With Jim Sabatini

Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail

Rated: PG-13
Reviewed by: Chris
Release date: February 20, 2009	Released by: Lions Gate Films

Director and star Tyler Perry and his alter ego Madea again bring his special brand of broad comedy to the screen.

Madea's big mouth gets her in trouble once again after a car chase. She gets arrested and resists vigorously. To make matters worse, she loses her temper in court and is thrown in jail. Even there, she thinks she can run things - and maybe she can.

Derek Luke plays Assistant District Attorney Josh Hardway who takes the case of an old friend, Candace (played by "The Cosby Show"'s all grown up Keshia Knight Pullman). She's a young prostitute, facing violence and a drug addiction. Much to the dismay of Josh's fiancee, he becomes a little too close to his work.

Madea's anger management problem is the source of most of the comedy, even if some of it appears like just the thing we would like to do when someone steals our parking place, her hit-you-over-the-head comedy gets her in more trouble.

Tyler Perry is never subtle and his films are always straight forward, message-driven and huge crowd pleasers.