adminDavid Mann, Tamela Mann, Tayana Taylor.
Writer, Producer and director: Tyler Perry
Type of film: family/comedy
Age restriction: no under 12
“Madea’s Big Happy Family” illustrates better than anything I can say the difference in audience’s reaction in Zimbabwe from that of viewers in America.
Considered highly hilarious by those who have seen it here, it was seen in America to be a serious depiction of family life in urban, black America.
For starters for anyone who plans to see this film it is essential that it be taken under consideration that the writing of the film, the money necessary to make it (not less than US$25 million), and the film’s direction, were all in the hands of one man: Tyler Perry.
This happens in Hollywood, perhaps only once per decade.
And when it happens it has always been the case as it is here that with no one to say, “you’ve gone too far,” the film invariably does exactly that: it goes too far.
And, oh yes, did I fail to mention Tyler Perry’s further participation in this film? He is waiting for it the leading character, Madea, who incidentally is a woman. (and he also plays the role of Madea’s husband).
This five-fold contribution to a film has always led to a tendency to go “too far”. As it does, in spades, in the film “Madea’s Big Happy Family.”
Not normally relevant in reviewing films from America which feature, principally, an all black cast, I believe that, in this case, a viewer would be helped in coming to grips with the plot, by knowing that, in the American population, blacks make up 11 percent.
Most Zimbabweans, when I’ve asked this question, reveal their belief that the percentage is ” at least 50 percent. “
In the case of the title of this film, the word “Happy” is used in its most sarcastic sense. The film is, in fact, an urban melodrama, depicting a collection of defeated “losers,” who are called to come to grips with their plight because an even larger tragedy has now befallen them.
And this, most surprisingly, is given to the role portrayed by the least likely victim I can imagine the 53 year-old queen of sarcasm, Loretta Devine.
As the daughter, or mother, of everyone else in this huge cast, it is her terminal illness, death and funeral which prompts the revelations and recriminations which are the sine-qua-non of a very well intentioned film which has for its subject matter the many ways in which a kinship group can destroy itself.
Fully expecting a comedy as I took my seat in the cinema, I found myself, at its close, awash with tears.
Online Reporter