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Divided between sincere melodrama and populist comedy, Madea Goes to Jail fails to provide enough laughs -- or screen time -- for its titular heroine.
All Critics (50) | Top Critics (13) | Fresh (14) | Rotten (36) | DVD (3)
As ridiculous as his films frequently are, Perry, a shrewd yet benevolent showman, knows and loves his audience. Feb 25, 2009 | Full Review…
As ridiculous as his films frequently are, Perry, a shrewd yet benevolent showman, knows and loves his audience.
Melissa Anderson
The women's prison dramedy I wanted never really happens. Feb 23, 2009 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…
The women's prison dramedy I wanted never really happens.
Wesley Morris
Perry's playing-to-the-cheap-seats drag shenanigans hijack a morose street melodrama every 15 minutes and haul it into places even Flavor Flav fears to tread. Feb 23, 2009 | Rating: c+ | Full Review…
Perry's playing-to-the-cheap-seats drag shenanigans hijack a morose street melodrama every 15 minutes and haul it into places even Flavor Flav fears to tread.
Nathan Rabin
Adapting his own play, Perry has pared the plot way back while giving his law-breaking matriarch more room to run free. Feb 23, 2009 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
Adapting his own play, Perry has pared the plot way back while giving his law-breaking matriarch more room to run free.
Elizabeth Weitzman
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. Feb 23, 2009 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…
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.
Bill Goodykoontz
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. Feb 23, 2009 | Rating: 2.5/5 | Full Review…
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.
Sam Adams
Unfortunately the movie isn't about Madea going to jail at all. That would have been a funny movie. Sep 12, 2017 | Rating: D+ | Full Review…
Unfortunately the movie isn't about Madea going to jail at all. That would have been a funny movie.
Candice Frederick
A half-silly/half-moralistic story about how it is never too late to turn things around, "Madea Goes to Jail" is as wispy as whipped cream, but also as easy to consume. Nov 26, 2013 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…
A half-silly/half-moralistic story about how it is never too late to turn things around, "Madea Goes to Jail" is as wispy as whipped cream, but also as easy to consume.
Dustin Putman
A tedious melodrama stuck on top of shrill comedy, and the two parts are both the worse off for the combination. Feb 10, 2012 | Rating: 3/10 | Full Review…
A tedious melodrama stuck on top of shrill comedy, and the two parts are both the worse off for the combination.
Tim Brayton
Perry clearly knows what his fans like, and he gives it to them -- by the shovelful. But for those not so tuned to his talents, Madea Goes to Jail is two excruciating hours of hard time. Sep 29, 2011 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…
Perry clearly knows what his fans like, and he gives it to them -- by the shovelful. But for those not so tuned to his talents, Madea Goes to Jail is two excruciating hours of hard time.
Neil Pond
Madea's antics held me captive. Aug 3, 2009 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
Madea's antics held me captive.
Kamal 'The Diva' Larsuel
Madea is the antithesis of the moralistic soapbox Perry's movies stand on, which is why she is usually the enjoyable ingredient in his films. Jul 3, 2009 | Rating: C+ | Full Review…
Madea is the antithesis of the moralistic soapbox Perry's movies stand on, which is why she is usually the enjoyable ingredient in his films.
Clay Cane
Madea Goes To Jail is a fun movie for its comedy side, but the dramatic side is as stupid as any Tyler Perry film.
Super Reviewer
This movie is two different movies haphazardly smashed together. The two stories may have worked better separately, but together they suffer from jarring shifts in tone and a feeling of disconnection.
"If they got me got me got me I gotta get them get them get them"
Tyler Perry can never go wrong.
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