Tyler Perry stars in a scene from the movie "A Madea Family Funeral." The Catholic News Service classification is A-III -- adults. (CNS/Chip Bergman, Lionsgate)

By Catholic News Service

Writer-director and star Tyler Perry has given his alter ego Mabel “Madea” Simmons a sweet and funny valedictory as she organizes a family funeral and dispenses relationship wisdom to younger family members caught in the pain of infidelity. It’s an immensely satisfying story that returns to the formula of Perry’s successful stage plays.

Madea spends most of the movie seated and firing off blunt ripostes, as if Perry — who, in addition to Madea, also plays her brother Joe, Joe’s son Brian and a new character, legless throat-cancer victim Cousin Heathrow — is reluctant to let her go without allowing her to share everything she has on her mind.

An adultery theme, mature references, including to sexual activity and drug use, some sexual humor, fleeting crude banter, three racial slurs. The Catholic News Service classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 — parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

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