By Shanda Block/entertainment editor

Madea is back in an all-new, drama-packed movie: I Can Do Bad All By Myself.

When Madea, played by Tyler Perry, finds three children, 16-year-old Jennifer and her two younger brothers, stealing from her home, she immediately delivers the delinquents to their aunt April, played by Taraji P. Henson.

Madea and April soon learn the kids haven’t seen their guardian, April’s mother, in four days, which resulted in Jennifer looting to try and take care of her younger brothers. The children’s mom died from a crack addiction quite some time ago, so the grandmother has taken care of them ever since.

Unfortunately, April is a heavy drinker who sleeps all day and sings at a nightclub six nights a week. She and her married boyfriend, Randy, played by Brian J. White, want nothing to do with her sister’s children.

Things start to shake up for April and Randy when the kids arrive, but they take a turn for the better once the church urges April to house a Mexican immigrant, Sandino, played by Adam Rodriguez, looking for work.

In a series of tragic events, the three kids find out their grandmother has died, leaving April their only living relative. April just wants to put them in foster care, but over the course of the movie the audience sees she is really not as cold-hearted as it seems — she just wants to please “her man.” 

However, Sandino can see through to April’s true self. Through Sandino’s caring nature and a few really huge problems with Randy later in the movie that cause April to scratch him from her life for good, things all turn out for the best.

Madea doesn’t show up as much in this movie as previous Perry movies, but she does appear at all the right times. Just when the audience is saddened, Madea pops up to steal a laugh from them. In one scene, Jennifer is at Madea’s house stressed because her grandma died and because April doesn’t want her and her brothers. Madea tells the child to stop her crying and tells Jennifer a sorely confused Bible story about Noah rescuing Jonah from the stomach of the whale on the St. Louis Arch.

The movie also includes some inspirational songs, one sung by Mary J. Blige who plays Tanya.

Overall, the movie is a huge success. It has life lessons and great songs and pulls the viewer in to connect with the characters. Perry has captured audiences’ hearts again.