Purely Joyful Movie!

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

Expected more

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

I may be in the minority, but I'm not the hugest fan of Tyler Perry's titles. Although I do respect him as a director and his growth over the years, I just can't stand this movie. I grew up with this one, and watched it several times on DVD with my parents, however I couldn't get passed the stereotypical African-Americans setups and the low-brow humour. My main criticism with this film is the typical low-brow humour you would expect from a film aiming at Afro-American entertainment, and the setups. While some films very naturally grab the attention of a viewer through culture shock, the majority of the humour in this feels forced. It almost feels like they're desperately trying to get laughs from an African-American audience, but me as partially Afro, I just can't feel anything. The humour wasn't offensively bad, it was just low-brow and I just can't understand the appeal of this film. Even the title itself implies a forced, pandering feel to it. Normally, culture shock films can have subjective titles, although for some reason, the title in this one feels like it's trying to pander to an African-American audience. You can grab the attention of a certain group without forcing it on them.Overall, there is nothing good or even comical to expect from this film, it's a fest full of stereotypes, somewhat mean-spirited and mixed messages, pandering and forced attempts at appealing to an African-American audience, abysmal narrative, and overall a bad movie inside/out. No matter which way I look at it, I just can't get past these typical setups and pander towards African-American audiences.Final rating: 3.2/10 (Bad)This is just my opinion, you may judge for yourself~legofan~

One of Tyler Perry's earliest big screen offerings was 2005's Diary of a Mad Black Woman, a glossy, yet empty comedy/drama/romance that suffers from a somewhat muddled screenplay and some unappealing characters (including Perry's most famous creation, Medea).The film stars Kimberly Elise as Helen, the pampered wife of a sexist mob lawyer named Charles (Steve Harris) who finds her comfortable existence shattered when her husband announces that he is in love with another woman and unceremoniously throws her out of the house with nothing but the clothes on her back. She then moves in with her grandmother Medea and while trying to learn how to live her life as an independent woman, attempts to start a relationship with a regular guy named Orlando (Shemar Moore), who cannot provide the life her husband did, but treats her like a queen, but she is so damaged by what her husband did to her, she keeps pushing Orlando away. Things become even more complicated when Charles' work gets him seriously hurt and Helen finds herself compelled to be the man's caregiver.This film pretty much aggravates the viewer throughout because the central character is kind of all over the place...it's a mystery why she stayed married to Charles as long as she did, not to mention her ignorance about his work or why even after cheating on her and throwing her out, she still seems to have feelings for him. It's aggravating as we watch Orlando makes all the right moves with Helen and being kept at arm's length and it's also aggravating watching Helen getting lots of bad advice from Medea on how to move on with her life. The scene where Medea enters Charles' house and starts sawing the furniture in half is just ridiculous.Kimberly Elise works very hard at making Helen likable but she is fighting the screenplay all the way and Perry's arrogant casting of himself as not only Madea, but Helen's cousin Brian AND Medea's husband Joe is pretty hard to take as well. Moore's role as Orlando is pretty thankless, but he looks good while he's doing it. Harris is extremely effective as Charles though, completely investing in one of the most despicable characters I have ever seen in a movie. The movie might have worked a lot better if it was a little clearer what point Perry is trying to make here, as his central character is a lot more stupid than she is "mad.

I think this is my favorite Tyler Perry movie! It's good for anyone with a heart for romance, comedy & conflict resolution. And to think it's almost 10 years old from when I'm writing this review. Tyler Perry was/is so ahead of his time & in-tune with the pulse on a movie market which has been ignored for so long. The film has romance, comedy,a message about forgiveness along with conflict and resolution! It made me cry, it made me laugh and while I think it's a strong 'chick' flick it still has great male role models as well forgiving the selfish butt heads of the world. I love the dynamic tension between those we love, those we use, those we hate as well as those we forgive. The good guys win and the bad guys are redeemed,but not before their lesson is learned. I've seen this film a dozen times and can't wait to see it again!

If you're looking for full on Tyler Perry comedy, don't watch this one. Every time I watch this movie, I laugh and I cry. I've known women who've been cheated on, and it changed them from sweet and happy, to vindictive people who trust no one. I've known families torn apart by drugs and alcohol, and the pain I see in Diary of A Mad Black Woman is dead on. Yep, I know older ladies who carry a pistol in their handbags. Maybe that's why I am so attached to this film. I know these people. DOAMBW is rough on the emotions. The pain is palpable, and we need Madea to break up the hard parts. It's like when you have sickness and death in the family, and you get punchy and silly. You have to laugh to keep from crying. The pretty people in this movie are really beautiful. Who could ever get tired of looking at Kimberly Elise and Shemar Moore? When I hear the voice-over of Kimberly Elise reading the diary entries, it's so realistic. It's the exact things you think when you are falling for someone and trying not. I've read a lot of negative reviews about this movie, but I just don't see the problems. It isn't a documentary after all.