A Madea Christmas (2013)

My Review

“A Madea Christmas” is a holiday comedy film telling the story of Mabel “Madea” Simmons and her niece Eileen traveling to a small town in Alabama to visit Eileen’s daughter for Christmas. Things hit a snag when it is discovered that the daughter has married a white classmate from college, and is reluctant to tell her mother. The comedy and some dramatics proceed from there.

Director-screenwriter Tyler Perry has infused this eighth film in the “Madea” series with all of the usual comedy based on Madea’s sassy, wise-cracking personality. In addition, a subplot of the movie has the area’s major construction company attempting to make the town’s Christmas celebration more secular and trying to take “Christ out of Christmas.”

The cast includes Tyler Perry, Kathy Najimy, Larry the Cable Guy, Eric Lively (brother of Blake Lively), Tika Sumpter, Anna Maria Horsford, Chad Michael Murray, Alicia Witt, JR Lemon, Noah Urrea, and Lisa Whelchel (Blair Warner of “The Facts of Life” 1979-1988) as the school principal.

The hilarious and watchable “A Madea Christmas,” which can also be described as a “feel good Christmas movie,” was very popular at the box office for producer Tyler Perry, Tyler Perry Studios, and Lionsgate. The movie was nominated in six categories in the Golden Raspberry Awards, winning one for Worst Actress (Tyler Perry).