Madea mania
Why stop now? This feisty grandma has so much more to give, Chris Knight writes.
Writer-director-star Tyler Perry’s newest Madea movie, A Madea Family Funeral, is now in wide release and as usual was not screened in advance for Canadian critics. Who can blame him? With the exception of 2009’s I Can Do Bad All by Myself, none of the nine Madea films to date has done better than 37 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes. Some have done much worse.
This latest chapter opens in the shadow of Perry having said he plans to retire Mabel (Madea) Simmons, a feisty, pistol-packing, God-fearing grandmother who Perry has played since her 1999 debut in the stage version of I Can Do Bad All by Myself. But why step down when the character has so much to give? For all her antics in family reunions, jail, witness protection and various holidays — most recently Boo 2! A Madea Halloween — Madea has barely scratched the franchise surface and has several notable holes in her resumé. May we modestly propose:
Madea in Space: Often the sign of a franchise on the rocks, this can also be proof that a film series has got too big for just one planet. If anyone can light the fuse to get our species to Mars, it’s this unstoppable force. Madea Goes to Europe: Another tactic that screams “last gasp” or, if done right, “breath of fresh air.” The EU deserves to be on the receiving end of some of her homespun wisdom. Heck, she might even be the one to solve the Brexit debacle.
Madea v. Cross: 2012’s Alex Cross was not Perry’s finest hour as an actor. The film, based on the crime series by James Patterson, tanked at the box office and with critics, scuttling a planned sequel.
But what if the fictional detective were to match wits with ex-con Madea? No matter who loses (even potential audiences), Perry wins! Memorial Madea: Picture it: Opening on the lucrative U.S. Memorial Day weekend, this holiday-themed comedy celebrates those who have given their lives in the service of their country, and one woman who threatens to take lives, but ultimately winds up dispensing important life lessons instead. Dawn of Madea: According to Madea’s Wikipedia page, she grew up in a cabin in Louisiana, committed her first felony at age nine and was a cheerleader in high school. Origin stories have been crafted from much less, and a young-Madea movie would let another actor take over the role. Speaking of which: Reboots are all the rage, and Madea has great potential for a diverse casting net. Comedian Orlando Jones staged an April Fools prank in 2013 saying he’d be taking over the character. Other potential Madeas: Meryl Streep, Daniel Craig (free after the next Bond movie) or Idris Elba. Heck, Elba could even sign on as both Madea and Bond, allowing for even more crossover possibilities. This is a train that never needs to stop.