Genres and genders collide in this unusual mix of Christian soap opera and raunchy cross-dressing comedy. Tyler Perry adapts his own play--one of a series wherein he personally portrays Grandma Madea, an overweight, no-nonsense, old, Christian, African-American woman. In DIARY OF A MAD BLACK WOMAN, the main character is Helen (Kimberly Elise), whose wealthy, abusive husband Charles (Steve Harris) kicks her out of their mansion after 18 years of marriage. Luckily Grandma Madea is there to offer some tough love. When a gangster's bullet later makes Charles a cripple, Helen has to decide between love (i.e. wreaking Madea-sanctioned old testament vengeance) and Christian duty. The movie then progresses in two directions: the well-acted dramatic side, with Helen getting her life together thanks to the love of the dreamy Orlando (YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS star Shemar Moore) and her hospitalized momma (Cecily Tyson); and the go-for-broke humor side, with Harris whooping it up in unfettered glee as the chainsaw-wielding, pistol-packing Madea (he also plays several other roles). Whatever one's take on the oddness of the combination, there is no denying the power of Perry's unique mixture of cross-dressing outrageousness and Christian good intent, or the fine acting talent of the entire cast.

Theatrical Release February 25, 2005 (Limited)

DVD Features:

2-Disc Keep Case
Widescreen
Audio:
Dolby Digital 6.1 DTS-ES Surround - English
Dolby Digital 5.1 EX Surround - English
Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo - Spanish
Additional Release Material:
Audio Commentary - 1. Tyler Perry - Star
2. Darren Grant - Director; Kimberly Elise - Star; Shemar Moore - Star
Deleted Scenes
Featurette - 1. THE "ATL"
2.THE REAL MAD BLACK WOMEN
3. Music Montages
4. WHO'S TYLER PERRY?
5. TYLER PERRY SPOTLIGHT
6. REFLECTIONS ON DIARY
Outtakes
Text/Photo Gallery:
Text/Photos

Kimberly Elise: Actress/"Set It Off"
Tyler Perry: Screenwriter, DIARY OF A MAD BLACK WOMAN (2005)
Steve Harris: American TV Actor
Cicely Tyson: American Actress
Tamara Taylor: 
Shemar Moore: African American Film and Television Actor

Darren Grant: Director, DIARY OF A MAD BLACK WOMAN (2005)

Tyler Perry: Screenwriter, DIARY OF A MAD BLACK WOMAN (2005)
Reuben Cannon: Film Producer, DANCING IN SEPTEMBER (2001)

Tyler Perry: Screenwriter, DIARY OF A MAD BLACK WOMAN (2005)

Camara Kambon: Composer

"Distinguishing it from mainstream Hollywood fare is its unusual blend of melodrama, comedy, revenge fantasy and a morality play, with an uplifting spiritual underpinning throughout."
"[Perry] pumps his cliches so full of hot air that they stay aloft even as you're laughing at their brazenness."