‘A Madea Family Funeral’ Film Review: Tyler Perry’s Leading Lady Single-Handedly Resuscitates Moribund Comedy

If writer-director-star Tyler Perry makes good on his threat to make “A Madea Family Funeral” the final film featuring his larger-than-life comedic heroine, then Madea will going out with a whimper and not with a bang, even by Perry standards.

When Madea and Uncle Joe (both played by Perry) and their friends Aunt Bam (Cassi Davis) and Hattie (Patrice Lovely) aren’t on screen to harass each other or the younger characters who so clearly need Madea’s wisdom and toughlove, the proceedings grind to a painful halt. And even when that quartet is around, the movie lumbers from one people-in-a-circle-sitting-around-talking scene to the next one.