- Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
- Video Codec: AVC/MPEG-4
- Resolution: 1080p/24
- Audio Codec: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1
- Subtitles: English, English SDH, Spanish
- Rating: PG-13
- Region: ABC (Region-Free)
- Discs: 1
- Studio: Lionsgate
- Blu-ray Release Date: November 23, 2010
- List Price: $19.99
[amazon-product align=”right”]B0041H55RQ[/amazon-product]
BestBuy.com:
Purchase Madea Goes to Jail on Blu-ray at CD Universe
Shop for more Blu-ray titles at Amazon.com
Overall
[Rating:3/5]
The Film
[Rating:2/5]
Video Quality
[Rating:4/5]
Audio Quality
[Rating:3.5/5]
Supplemental Materials
[Rating:2/5]
Click thumbnails for high-resolution 1920X1080p screen captures
(Screen captures are lightly compressed with lossy JPEG thus are meant as a general representation of the content and do not fully reveal the capabilities of the Blu-ray format)
The Film
[Rating:2/5]
At this point in Tyler Perry’s career, the “Madea” vehicle is beginning to wear very thin and that is never more evident than in this wholly uninspired hodgepodge of a film, Madea Goes to Jail. Not only does Madea Goes to Jail serve to expose the tiredness of the Madea character as played by Perry, but it also exposes Perry’s remaining weakness as a filmmaker, and that is his inability to wholly reconcile his dramatic and comedic sides, thereby giving us, the audience, always a preachy drama smashed against the side of a slapstick comedy.
Madea Goes to Jail is only the latest in a long line of these sometimes enjoyable, but never wholly satisfying works from Perry. This time around Perry’s perpetually angry elderly character is facing serious jail time because of her anger management issues. Against this backdrop of supposed comedy plays out one of Perry’s typical melodramas: a look at the darker side of life, as a strung-out prostitute named Candace (Keshia Knight Pulliam) comes into the life of the assistant district attorneys and fiancés Linda (Ion Overman) and Joshua (Derek Luke) assigned to help Madea on a previous case. Candace and her past relationship with Joshua are gradually brought to the fore and the Madea character is somehow tied into the lives of these strange characters through a stint in jail.
Madea Goes to Jail just doesn’t work as well as any of the previous Madea movies from Perry. It feels like two movies wedged together for the sole purpose of having the Madea character appear on screen to draw in the crowds. In the end it is neither funny nor dramatically moving, just confusing.
Video Quality
[Rating:4/5]
Of all the Tyler Perry Blu-rays released by Lionsgate recently that I have had the chance to review, particularly the Madea movies, Madea Goes to Jail arrives looking the strongest of the bunch, which is understandable given its recent, 2009 vintage. The AVC/MPEG-4 1080p/24 transfer has natural looking color reproduction, a clean a sharply detailed source and no apparent issues with post-processing or compression.
Audio Quality
[Rating:3.5/5]
Like with all of these Tyler Perry films and most comedy/dramas, Madea Goes to Jail is heavily dependent on its dialogue and the soundtrack reflects that in outing forward a rather dull, to-the-point presentation. Ambience is rather low and activity across all the channels is minimal, but dynamics are good, dialogue is clean and high frequencies are smooth.
Supplemental Materials
[Rating:2/5]
Several quick featurettes in standard definition make up the supplements on Madea Goes to Jail. There’s nothing groundbreaking or revelatory in these rather promotional, feel good pieces.
The supplements provided with this release are:
- Madea is Back (1,78:1; 480i/60; 0:06.48)
- Leroy “Law” Brown (1.78:1; 480i/60; 0:01.58)
- Looking for the Big House (1.78:1; 480i/60; 0:04.00)
- You Have the Right to Remain Silent! (1.78:1; 480i/60; 0:03.57)
- Bringing in the Heavy Hitters (1.78:1; 480i/60; 0:04.59)
- Madea’s Crazy (1.78:1; 480i/60; 0:03.40)
The Definitive Word
Overall:
[Rating:3/5]
Madea Goes to Jail = fail. Perry should go back to the drawing board and think up a new plan of attack, perhaps dropping this character altogether if he cannot come up with something more inspired in which to use her.
Additional Screen Captures:
[amazon-product align=”right”]B0041H55RQ[/amazon-product]
BestBuy.com:
Purchase Madea Goes to Jail on Blu-ray at CD Universe
Shop for more Blu-ray titles at Amazon.com
Overall
[Rating:3/5]
The Film
[Rating:2/5]
Video Quality
[Rating:4/5]
Audio Quality
[Rating:3.5/5]
Supplemental Materials
[Rating:2/5]
