Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen , based on child development research. How do we rate?
age 14+
Crude, tired jokes and drug use weigh down Madea sequel.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
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Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
a lot
Underage teens drink with college students (some of whom are presumably also under 21) at a fraternity's unsanctioned Halloween party. Joe smokes a joint in a couple of scenes and seems eager to find the college party -- for the drugs.
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Violence & Scariness
some
Scary chainsaw-wielding men and bloody-faced twins terrorize a Halloween party. It's presumed that people are being hurt or even killed, but the camera cuts away, so you only hear screams. Characters fall as they attempt to run away. Spoiler: It turns out that while people were terrified, no one was actually hurt.
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Sex, Romance & Nudity
some
Suggestive comments and innuendo. As in the previous movie, frat guys flirt with and proposition a brand-new 18-year-old girl (and her 17-year-old best friends). Couples dance and touch, and one even implies that they plan to hook up, but nothing happens. A wild Halloween party is filled with women in skimpy costumes. Joe is constantly making sexual comments -- about being a pimp, about his deceased wife being a dedicated "ho," how he was nicknamed NATO as a pimp (because his "hos" were of all races and ethnicities), etc. He makes crude comments about his virility and genitalia and even propositions his granddaughter's friend, until she tells him she's 17.
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Language
some
Strong language includes "s--t," "damn," "ass," "bull crap," "hell," "piss," and "bitch." Insults include "ragged ass," "bitch ass," "shut the hell up." One character, an elderly African-American man, says the "N" word once. Other potentially offensive terms: "p---y [pause] cat," "ho," "mule" (in reference to penis size), "buice" (bitch + juice), "pimp" as a verb and noun, "nuts," "balls," "scrotum," etc.
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Products & Purchases
very little
Volvo, Cadillac, Mini Cooper.
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Positive Messages
some
A few central messages about family: Parents should listen to their instincts about whether their children are ready for more independence and freedom. Divorced parents must work together to co-parent their children, so their kids don't play one parent off the other. Kids shouldn't lie to their parents about where they'll be or who they'll be with, because they could end up in unsafe situations. And people shouldn't pressure their risk-averse friends into doing things.
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Positive Role Models
some
Brian is an attentive, caring father who wants to protect Tiffany and her brother. Gabriella's father, Victor, is also an involved father who's not ready to cut the parental strings. Gabby doesn't want to lie, drink, or flirt; she's the voice of reason but is swayed by Tiffany, who isn't a positive role model in this film. She's selfish and irresponsible. Madea has her flaws, but she ends up doing whatever it takes to help the younger generation in her family.
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Boo 2! A Madea Halloween is the 10th Tyler Perry Madea film and a sequel to 2016's Boo! A Madea Halloween. Like that movie, this film revolves around Madea and her elderly squad of relatives having to protect her grandniece Tiffany. But this one is a little edgier than its predecessor. Most of the movie takes place at a fraternity's haunted Halloween party, which takes place at a spooky campground where it seems a family of crazed murderers is on the loose. Madea and her fellow retirees often bicker, curse, and -- in the case of her brother Joe -- make nonstop sexual innuendos/jokes (he claims to have been a successful pimp and even propositions his granddaughter's friend, albeit in a humorous way). The language is occasionally salty ("s--t," "bitch," "ass"), although it's more often along the lines of "damn," "shut the hell up," and "bull crap." Underage characters drink, and Joe loves to talk about his devotion to weed (and he smokes a joint). Despite the scares, substance use, and moderately raunchy humor, the movie does have positive messages about parent-teen and intergenerational relationships. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
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Boo 2! A Madea Halloween
Parent and Kid Reviews
See all
- Parents say (11)
- Kids say (8)
age 16+
Based on 11 parent reviews
Katherine R. Parent of 8, 10, 14, 18+, 18+ and 5-year-old
May 13, 2024
age 15+
Really Scary Movie
davispittman Adult
October 4, 2019
age 12+
Awful
This sequel isn’t funny at all. But not only is it not funny, it’s also just horribly made! I couldn’t believe the unprofessional mistakes... and from someone who’s made films for quite some time. The content is mild for PG-13 but honestly don’t even bother.... this is one of the worst films ever created.
Rate movie
See all 11 parent reviews
What's the Story?
BOO 2! A MADEA HALLOWEEN is a sequel to 2016's Boo! A Madea Halloween, set one year later. It's Oct. 30, and Tiffany (Diamond White), who's just turned 18, gets headphones from dad Brian (Tyler Perry) ... and a brand-new Mini Cooper from mom Deborah (Taja V. Simpson) and her stepdad. The first thing Tiffany does is secure an invite to the local college fraternity's annual Halloween party (the same party she got in trouble for attending in the original). This time, however, the party is set to take place at Lake Derrick, an eerie campground where a man allegedly killed his entire family. Tiffany convinces her mom to let her go to the party with best friends Gabriella (Inanna Sarkis) and Leah (Lexy Panterra), but Madea (Perry) knows it's a bad idea and drags Joe (also Perry), Bam (Cassi Davis), and Hattie (Patrice Lovely) along to spy on and protect Tiffany. Then, at the party, young people start disappearing, courtesy of a chainsaw-wielding madman and a pair of creepy twins...
Is It Any Good?
Our review:
Parents say (11):
Kids say (8):
Even devoted Madea fans who know what they're getting into may end up disappointed by this unnecessary sequel to Perry's first Halloween-themed comedy. While a few moments elicit laughs, and some of the jokes land the first time they're told, several of the running gags fall flat. And Uncle Joe's constant crude references to his storied career as a pimp are cringe-worthy, particularly when he tries to flirt with his granddaughter's teenage friend. The tired scares are all borrowed from various other horror movies, but at least the carnage seems to take place off-camera (for a reason that's revealed late in the movie).
The worst part of the movie is how unlikable Tiffany is -- although she does manage to redeem herself slightly. She's selfish and ungrateful, she lies, she peer-pressures her best friend, and she cares more about hooking up with a dimwit frat guy than staying safe. Madea isn't as over-the-top here as she's been in previous movies, and she shares the spotlight with Joe, Bam, and Hattie -- all of whom have a chance to show off their comedy skills throughout the movie. Unfortunately, the humor is limited to themes like urinary incontinence, sexual conquests, and fat jokes. Perhaps it's time for Madea to retire -- or at least return to form.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why Madea movies continue to be so popular. What is Perry's signature character's appeal? How does Boo 2! A Madea Halloween compare to other Madea movies?
How is substance use portrayed in the movie? Is Joe's love of marijuana/drugs in general appropriate for a movie with teen appeal? What message does his devotion to weed send?
Who are the role models in the movie? What are their character strengths?
Talk about the way Tiffany pressures Gabby to do what she wants, even though Gabby regularly protests. Do you think Tiffany is a good friend? What about Gabby? How would you handle things if you were Tiffany or Gabby?
Movie Details
- In theaters: October 20, 2017
- On DVD or streaming: January 30, 2018
- Cast: Tyler Perry, Cassi Davis, Patrice Lovely
- Director: Tyler Perry
- Inclusion Information: Black directors, Black actors, Female actors
- Studio: Lionsgate
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Holidays, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- Run time: 101 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: sexual references, drug content, language and some horror images
- Last updated: July 1, 2024
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Boo 2! A Madea Halloween
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