Movie Review: Tyler Perry's Madea's Witness Protection

Finally! Tyler Perry gives us a straight Madea comedy without the awkward dramatic subplots.Now, if we could only get him to stop putting his name in front of every movie title.

When the movie begins George Needleman (Eugene Levy) leans from the CEO of his company (Tom Arnold) that the division he's been the Chief Financial Officer of for the past five years is the center of a huge Ponzi scheme and he was hired basically because he wouldn't be able to figure it out and to take the fall when the crap hits the fan.

Madea's nephew Brian (Tyler Perry) is on the case and needs to put Needleman in his family into witness protection. Since the mob has infiltrated several of their wtiness protection programs, they need to send the family somewhere else until Needleman can testify at the trial. Brian has the perfect place, his aunt Madea's.

Unforuately, neighborhood kid Jake who's been on the straight and narrow is involved in the scheme too. It seems that his pastor dad (John Amos) put him in charge of the church's mortgage fund and he invested the money in Needleman's company, which means the money is now gone.

When the Needleman's arrive with wife Kate (Denise Richards), bratty teen daughter Cindy (Danielle Campbell), neglected son Howie (Devan Leos) and grandma Barbara (Doris Roberts), you know that it's only a matter of time before Madea sets those kids straight and teaches a lesson or two and she helps them get back the money.

This is one of the funniest Madea movies I've seen. I appreciated the lighter touch without the heavy-handed preachiness that bogs down most of Perry's Madea movies. Eugene Levy is hilarious on his own and to add him to a Madea movie was an excellent idea. The crowd laughed loudly throughout the film and everyone had a good time.

Most critics will pan it as they do most of Perry's movies. However, I really enjoyed it. Unlike most critics, I can take a silly comedy for what it is and not be disappointed when a silly comedy isn't an Oscar-worthy endeavor. If you were considering seeing this movie, see it. I do not think you'll be disappointed.