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Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns Review

Release Date: Mar 21, 2008
Rated: drug content, language including sexual references, thematic elements and brif violence
Runtime: 1 hr. 40 min.
Genres: Comedy, Romance
Director:Tyler Perry
Cast:Angela Bassett, Rick Fox, Margaret Avery, Frankie R. Faison, Jennifer Lewis. Full cast + crew

Movies.com Critics

4.0

Dave White Profile <h3>Dave White</h3> <p><strong>Your Movies.com Man at the Multiplex</strong></p> <br /> <p>Dave White's first movie review was of the animated feature Snoopy Come Home. He was seven years old...<a href="http://www.movies.com/movie-reviews/dave-white">Read full profile</a></p>

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Other Critics provided by Metacritic.com

Critics scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

3.0

45

out of 100

Metascore^®
Mixed or average reviews
based on a weighted average of all
critic review scores.
50

out of 100

The Hollywood Reporter Frank Scheck
Features a fine performance by Angela Bassett, but her work is the sole subtle element.

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60

out of 100

The New York Times A.O. Scott
What he serves up -- a mixture of moralism and forgiveness, semibawdy humor and cautionary drama, mockery and affection -- may sometimes lack coherence, but never integrity.

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60

out of 100

Variety Joe Leydon
Often plays more like "Tyler Perry's Greatest Hits" as it recycles various elements from the writer-director's earlier works.

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67

out of 100

Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum
The importance of faith, church, kin, staying off drugs, sharing food, repenting from sin, forgiving sinners, appreciating a good black man, rejecting a bad one, and honoring black matriarchy is enumerated with typical, reassuring Perry broadness.

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For Families provided by Common Sense Media

OK for kids 13+

Feel-good film is formulaic but OK for teens+.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this dramedy is noticeably less raunchy than other Tyler Perry movies, while still emphasizing the standard, uplifting "work hard, don't take any shortcuts, and have faith" messages for which he's become famous. There's not much swearing, few innuendoes (and only one passionate kiss), and plenty of relatives who offer solace and support to one another. There are mentions of drug dealing, pimping/prostitution, and illegal gambling -- as well as suggestions of mild drug use -- but love, decency, and faith pretty much conquer all.

Families can talk about Brenda's struggles as a single mom. Do you think the movie portrays her realistically? Have any parts of the movie been "Hollywood-ized"? If so, which ones?Families can also discuss why Tyler Perry is so popular. Have you seen his other movies? What do they have in common? Who are they targeted at, and why do they appeal to that audience? Do you like him better as his character Madea or as a "regular" actor? Why?

The good stuff

Messages: Some references to inappropriate behavior like pimping and doing and dealing drugs; overall this is a feel-good movie that values decency and hope.

What to watch for

Violence: Father and son have an ugly shouting match; a woman and her ex argue; drug dealers beat up another dealer; an old woman and her husband get involved in a low-speed chase; a teen is shot.
Sex: Some innuendo, but nothing explicit. One passionate but tasteful kiss. Some cleavage. References to pimping/prostitution.
Language: Mostly of the "shut up," "ho," and "pimp" variety; also some use of "hell," "damn," and "ass." The "F"-word is implied in one case, but not fully said.
Consumerism: Visible signage for restaurants (Ribs'n'Bibs, Tasty Sub). Other logos/brands include North Lake Medical Center, U-Haul, Georgia Trailways, Chicago Transportation Authority, Quaker Oats.
Drinking, drugs and smoking: One scene in which a woman lights a joint; some drug dealing in the streets; one woman always has a glass that appears to contain whiskey; some wine is drunk at dinner.

Common Sense Media

An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology.

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Fan Reviews provided by

Average Rating: 3.865

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Tyler Perry's Meet The Browns Movie Review by Asianfreak
91 out of 100 The only good Tyler Perry comedy that's thoughtful, often-funny, and heart-warming.

Read all Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns reviews at Fandango