Themes: Breakups and Divorces, Starting Over, Mothers and Daughters
Main Cast: Kimberly Elise, Steve Harris, Shemar Moore, Tamara Taylor, Lisa Marcos
Release Year: 2005
Country: US
Run Time: 116 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
A woman has to learn how to love and trust men all over again in this comedy drama. Helen McCarter (Kimberly Elise) would seem to have it all -- she's been married for 18 years to Charles (Steve Harris), and over the course of their time together, he's become one of Atlanta's most successful attorneys. But despite wealth and prestige, things are not as they should be at the McCarter home, and on their anniversary, Charles drops a bombshell on Helen -- he's divorcing her for another woman. Escorted out of the house with nowhere to go, Helen moves in with her grandmother Madea (Tyler Perry), a sassy woman with no shortage of opinions and a gun that she's not afraid to use. As Madea helps Helen get back on her feet emotionally, the divorcée makes the acquaintance of Orlando (Shemar Moore), a handsome man who is obviously attracted to her. But after her experiences with Charles, Helen isn't sure if she's ready to trust a man again. Diary of a Mad Black Woman was adapted from the popular stage play by Tyler Perry, who also plays several roles in the film, most prominently Madea; it marked the first feature-film credit for successful music video director Darren R. Grant. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Review
Following in the footsteps of comics like Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence, Tyler Perry does the multi-character, cross-dressing routine in Diary of a Mad Black Woman, the film version of his successful play. But that's where the comparison ends. Perry's got a lot more on his mind than latex laughs, as the film delves into several incongruous genres: the touching romance, the vengeance film, even the religious allegory. Straight comedy might have been the ticket to a better box office, but that's not what the devout Perry is about, and anyway, the movie did well enough for its most memorable character to return in 2006's Madea's Family Reunion. Madea, one of three Perry roles, is clearly the film's comic centerpiece, a robust grandmother who drops one-liners and backs up her tough talk with action. Although she's the poster girl meant to win audiences, she's not the kind of caricature Lawrence or Murphy would have made her, and that's where Perry's intentions diverge toward something farther-reaching, even when it's out of his grasp. The dialogue can be hilarious, but Perry is saying pretty serious things about the complex and counterintuitive bonds of family. How else to explain a man who keeps giving his junkie wife second chances, and a wife who forgives the man who mercilessly booted her from his house, waving a prenuptial agreement as his justification for a callous divorce? Perry's Christian agenda is not as subdued as one would expect from a mainstream movie, but it's not wholly distracting, either. Diary of a Mad Black Woman is too ambitious and tonally schizophrenic for its own good, but it does demonstrate Perry's promise, both as an adaptable performer and an independent thinker. ~ Derek Armstrong, All Movie Guide
Tiffany Evans - Tiffany; Cicely Tyson - Myrtle; Tyler Perry - Madea; Brian Andrews - Drums; Wilbur Fitzgerald - Judge; Carole Mitchell-Leon - Mildred; Michael Pniewski - Foreman; Ric Reitz - D.A.; Joe Washington - Reporter; L. Warren Young - Judge; Richard Lee Reed - Bailiff; Gary Sturgis - Jamison; E. Roger Mitchell - Kalvin; Vickie Eng - Christina; Cedric Pendleton - Max; Tamala J. Mann - Cora; Lauren Mitchell - Doctor; Bart Hansard - Guard; Philip Gough - Guitar; Crystal Porter - Woman; Yvette Devereaux - Violin Solos; Terrell Carter - Reverend Carter; Avery Knight - BJ; Chandra Currelley-Young - Chandra; Sho Dixon - Child; Judge Mablean Ephriam - Judge Ephriam; Tony Vaughn - Juror; Kate Donadio - Secretary; Ryan Gentles - Bartender; Ronnie Garrett - Band Member; Earl Fleming - Band Member #3; Christian Keyes - Man Proposing; Darrell Freeman - Bass; Pat Bergeson - Guitar; John Forbes - Keyboards; Marcus Williams - Band Member #2
Credit
