Tanya Batson-Savage, Freelance Writer
Nikki (Keke Palmer, right) and Madea (Tyler Perry) in 'Madea's Family Reunion'. - CONTRIBUTED
BORIS KODJOE appears topless. That aside, Madea's Family Reunion is a reasonably entertaining flick. Written and directed by Tyler Perry, who also plays three of the roles and is one of the film's executive producers, follows the same basic formula as its predecessor, Diary of a Mad Black Woman. It is an interesting combination of low comedy and low drama.
On one hand, there are Mable 'Madea' Simmons and her brother, Joe (both played by Perry), who provide most of the fodder for laughter. The two live easily in the land of stereotypes. Madea is the violent, loud-mouthed, wise-cracking granny who is large enough to back up her threats of violence. It is not coincidental that everyone calls her by a name that is My Dear, done with a southern drawl. Joe is a flatulent, perverted old man. However, the two have lost some of their novelty, though Madea's put downs are still often hilarious.
MELODRAMATIC FARE
On the other hand, the film piles in more melodramatic fare. Where there was one story last time around, this time it attempts to double up by having two. The first is once again a case of spousal abuse. Blair Underwood plays Carlos, an egotistical suitor with a penchant to hit first and then hit again later. The much less known Rochelle Ayetes plays his victim, Lisa, the pretty recipient of his torment.
The second couple features Boris Kodjoe (Frankie), a man who shares his time among a bus, painting and being a single father, and Vanessa, played by Lisa Arrindell Anderson. As such, both couples offset each other, one showing a dysfunctional relationship and the other the growth of love and affection between two people. Young Keke Palmer is also tossed in as Madea's new fosterling, though it is not at all clear why she was included in the film.
NO BRILLIANT WRITING
Perry's writing is far from brilliant. Though the story tosses in incest, abuse, betrayal and love, it doesn't explore any of them to any significant degree, or with any originality either. However, Perry has selected issues which are great for providing titillation and he lays on the melodrama with great relish.
The result is that despite the seriousness of the issues dealt with in the film, one never has to be engaged by it on a cerebral level. The cast gives decent performances, even if the characters remain without significant depth.
Additionally, Maya Angelou and Cicely Tyson are also roped in to put in some social sermonising, which do nothing to move the script forward, but it's like when a bad DJ says 'put up yuh han' if yuh love Jesus'; communal guilt makes us go along. So, for her ability to tap into communal guilt, Cicely Tyson is forgiven this appearance on the soapbox.
If Perry had chosen to deal with any of the issues raised in the film, especially the cases of incest and spousal abuse, he may have created a film capable of deeper impact, which would have given some much needed weight to Madea's skirts. But he has chosen not to, and one cannot deny the guilty pleasure release that comes with the hot grits and skillet solution, which is admittedly simplistic, but also fun.
Essentially, Madea's Family Reunion is a light, lowbrow comedy with a twist of melodrama. Yet, when all else fails, it does also include Boris Kodjoe shirtless.
