
Philip Anthony-Rodriguez
Dr. Evans -
Maury Povich
Himself -
Stephen Caudill
Policeman -
Chandra Currelley
Sister Laura -
Palmer Williams, Jr.
Manager -
Yakini Horn
Worker -
James Farster
Clerk -
Ron Grant
Pastor Jackson -
Cindy L. Jefferson
Nanny -
Cheryl Pepsii Riley
Choir -
Crystal Collins
Choir -
Dequina Moore
Choir -
Tamar Davis
Choir -
Danny Clay
Choir -
Brandi Milton
Choir -
Jeffrey Lewis
Choir -
Zuri Craig
Choir -
Kislyck "Kissy" Halsey
Choir -
Kristal Danyell Murphy
Choir -
Dave Tolliver
Choir -
Kenneth "Mistro" Lowe
Choir -
Tim Stylez
Choir -
Monica Lisa Stevenson
Choir -
-
Chandra Currelley-Young
Shirley -
-
-
-
-
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All Critics (39) | Top Critics (12) | Fresh (16) | Rotten (24) | DVD (1)
Like most of Perry's movies, this one oscillates wildly and shamelessly between raunch and pathos, leaving plenty of room for the performers to work. The lively ensemble includes a scene-stealing Cassi Davis as pothead Aunt Bam.
Top CriticEpitomizing the shrill franchise's schizophrenic tonal shifts, Madea metes out Christian life lessons with one hand -- and righteously bitch-slaps with the other.
The title is meant to be ironic. Too bad irony is in such short supply in Tyler Perry's Madea's Big Happy Family. Sadly, subtlety is also missing.
If Perry gets on your wavelength, you can forgive him too. He's only the host at a home-cooked banquet of wild emotions.
"Madea's Big Happy Family'' nonsensically knots the spiritual and the salacious, asking gossipy questions then giving pulpit answers so that the movie is wonderfully, woefully absurd.
Perry possesses a superb ear for the themes and emotions that connect him to his core audience, and that's on display again here, though the unconverted might grumble that the movie's many riffs and rants feel recycled from previous offerings.
The odd thing about Tyler Perry is that just when you think he may be turning a corner and evolving, he goes into retrograde.
Perry's performance of Madea [feels] flatter and more strained than he ever has in the role.
Deathbed scenes and colonoscopy humor, Bible quotations and Maury Povich "Who Is the Real Baby Daddy" episodes: All cohabit with equal relevance in the world of Tyler Perry.
... Tyler Perry goes to the Madea well once too often and comes up dry.
Comedy is comedy, and "terminal illness" is "terminal illness" and the two really shouldn't meet. What you end up with is a movie that's literally as funny as cancer.
Madea's Big Happy Family is probably Perry's best film to date.
I've been waiting patiently for Perry to make a Madea film that suits my tastes and I think this is the one.
This "Madea" feels like the best "Madea" yet.
A typical Perrython of Perryisms aimed at the most Perrynacious viewer. This means steaming melodrama, low comedy and a dash of Jesus.
It's that time of year again, when the daffodils spring up and Tyler Perry puts on a dress and becomes Madea.
One part funny and one part dramatic and sometimes these two parts clash instead of compliment.
The problem with the last couple movies to feature Madea, in fact, has been that they haven't featured Madea enough.
Melodramatic tough love as meaningful group therapy!
Audience Reviews for Tyler Perry's Madea's Big Happy Family
Super Reviewer
Super Reviewer
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- Madea: You're gonna wish that sperm did a backstroke when it met the egg that made you.
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- Renee: If I have to get a J.A.B. you aint gettin N.U.N.
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- Madea: Sit down you black leprechaun looking like you're out of a damn box of chocolate, lucky charms.
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- Madea: Now I got silver hair, but I got silver bullets, too. Do you want one?
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- Joe: 1-800 CHOKE DAT HOE!
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- Joe: Haha, you was a hoe back in the day.
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Latest News on Tyler Perry's Madea's Big Happy Family
August 30, 2011:
RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: More Madea and A Bunch of ClassicsThis week on home video, most of the good stuff comes from years past, stretching even as far back...
April 22, 2011:
Critics Consensus: Water for Elephants Is A Little SoapyThis week at the movies we've got a big-top romance (Water for Elephants, starring Reese Witherspoon...
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Director: Tyler Perry
Summary: As soon as she learns about her niece Shirley's health issues, super-grandma and problem-solver Madea takes over the situation one more time, summoning together her highly fragmented clan in this madcap dramatic comedy all about family values.
My Thoughts: "Not the best to come from Tyler, but not the worse one either. I just think some of his story lines get recycled a lot. There is always someone being sexually abused in some form or way. I did enjoy some of the film though. I thought going on Maury was hilarious and showed a good example on how foolish some of those girls look. Medea is always funny and brings the wisdom and laughs. I just wish the films weren't so heavy all the time. I enjoyed Loretta Devine in this movie. I love her acting and think she's a great actress. She brings a lot of emotion to the table. I also thought Bow Wow did a great job in the movie. I would have liked to see more of his story played out. But in the end it was just OK for me. On to the next which I'm sure there will be another."