Why not just rename this film “Soul Food 2”? However, this imitation of the well-received 1997 comedy-drama falls significantly short. Even the exceptionally funny Loretta Devine, known for her scene-stealing performance in “Waiting to Exhale” (1995), can’t salvage this movie. Devine portrays Shirley, the ailing matriarch of a highly dysfunctional family, mirroring the premise of “Soul Food.” Yet, unlike its predecessor, this movie never truly takes off.
One primary issue is the pervasive presence of director/producer Tyler Perry’s signature brand of comedy, which has unfortunately become predictable and uninspired. While there are a few scattered moments of laughter, the film generally strains too hard to be humorous. Furthermore, the high-stakes family drama is so formulaic in Perry’s productions that it becomes difficult to genuinely empathize with the characters. We’ve seen these scenarios repeatedly in his work – extreme instances of domestic conflict or verbal abuse, only for everything to conveniently resolve itself in a neat, unrealistic manner.
Adding to the film’s shortcomings is a noticeable excess of overacting and subpar performances. In Perry’s earlier movies, strong acting was often a redeeming quality. Regrettably, this is not the case here.
The entire Madea persona feels tired and overused. One hopes Perry will soon recognize that this comedic well has run dry. It’s time to retire the Madea routine and demonstrate a broader range of creative abilities. Let’s see something fresh and innovative!
Alongside Tyler Perry and Loretta Devine, the movie features Chad “Bow Wow” Moss and Lauren London. The remaining cast members are largely forgettable. To truly appreciate a film about family dynamics, it’s far better to revisit “Soul Food” than to invest time in this movie. In fact, a much wiser choice would be to skip “Madea’s Big Happy Family” altogether and simply rent “Soul Food” instead.
