Everybody's a critic - 'Diary of a Mad Black Woman'

Three stars (out of four)

The movie "Diary of a Mad Black Woman" is about Helen (Kimberly Elise), who has been married for 18 years to Charles. He decides to move her out to make room for his mistress and her children, but the door isn't clear of Helen before the other woman is right there flaunting herself.

This is a typical man, who after achieving his status soon decides that the woman who got him there is useless.

Helen returns home to her Aunt Madea (Tyler Perry, also playing Brian and Uncle Joe) who is a gun-toting, larger-than-life woman, the kind you want on your side and not against you. Uncle Joe is the dirty old man that families try to hide.

You root for Helen to finally get her groove and find herself. Then you laugh with her, cheer for her and just enjoy her.

This movie may not get the same reaction from all reviewers, but if you want a quick laughter fix, then go see it. I laughed and cheered for Helen.

- Susan Noce, grandmother, nanny

--

One star (out of four)

Anyone who sees "Diary of a Mad Black Woman" should take some form of laxative with his or her popcorn. This movie is so cheesy, I am afraid for the colons in the audience.

This film has it all: over-the-top voiceovers, painfully sappy music, dialogue that tries to sound cliche and enough melodrama to fill a high school prom. I had no idea it was possible to cram that many stereotypical characters into one film.

They're all here: the big ol' grandma with attitude, the conflicted crack addict, the old mother who spends her time knitting while not in church and a boyfriend who is so sensitive, thoughtful and forgiving it's sickening.

This movie does not know what to be. At first it's a serious drama about an abused wife. Then it turns into slapstick comedy. Sappy romance soon follows. Then it goes back to a little more slapstick.

The movie ends as a romantic character study. Too bad the characters we are supposed to sympathize with are dull, one-dimensional and elicit no empathy.

- Matt Morris, student