Madea's Witness Protection

Reviews from the Dark Side presents
Madea's Witness Protection
Released 6/29/12, now in theaters

Madea's Witness Protection is writer/director Tyler Perry's latest installment starring his most popular character to date.  As usual, Perry stars in the role as the titular character and does double duty as supporting characters Joe (Madea's brother) and Brian Simmons (Madea's nephew, Joe's son).  Eugene Levy, Denise Richards, and Doris Roberts are introduced to the Perry madness for the first time. This is the first film in the Madea franchise that is not adapted from a Perry play.

George Needleman (Levy) is the CFO of his company who becomes the corporate fall guy when the company is busted due to a Ponzi scheme.  Several charities have been bilked of their money without Levy's knowledge.  Not only does George face jail time, but he is also pursued by mobsters that invested with his company for money laundering purposes.  After receiving a dead rat in a box from the mob, George has no choice but to surrender to authorities.  Since the money trail can be traced back to Atlanta, the Atlanta D.A.'s office is prosecuting the case.  Enter Assistant D.A., Brian Simmons.  Since George is fully cooperating with authorities, Brian needs a safe place to stow the Needlemans away until the trial.

 And who can protect them better than Brian's six foot tall, no-nonsense, gun-toting aunt, Madea.  Of course, Madea isn't onboard with hiding the family until she learns it's a $4,000/month gig.  So, Madea takes in the Needleman clan.  Aside from terminally confused George, there's his loving but frustrated wife, Kate (Richards), his disrespectful daughter from his first marriage, Cindy, his awkward son with Kate, Howie, and his senile mother, Barbara (Roberts).  When the Needlemans arrive at Madea's home, it's a race against time for George to assist Brian in clearing his name before Madea loses it and shoots a family member. 

I'm not the hugest fan of Tyler Perry's plays/movies.  He has created some hilariously funny characters, like Madea.  The guy does have a twisted sense of humor and I love that.  But his work strattles the line of raucous comedy and sad melodrama with no rhyme or reason much of the time.  I guess what I want Perry to do, especially with a Madea movie, is pick a lane.  Well I'm happy to say this time he did pick the pure comedy lane, and it worked.  This is a fun romp.  The movie never strays far from its comedic root.  This is the first Tyler Perry movie that I say I truly liked from beginning to end. 

Madea is her usual cantankerous self, making ridiculous substitutions for words (like "Yoda" for "Yoga").   She's a force of nature you don't sass anywhere on the planet, especially in her house as Cindy quickly discovers.  The rash of insults hurled between Madea and Joe is comic gold.  There's even a subplot involving George's parentage.  Hint.  He may be closer to the Simmons family than anyone thinks. 

I have given Tyler Perry a rough ride in the past, but this time, I have to say Good Job!

The Dark Lord of the Sith says:

*** stars

Ratings Legend
Zero *= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit! 2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Good viewing. Much better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. Could possibly foot the price of a non-Matinee.
5 *= Pure eye candy. Hall of Fame material here.