The critic consesnsus is: Divided between sincere melodrama and populist comedy, Madea Goes to Jail fails to provide enough laughs -- or screen time -- for its titular heroine.. What reviews supported this critic consensus?
1. [Tyler Perry's] talent, however heedless and untidy, is real...it's clear that he can make better movies than Madea Goes to Jail. The pity is that, with the enthusiastic audience he's already found, he may never feel the need to.
2. The predictable, even absurd twists that the movie takes to reach its happily-ever-after conclusion are amusing, as are the smart-ass quips and disposition of Perry's popular alter ego.
3. Hokey and ham-fisted, cheaply made and appallingly edited. Even good actors like Derek Luke and Viola Davis are at a loss to get past the dialogue and the characters.
4. As ridiculous as his films frequently are, Perry, a shrewd yet benevolent showman, knows and loves his audience.
5. King of all media Tyler Perry gives fans what they want: irreverent, pistol-packin' big momma Madea, who's going to make those confused, disrespectful young people see sense if she has to slap it into them.
6. Two movies for the price of one, but the comedy smashed against the drama makes the whole thing less entertaining
7. Perry's playing-to-the-cheap-seats drag shenanigans hijack a morose street melodrama every 15 minutes and haul it into places even Flavor Flav fears to tread.
8. The women's prison dramedy I wanted never really happens.
9. Perry brings his own sensibility to every movie he makes and has enjoyed great success by following his own path. But he leaves you wanting more.
10. Adapting his own play, Perry has pared the plot way back while giving his law-breaking matriarch more room to run free.