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The Diva's review of
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The Diva's review of
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WARNING - SPOILERS BELOW.
The Digest
I was going to write up an individual review for each DVD, but that task proved to be far too daunting. So instead, I'm going to tell you a little bit about each of the DVDs and let you enjoy discovering the ins and outs for yourself.
Madea is cigarette smoking; gun totting; loud mouth; matriarch of the Simmons family. She dispense tough love by the shovel full so don't ask a question if you are afraid of the truth. In "I Can Do Bad by Myself" Madea is sick and soon finds herself surrounded by her two of her granddaughters who are at each other's throat and a 14 year old great granddaughter who is faced with a troubling situation. She dispenses dime-store wisdom filled with laughs and tries to set the girls on the right path. Next up Madea attends her 50th class reunion, her reunion just so happens to be at the very hotel that he daughter works at. In the sort time she is there she runs into one dysfunctional patron after another and offers her unsolicited help to fix their problems. Between her interference and her constant sparring with her neighbor Brown, laughs are in abundance as mixed with her dime store wisdom. As if that's not enough, Madea finds herself in the center of more family controversy when one of her granddaughters is set to get married to a man who is abusing her. And if we know anything about Madea, she does NOT put up with a man mistreating her or the women in her life.
The Dish
As much as we would like to deny it, we all have a Madea. My Madea was my great-aunt Lelia whom we affectionately called Bumpsie; well I called her Bump. Anyway, she smoked, played cards; and gambled. She was also known to carry a weapon. She was married 4 or 5 times, but her last husband was the love of her life. He died after about 20-25 years of marriage and she remained a widow until her death in 2005, 20 years later. But you didn't ask Bump a question if you were afraid of the answer. She was infuriating at times, so much so I would stop talking to her for months at a time. But in the end I would be back. The last few years her health problems dictated that she had to live in a hospice. She was the same ole Bump though as evidenced by the fact that my mother got a call from the home threatening to kick Bump out because she got in a fight with her roommate. 86 years old and she's trying to kick somebody's ass. But to her credit that roommate didn't mess with her again. My last conversation with her was a few weeks before she died when she had informed me that she was in trouble because of what she did on her home visit. A home visit is when she would go back home on the weekends to be with Family. Her family consisted of mainly my mother's siblings. Bump had alienated her adopted grandchildren and her two blood grandchildren never made her a priority. So it was her sister's children and grand children (my family) who were closest to her. Anyway on her last home visit the police came around because she was shooting off her gun to celebrate New Year's. You read that right. 88 and shooting a gun. But damn it if I didn't crack up. And you know as I sit here writing this, I'm laughing all over again. But I realize that I don't remember crying last year when she died. I seem to recall a few tears, but I think I mostly smiled and shook my head. It's not that I don't miss her or that I didn't love her, I just forget that she's not here. I see her in my daughter who nearly shared a birthday with her and at 3 already has a mouth you wouldn't believe. I see her in myself they don't call me a diva for nothing. And most importantly, I think Bump was so larger than life, that I couldn't mourn her if I tried. Her spirit is looming large and in charge.
Wow I didn't know I had that in me. Sorry about the left turn at Albuquerque... Madea. The Tyler Perry plays appeal to specific segment of the population. It doesn't have to be that way, but you mostly see black folks at these plays. Each story has a man who is a dog; a man who isn't; a woman who puts up with he dog and shouldn't; and a good woman who virtuous and flawed.
Comic relief comes in the form of Brown, Madea whacky neighbor and of course Madea herself, but there is always a moral and always a message. And always tough issues are addressed in a way that is to handle. Infidelity, spousal abuse, teen pregnancy- all of these issues are dealt with head on and straight forward and with humor. This is the reason the plays are so successful and by extension the movies. It doesn't take a genius to figure out. These plays and movies appeal to the women's auxiliary at church. You know, the black women at church who fan you when you get the spirit. Or the women who cater the funeral for you. The same women who cook every Sunday after church and smack your hands when you try to get two rolls and loudly admonish you when you go back for seconds before everyone has had their firsts. You get my point. The critics are never going to get these movies. They only have to look at the plays to see that the movies won't be theatrical masterpieces.
The DVD
DISC SPECS
SPECIAL FEATURES
I really loved these DVDs. You know they are what they are. I can overlook the heavy handed preachiness of them and the questionable acting for the belly grabbing laughs each DVD brings.
They really are a must rent. Just keep an open mind. Ignore the cheesey songs if you so chose or ignore the religious aspect of them if that's not your thing. You should still be able to find something to laugh about.
The Directive
I had so much fun watching these and I think you will too. I watched them with my mom and my husband it was really fun. Sitting together as a family and enjoying ourselves. I wish you and your family the same joy.
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Rated PG-13; Each of the 4 DVDs are about 2 hours and 15 minutes 