Director: Tyler Perry

Story By: Tyler Perry

Cast: Tyler Perry, Cassi Davis, Tamela J Mann,  Brandon Black, David Mann, Isha Blaaker, Geneva Maccarone, & Amani Atkinson

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It’s familiar Perry. I didn’t love it, but I didn’t hate it… and being a Netflix release works.  

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Theme: C

Plot & Story: C

Pacing: B

Character: C-

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Entertainment Factors

General Public: Don’t Rush

Film Enthusiasts: Don’t Watch

Experience Seekers (via Visuals & Score): Don’t Watch

Madea /Comedy Film Fans: Don’t Rush

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TAKEAWAYS:

1. The messaging that stood out for me focused on the intersection of acceptance, living in one’s truth, and the preservation of one’s happiness and peace. For the most part, the story executed this theme in a rather quick, simple and linear way.

Act One does some decent, yet predicable at times, foreshadowing of a few truths that the audience knows will shake the table. 

Act 2 is where everything comes to the light, and the idea of accepting the truths of everyone involved clearly has a negative impact on the peace and happiness of the family and celebratory weekend.

But then Act Three gives this pretty abrupt closure to the messaging which I assume is because the title character acted as the thematic glue via her “words of wisdom” throughout the other acts to be the justification… but we all know when it comes to Perry’s writing, it can be hit or miss.🥴🤷🏾‍♂️

2. Lissen… Davi! #Swoon! 😍😜

3. …AND Tim! Yeeessss! 😍😜

4. Madea’s great-grandson comes home to be celebrated for graduating college, but he (and a few others in the family) also have personal news…and secrets…to share and hopefully be able to ”celebrate” as well. This is A Madea Homecoming. 

I think the most entertaining and engaging Act of the film is Act 2. It’s also the Act that gives a little breath for the messaging via the character interactions. 

Act One is typical Madea, and was pretty much used to introduce and foreshadow characters, but something felt forced about it. Almost like it was trying to make up for lost time being away—the cursing seemed more frequent and “heavier” than normal. 

Act Three, like Act One, was a typical cool down with some exaggerated Madea antics to add that comedic value in addition to some toxic choices by characters for some social shock value, but it felt a little outdated, predictable, and long winded. 🥴🤷🏾‍♂️

5. The end credits scenes were funny! 😂👍🏾

6. Um… not they let him do and say all of that at the graduation… 👀👀

7. A Madea Homecoming has a runtime of about 97 minutes, and though I was able to tolerate it, it wasn’t without noticing moments that felt unnecessarily loquacious. Additionally the film doesn’t do a great job with taking time with character development (and I doubt it was a priority vs just appealing to toxic comedic-drama enjoyment).👍🏾

8. The make-up for Uncle Joe… … I didn’t like that. 🤨🤦🏾‍♂️

9. Get off the bus, ROSA! 😂

10. I get it, she is the title character; and maybe it’s because it’s been quite a while since I’ve watched a Madea film, but Madea seemed to hold way more space than usual and she wasn’t always a well placed comedic relief. Sometimes…she was just loud and narcissistic. In terms of character development, this got in the way of really seeing Tim and Davi’s story, as well as Tim’s mom—all of whom’s traumas were the foundation to this story existing in the first place. 

When it comes to characters embodying the messaging, most of it was told vs shown. A lot of dialogue and conversations stating the issues and feelings related to the theme, and a lot of lectures/lessons by Madea related to the theme. 🤷🏾‍♂️👍🏾

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Overall #AMadeaHomecoming gives Madea’s Family Reunion – meets Dirty Laundry. 

It’s still a feel good film, but Madea’s Homecoming seems to miss something of its predecessors. Maybe it’s the pre-famous creativity by Perry that made the earlier Madea films feel different and more cohesive while also being funny?  I’m not sure, but I wasn’t as drawn to Madea or the characters like I’ve been in the past…except for the flashback with “Rose” scene, and end credits scenes—those were funny and creative, and I wouldn’t mind the franchise moving more in that direction—a Madea Parody direction.