Diary of a Mad Black Woman

Theatrical Release Date: 2005 02 25 (USA)

UPC: 031398214045

Studio: Lionsgate

MPAA Rating: PG13   Contains:[Violence, Adult Situations, Profanity, Drug Content]

Summary: 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 divorc?e 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, Rovi

Category: Comedy Drama

Features: The "ATL"
The real mad black women
Music montages
Reflections of Diary
Audio commentary by Tyler Perry
Audio commentary by director Darren Grant and actress Kimberly Elise
Making of Diary of a Mad Black Woman
Who's Tyler Perry
Deleted scenes
Outtakes
Tyler Perry Spotlight
Photo gallery
16x9 widescreen
Newly remasterd English 6.1 DTS-ES? audio
Newly remastered English 5.1 dolby? digital surround EX? audio
English and Spanish subtitles
English closed captions

Diary of a Mad Black Woman

Format: Digital Video Disc (DVD)

Release Date: 06/12/2007

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Theatre Wide-Screen

Audio: DTS-ESD Digital Theater 6.1 System, DD-EX Dolby Digital Surround EX (simulated 6.1), DD2 Dolby Digital Stereo

Runtime: 116 Minutes

Sides: 2

Number of Discs: 2

Language(s) English,Spanish

Subtitles: English,Spanish

Region: USA & territories, Canada

Derek Armstrong

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, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Marcus Williams  Actor 
Kate Donadio  Actor 
Joe Washington  Actor 
Vickie Eng  Actor 
Chandra Currelley-Young  Actor 
Christian Keyes  Actor 
Wilbur Fitzgerald  Actor 
Richard Lee Reed  Actor 
Tamala J. Mann  Actor 
Judge Mablean Ephriam  Actor 
Pat Bergeson  Actor 
Terrell Carter  Actor 
Ronnie Garrett  Actor 
Brian Andrews  Actor 
L. Warren Young  Actor 
Cedric Pendleton  Actor 
Philip Gough  Actor 
Sho Dixon  Actor 
Darrell Freeman  Actor 
Ric Reitz  Actor 
E. Roger Mitchell  Actor 
Bart Hansard  Actor 
Yvette Devereaux  Actor 
Ryan Gentles  Actor 
Avery Knight  Actor 
Earl Fleming  Actor 
Carole Mitchell-Leon  Actor 
Gary Sturgis  Actor 
Lauren Mitchell  Actor 
Crystal Porter  Actor 
Tony Vaughn  Actor 
John Forbes  Actor 
Mike Pniewski  Actor 
Michael Paseornek  Executive Producer 
Reuben Cannon  Producer 
Darren Grant  Director 
Tyler Perry  Composer (Music Score) 
Tyler Perry  Producer 
Tyler Perry  Screenwriter 
John Dellaverson  Executive Producer 
Elvin D. Ross  Composer (Music Score) 
Robert L. Johnson  Executive Producer 
Pamela Green  Producer 
Kimberly Elise  Actor 
Steve Harris  Actor 
Shemar Moore  Actor 
Tamara Taylor  Actor 
Lisa Marcos  Actor 
Tiffany Evans  Actor 
Cicely Tyson  Actor 
Tyler Perry  Actor 
Tyler Perry  Actor 
Tyler Perry  Actor 

Country: USA