Madea's Family Reunion [WS]

Director: Tyler Perry Tyler Perry

Overview

Actor and playwright Tyler Perry returns as Madea, a brash but loving African-American grandmother with her own way of doing things in this screen adaptation of his popular stage comedy drama. Madea has her work cut out for her when she finds herself dealing with a handful of family crises the same weekend that she's planned a massive family reunion. Her niece Lisa (Rochelle Aytes) is engaged to marry a handsome and successful man (Blair Underwood), but the good news is blunted when she reveals to her friends that he beats her. Another niece, Vanessa (Lisa Anderson), has been having romantic problems of her own, and isn't sure she should take another chance on love with a humble but good-hearted bus driver (Boris Kodjoe). Madea's older sister dies, with the funeral landing the same weekend as Lisa's wedding. And on top of all this, a court order forces Madea to look after Nikki (Keke Palmer), a troubled and angry teenager from a broken home. Madea's Family Reunion also stars Lynn Whitfield, Jennifer Lewis, Cicely Tyson, and Maya Angelou.

Product Details

Release Date:	06/27/2006
UPC:	0031398193272
Original Release:	2006
Rating:	PG-13
Source:	LIONSGATE - 600000-AEC LGE
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	1:50:00
Sales rank:	23,294

Special Features

Closed Caption;Director commentary; Deleted scenes; The making of Madea's Family Reunon; Marriage Madea style; Gaither plantation; Making the music; Widescreen version; English and Spanish 5.1 and 2.0 Dolby Digital audio; English and Spanish subtitles; Trailers

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Tyler Perry	Madea/Brian/Joe,Madea/Brian/Joe,Man on the Bus,Man on the Bus,Composer,Composer
Lynn Whitfield	Victoria,Victoria
Blair Underwood	Carlos,Carlos
Boris Kodjoe	Frankie,Frankie
Maya Angelou	May,May
Jenifer Lewis	Milay Jenay Lori,Milay Jenay Lori,Milay,Milay
Keke Palmer	Nikki,Nikki
Cicely Tyson	Myrtle,Myrtle
Henry Simmons	Issac,Issac
Lisa Arrindell Anderson	Vanessa,Vanessa,Nima,Nima
Rochelle Aytes	Lisa,Lisa
Tangi Miller	Donna,Donna
Akhil Jackson	Jonathan,Jonathan
Alonzo Millsap	Tre,Tre
Georgia Allen	Ruby,Ruby
Cassi Davis	Aunt Sarah,Aunt Sarah
Leon Lamar	Grover,Grover
John Lawhorn	Uncle Pete,Uncle Pete
Afemo Omilami	Isaac Sr.,Isaac Sr.,Aunt Clara,Aunt Clara
Ryan Gentles	Stripper Policeman,Stripper Policeman
Mablean Ephriam	Judge Ephriam,Judge Ephriam
Richard Reed	Bailiff No. 1,Bailiff No. 1
Dale Neal	Kid No. 1,Kid No. 1
Michelle Griffin	Carlos' Woman Friend,Carlos' Woman Friend
Cedric Pendleton	Carlos' Man Friend,Carlos' Man Friend
Deanna Dawn	Tyrequa,Tyrequa
Enoch King	Hykeem,Hykeem
Ginnie Randall	Miss Samuel,Miss Samuel
C.O.C.O. Brown	Poet/MC,Poet/MC
Jennifer Sears	Female at Reunion,Female at Reunion
Tre Rogers	Young Man at Reunion,Young Man at Reunion,Young Man at Reunion,Young Man at Reunion
Shannon Eubanks	Secretary,Secretary
Jeronn C. Williams	Singer/Reverend,Singer/Reverend
Dale C. Bronner	Reverend,Reverend
Lisa Arrindell	Actor,Actor
Brian F. Durkin	Actor,Actor
Lisa Anderson	Vanessa,Vanessa
Judge Mablean Ephriam	Judge Ephriam,Judge Ephriam
Johnny Gill	Wedding Singer,Wedding Singer
Crystal Collins	Singer #1,Singer #1
Regina Murff	Singer #2,Singer #2
Rita Sands	Singer #3,Singer #3
Karnelle Smith	Singer #4,Singer #4
Stephanie Dotson	Singer #5,Singer #5
Joyce D. Williams	Singer #6,Singer #6
Philipia Williams	Restaurant Singer,Restaurant Singer
Steve Coulter	Maitre D,Maitre D
Yvette Devereaux	Conductor,Conductor
Elvin Ross	Composer,Composer,Composer,Composer
Perry Elvin Ross	Composer,Composer

Technical Credits

Tyler Perry

Tyler Perry	Director,Director,Producer,Producer,Screenwriter,Screenwriter
Reuben Cannon	Producer,Producer
Mike Upton	Producer,Producer
Michael Paseornek	Producer,Producer,Executive Producer,Executive Producer
Roger M. Bobb	Producer,Producer
Ryan Beadle	Special Effects,Special Effects
Greg Crawford	Sound Effects,Sound Effects
Mark DeSimone	Sound Effects,Sound Effects
Brent Findley	Sound Effects,Sound Effects
Anderson Martin	Stunts,Stunts
Derrick Simmons	Stunts,Stunts
J. Wayne Parker	Key Grip,Key Grip
Kim Williams	Casting,Casting
David Lord	Stunts,Stunts
Lonnie Smith Jr.	Stunts,Stunts
Jon David DeStefano	Sound Editor,Sound Editor
Dean Hovey	Sound Editor,Sound Editor
Jonathan Wales	Sound Mixer,Sound Mixer
Elias Sound	Sound/Sound Designer,Sound/Sound Designer
Bruce Murphy	Sound Editor,Sound Editor
Todd A. Niesen	Sound Editor,Sound Editor
Jim Hawkins	Sound Mixer,Sound Mixer
Jay Nierenberg	Sound/Sound Designer,Sound/Sound Designer
Zeke Richardson	Sound Editor,Sound Editor
Stuart Provine	Sound Editor,Sound Editor

Editorial Reviews

“I only go to church for weddings and funerals. I wonder what I’m dressed up for today?” That line would not be out of place in a John Wayne western, but it’s ominously delivered here by Madea (writer-director Tyler Perry, portraying his signature drag alter ego), who dispenses her own unique “old school” justice. Madea has cleaned up her act a bit since Diary of a Mad Black Woman, but she still delivers the sassy goods as she contends with being forced to take in a foster child with delinquent tendencies (which slap-happy Madea immediately nips in the bud). She also provides safe haven for her two nieces: Lisa (Rochelle Aytes), unhappily engaged to a prominent investment banker (Blair Underwood, cast against type and scarily effective), who beats her; and Vanessa (Lisa Arrindell), who has some very definite issues with her unsympathetic mother, Victoria (Lynn Whitfield). All this and much more threaten to disrupt the family reunion, which ultimately serves as a platform for Cicely Tyson, no less, to deliver an impassioned monologue imploring young black men and women to respect themselves and each other. “I expect more from you,” she thunders. Madea’s Family Reunion ruled the box office roost for two consecutive weeks, even though it was not screened for critics and faced competition ranging from Harrison Ford and Bruce Willis to Curious George. This is testament to Perry’s keen ability to viscerally connect with his devoted audience, by offering a decidedly unsubtle blend of melodrama, Springer-esque dysfunction, spiritual uplift, and Oprah-style empowerment. “It ain’t what people call you,” Madea counsels, “It’s what you answer to.” That’s a universal message that everyone can take to heart.