Those who eagerly await the return of Tyler Perry's sassy, gun-toting grandma after a two-plus year absence will find her back on screen for **Tyler Perry’s Boo! A Madea Halloween**, a holiday-themed comedy horror film. This movie is woefully unfunny and as appealing as stale candy; it’s a disappointing experience that has little to do with the spirit of ghosts and goblins. It feels like a mean joke played on those who enjoy Perry's work, offering them what amounts to disposable holiday entertainment. Perry, who has primarily focused on television projects during his break from filmmaking, once again dons drag, reviving his character Madea with her trademark sharp tongue. While Perry’s films often blend silliness with Christian themes and a brash style, **Boo! A Madea Halloween** feels like a tired rehash of familiar material. The *Madea* movie franchise has been a consistent financial success for Perry, catering to audiences who enjoy his over-the-top antics. As expected, **Boo! A Madea Halloween** provides another excuse for Perry to bring back the Southern granny and subject her to ridiculous mayhem, where she repeats the same old routine of silencing troublesome youngsters with sermons and chaotic action. The film is essentially a *Ghostbusters* parody where Perry places Madea in silly situations. Ultimately, it’s neither genuinely funny nor frightening, but rather a lame and forced attempt at holiday humor. The combination of Madea and her companions Aunt Bam and Hattie (Cassie Davis and Patrice Lovely), along with some familiar fright film tropes and stereotypical teenagers, fails to create anything worthwhile; it's like a smashed jack-o'-lantern filled with random, weak jokes. In addition to portraying the irascible Madea, Perry also plays Brian, a concerned father trying to keep his 17-year-old daughter Tiffany (Diamond White) out of trouble. Brian’s attractive daughter and her friends are eager to attend a Halloween party hosted by a fraternity where young women can meet college guys. He tries to protect them from this environment but is unable to do so due to work commitments, so he enlists Madea, Aunt Bam, and Hattie (along with Perry's character Joe) to supervise Tiffany. Of course, Tiffany attempts to escape her guardians’ watchful eyes using various distractions. Madea and her friends struggle to contain the rebellious teenager as she tries to outsmart them. Tiffany eventually manages to sneak away to the party, prompting Madea and her associates to try and retrieve her before Brian finds out. Their efforts only create more chaos at the fraternity house. After being dismissed from the party, Madea and her crew are retaliated against by the fraternity members, and she must then face a variety of spooky creatures looking to cause trouble. **Tyler Perry’s Boo! A Madea Halloween** is an aimless farce that disregards any genuine appreciation for the holiday season, serving instead as a platform to showcase Madea and other questionable characterizations in a relentlessly silly film. Perry's direction and writing are lazy and uninspired. The interactions between Madea, Aunt Bam, and Hattie feel artificial and nonsensical, with discussions ranging from disciplining children to legalizing marijuana seeming forced for the sake of humor. Even Madea’s frequent religious exclamations become tiresome. The film fails to offer anything new, simply recycling Madea's familiar mannerisms—yelling, bugged-out eyes, and slapstick—in a predictable way. The only characters who feel somewhat believable are Tiffany (Diamond White) and her friend Aday (Liza Koshy). Otherwise, the movie is filled with crude language, weak jokes, stereotypical male characters, and trendy elements like twerking and clown sightings that have been in the news recently. While Madea’s antics have garnered a devoted following, this tired retread feels uninspired and lacks originality. **Tyler Perry’s Boo! A Madea Halloween** (2016) Tyler Perry Studios 1 hr. 43 mins. Starring: Tyler Perry, Diamond White, Cassie Davis, Patrice Lovely, Yousef Erakat, Liza Koshy, Bella Thorne, Lexy Panterra, Andre Hall, Brock O’Hurn Written and directed by: Tyler Perry MPAA Rating: PG-13 Genre: Horror and Comedy Critic’s rating: * 1/2 stars (out of 4 stars) (c) Frank Ochieng 2016

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