Over the course of ten movies, Tyler Perry’s Madea has gone to jail, hid out in the witness protection program, battled zombies, confronted the KKK, decked the halls and dealt with every conceivable size and stripe of disorderly and dysfunctional family member in her own outsized, inimitable style. But now, as tragedy strikes, Madea must plan a funeral and things are about to turn deadly funny.
In Tyler Perry’s A Madea Family Funeral—Perry’s 11th comic tale centered on the gun-toting mama, Madea and family are called to bury their loved one, only to unbury a whole madcap tangle of personal secrets that threaten to unravel the family peace just when they all need to pull together. It’s all a fresh chance for Perry to stir together his successful mix of humor, riotous characters and uplifting themes of real-life family love, loyalty, conflict and forgiveness. Because no matter what Madea’s family faces—even death itself—the only way through it is to laugh about it.
While mortality can be a taboo topic for even the boldest of comedians, Perry has never shied away from any taboo topic that real-life families face. Plus, Perry knew that if Madea was in charge of planning a funeral service, it would be unforgettable.
What starts out as an expected surprise party—with Madea, brother Joe, Aunt Bam and dear friend Hattie, all arriving in their Sunday best to honor the 40th wedding anniversary of cousin Vianne and her husband Anthony, soon turns into another kind of surprise. To their panic and dismay, they discover Anthony in a shockingly compromising position, kicking off a series of events that not only lead to a demise, but the discovery of scandals and skeletons long locked in the family closet. Even as comic chaos erupts, the story touches on motifs of owning up to your mistakes and becoming your own person.
Perry has also woven into the film a story about a family coming to terms with a legacy of adultery, secrecy and unacknowledged selflessness. It’s part of what has, from the very start, set the Madea films apart—that blend of no-holds-barred banter and madcap slapstick with comical candor and a dash of reflection on the wonders and challenges of modern family life.
Tyler Perry’s A Madea Family Funeral brings together the biggest, most multigenerational cast of familiar faces and exciting newcomers Perry has yet assembled. Cassi Davis and Patrice Lovely return as Aunt Bam and Hattie, as Courtney Burrell, Jen Harper, Rome Flynn, Ary Katz (Aryeh-Or), Ciera Payton, Aeriél Miranda, Derek Morgan, David Otunga, KJ Smith and Quin Walters join the fun.
Tyler Perry’s A Madea Family Funeral releases in theaters in March 1st.