Robbie Bolick - Art Director, Douglas Hill - Boom Operator, Reuben Cannon - Casting, Shay Bentley-Griffin - Casting, Kim Williams - Casting, Yvette Devereaux - Conductor, Mike Upton - Co-producer, Keith G. Lewis - Costume Designer, Roger Bobb - First Assistant Director, Darren Grant - Director, Terilyn A. Shropshire - Editor, Michael Paseornek - Executive Producer, John Dellaverson - Executive Producer, Robert L. Johnson - Executive Producer, Linda Clark-Thompson - Hair Styles, Michael Riley - Location Manager, Joseph P. Genier - Line Producer, Tyler Perry - Composer (Music Score), Elvin D. Ross - Composer (Music Score), Camara Kambon - Musical Direction/Supervision, Joel C. High - Musical Direction/Supervision, Tyler Perry - Songwriter, Elvin D. Ross - Songwriter, David Thompson - Camera Operator, Ina Mayhew - Production Designer, David Claessen - Cinematographer, Reuben Cannon - Producer, Tyler Perry - Producer, Pamela Green - Producer, Jim Hawkins - Sound Mixer, Jim Hawkins - Sound/Sound Designer, Jay Nierenberg - Sound/Sound Designer, Todd A. Niesen - Sound Editor, Stuart Provine - Sound Editor, Spencer Johnson - Sound Editor, Michelle Leigh Thompson - Stunts, Derrick Simmons - Stunts, David Andrew Nash - Stunts, Guss Williams - Stunts Coordinator, Jay Nierenberg - Supervisor/Manager, Tyler Perry - Screenwriter, Chad Cork - Production Assistant, Derrick Doose - Production Assistant, Brain "Bear" Lamar - Production Assistant, Ernest Robinson - Production Assistant, Ron Timmons - Production Assistant, Shayne Duhon - Production Assistant, Regina Williams - Production Assistant, Sekinah Brown - Production Assistant, Chris Rosenwasser - Production Assistant, Mark Dornfeld - Visual Effects Supervisor, Senia Phillips - Animal Trainer/Wrangler, Bo Shurling - Unit Publicist, Cynthia Todd - Unit Publicist, David Galbraith - First Assistant Camera, Teddy Sapp - Grip, Jacob Ross - Grip, Chris Campbell - Grip, Gary Oldknow - Grip, Pete Bowman - Grip, Mike Simmasouk - Grip, Rick Aoyama - Music Editor, Bobby Williams - Post Production Coordinator, Jennifer Hwang - Post Production Coordinator, Mark McCoy - Post Production Coordinator, Carl Pedregal - Post Production Supervisor, Daniel MacArthur - Production Coordinator, Katie Willard Troebs - Production Coordinator, Molly M. Mayeux - Production Supervisor, Kathleen Kasinger - Properties Master, Bill Johnson - Prosthetic Makeup Effects, Gail Hunter - Script Supervisor, MacDonald Roger Lee - Second Assistant Director, Dave Beavis - Special Effects Coordinator, Mack Chapman - Special Effects Coordinator, David Thompson - Steadicam Operator, Alfeo Dixon - Still Photographer, Michele Ferrone - Visual Effects Producer, Meta Möise - Costume/Wardrobe, Alan Freedman - ADR Mixer, J. Bradley Smith - Assistant Location Manager, Ryan Schaetzle - Assistant Location Manager, Jalyn Henton - Assistant Production Coordinator, Andrew Leary - Assistant Properties, Jeana Lasser - Assistant Sound Editor, Andrew Morgado - Assistant Sound Editor, Cody King - Assistant Sound Editor, Josh Hancher - Camera Loader, Vernon "Trey" Twitty - Camera Loader, Barrett Pitner - Camera Loader, Gary McCoy - Casting Assistant, David McLean - Chief Lighting Technician, Carol Sadler - Costumes Supervisor, Tripp Pair - Dolly Grip, Chad Schroeder - Electrician, Chris Antignane - Electrician, Mark Miller - Electrician, Mark McKinney - Electrician, Kelly Marshall - Extra Casting, Jackie Short - First Assistant Accountant, Kenny Marsten - First Assistant Editor, Shelley Roden - Foley Artist, Dan B. Mott - Greensman, Cynthia L. Chapman - Key Hairstylist, Patrice Coleman - Key Make-up, Alba Domini Leone - Leadman, Bree Bailey - Personal Assistant, Erika Bryant - Personal Assistant, Abbey Lessanu - Personal Assistant, Shandra McDonald - Personal Assistant, Deidre Walker - Personal Assistant, Rice Gorton Pictures - Post Production Accountant, Ursula Camack - Post Production Assistant, Coral D'Allesandro - Post Production Assistant, Christi Franck - Post Production Assistant, Bonnie Chaney - Production Accountant, Malcolm Pernell - Second Assistant Camera, Bruce Robinson - Second Assistant Camera, Angelique Bones - Second Second Assistant Director, Larry Sauls - Set Dresser, Jaye Walker - Set Dresser, Robert Tate Nichols - Set Dresser, Lance Totten - Set Dresser, George Spence - Set Dresser, Christopher Didiot - Set Dresser, J.L. Parker - Transportation Captain, Cindy Parker - Transportation Coordinator, Joseph Litsch - Set Decorator, Tyler Perry - Play Author, John La Fayette - ADR Loop Group, Kimberly Bailey - ADR Loop Group, Barbara Iley - ADR Loop Group, Khanya Mkhize - ADR Loop Group, Patrice Pitman Quinn - ADR Loop Group, Django Craig - ADR Loop Group, Lynette Dupree - ADR Loop Group, Dale Grahn - Color Timing, Hanna Brothers - Craft Service/Catering, Ricardo Rico Lozier - Craft Service/Catering, Norman P. Martin - Craft Service/Catering, Jeremy Balko - Foley Mixer, Executive Cutting - Negative Cutter, Edwanna Blanding - Production Secretary, Thomas Allen - Set Medic/First Aid, Suzanne L. Carter - Set Medic/First Aid, Paul M. Lowe - Set Medic/First Aid, Barbara Harris - Voice Casting, Jeremy McGuire - Art Department Coordinator, Taylor Knight - Department Head Hair, Matiki Anoff - Department Head Makeup
