 "I've been reviewing movies for a long time, and I can't think of one that more dramatically shoots itself in the foot," writes Roger Ebert about Diary of a Mad Black Woman. But most of the shooting is aimed by fellow critics. Jack Mathews in the New York Daily News calls it "an absolute mess with no coherent tone, story or point of view. It turns on a dime from scenes of maudlin sentimentality to manic slapstick, then turns on another dime to trite Christian moralizing." Lou Lumenick in the New York Post warns: "Stay clear of this mess." The film does receive a smattering of applause from critics. Tom Sime in the Dallas Morning News writes that it "will be a complete delight for fans of black gospel theater, and [writer/star Tyler] Perry's comic gifts may even prove a hook for mainstream audiences." And Claudia Puig comments in USA Today: "What Diary of a Mad Black Woman lacks in finesse and subtlety, it makes up for with sheer exuberance and charismatic performances." |
