1. Title of film: Madea's Family Reunion

2. Date of film: 2006

3. Rating: PG-13

4. Brief description of film: This Christian comedy/drama is Tyler Perry's second movie based on his plays. As the family reunion approaches, two of Madea's nieces, half sisters, wrestle with problems involving their mother and the men in their life.

5. Comments on how film portrays religion: The movie portrays Christianity in a positive light. One of the central characters, Vanessa, is a Christian woman with 2 young children born out of wedlock who tentatively enters into a romantic relationship with a Christian man, Frankie, who also has a young child of his own. Their Christian values are demonstrated in their dating relationship. Christianity is portrayed as a religion of grace towards sinners as Vanessa and Frankie forge a strong relationship despite past mistakes. Vanessa's Christian faith also gives her the power to forgive her mother after years of hatred and bitterness towards her.

6. Description and location of specific clips: There is a montage of clips that shows Vanessa and Frankie's wholesome dating relationship. The scene in which Vanessa confronts her mother about the past and forgives her is one of the most powerful in the movie.

7. Final comments: While Tyler Perry's films are openly Christian, they do not feel contrived because believers are portrayed as real and imperfect people situated in the real world. This means that some scenes in the film seem inappropriate in a "Christian" movie, but Perry is just being realistic about the characters and their humanness.

8. Reviewer's name and email: Michele Kim jungimi1@yahoo.com