Madea's Big Happy Family (2011)

Shirley (Loretta Devine) gets some bad news from Dr. Evans (Philip Anthony-Rodriguez):  her cancer has returned, and there's not much that can be done to treat it this time.  Shirley, with the help of her Christian faith, accepts the news.  She wants to gather her family to tell them so they can prepare for what's coming.  Unfortunately, her family is so caught up in their own dramas that they haven't noticed that Shirley's not feeling well.  Her upscale daughter Kimberly (Shannon Kane) constantly battles with her husband Calvin (Isaiah Mustafa); her son Byron (Shad "Bow Wow" Moss), an ex-con, is having hard times with his baby's mama, Sabrina (Teyana Taylor) and his current gold digging girlfriend Renee (Lauren Louden); and Tammy (Natalie Desselle Reid), downgrades her husband Harold (Rodney Perry), while allowing their two sons to be disrespectful brats.  Marijuana lovin' Aunt Bam (Cassi Davis) suggests that Madea (Tyler Perry) help Shirley -- who's Madea's niece -- get her family straight. 

There are the usual plot devices found in most of the Madea films: a prodigal son or daughter who has to be shown the right way, family members who need to get secrets out in the open to heal, Cora (Tamela J. Mann) suffering through the foolishness of her dad Mr. Brown (David Mann), plus Madea and Uncle Joe's (both played by Perry) usual putdowns of others.  In fact, the Aunt Bam character is a match for Madea, stealing  most of the scenes she appears in.  But unlike Madea Goes To Jail, this film does a better job of mixing the serious issues with the jokes.  The Christian messages and viewpoint are here, too, but unlike some films that are heavy-handed with that (Fireproof, anyone?), they are gently presented. 

Shad "Bow Wow" Moss is better known as a rapper.  Natalie Desselle Reid appeared in the movie B.A.P.S. (1997) alongside Halle Berry.  Isaiah Mustafa appeared as the shirtless guy in a series of popular commercials for Old Spice.  The Manns and Cassi Davis are veterans of Mr. Perry's stage plays.  Rodney Perry is Monique's sidekick on her nightly talk show.  Daytime talk show host Maury Povich has a cameo.

Madea Goes To Jail (2009)

Tyler Perry presents another mix of Christianity, comedy and drama in his latest film to feature the pistol-toting senior citizen, Mabel "Madea" Simmons (played by Perry). Madea is able to avoid the lockup for a crime she did in Meet The Browns (2008). She does get sent up for an incident involving a car, but that doesn't happen until almost the middle of the story. The plot is different from the stage version of this story.

The story mainly focuses on Joshua (Derek Luke), a young attorney engaged to a high achiever named Linda (Ion Overman), who's also an attorney. While in court, Joshua is reunited with an old friend named Candace (Keisha Knight Pulliam) who has become a hooker. As Joshua becomes more determined to help his friend get off the streets, the more irritated Linda becomes.

Unfortunately, the two plots don't mesh well together. It's almost as if two different movies are going on. The cuts between Madea's broad comedy plot and Candace's serious troubles are jarring and abrupt. Madea and Candace don't cross each others' paths until late in the game. There is too long of a tease to explain the tragic event that connects Joshua and Candace. Also, Ms. Pulliam has grown up to be a very pretty young woman (she was Rudy, the youngest Huxtable kid on "The Cosby Show", 1984-1992). However, she seemed a little too polished to portray her down-and-out character.

David and Tamela J. Mann reprise their roles as Mr. Brown and Cora. Perry also plays two other roles in the movie: Brian, Madea's nephew and Joe, Madea's weed-smoking brother. Sofia Veraga, who was in Meet The Browns, plays one of Madea's cellmates. There are various cameos, including judges Mablean Ephraim and Greg Mathis, the women of "The View", and comedian/DJ/author Steve Harvey. One of the funnier moments involves Madea verbally sparring with Dr. Phil.