Madea Goes to Jail is a 2009 crime comedy-drama film adaptation written and directed by Tyler Perry, which was inspired by Perry's play of the same name. The film centers on Perry's character Madea Simmons going to jail for her uncontrollable anger management problems, and focuses on a developing romance between a young lawyer and a female friend from his past (whom Madea meets in jail); the film is widely regarded as cinematic detritus, although the viewing public's response initially begged to differ. An exclusive preview of the movie was included on the cinematic release of Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys.

Plot

After a high-speed freeway chase (as shown at the end of Perry's previous film Meet the Browns) puts Madea (Tyler Perry) in front of Judge Mablean (Mablean Ephriam), her trial is short-lived due to the police officers not mirandizing Madea causing the judge to give Madea an anger management course. Meanwhile, assistant district attorney Joshua Hardaway (Derek Luke) is on the fast track to career success. But, Hardaway lands a case too personal to handle - defending a young prostitute and drug addict Candace Washington (Keshia Knight Pulliam), whom he is apparently already acquainted with and asks his fiancée and fellow ADA Linda Davis (Ion Overman) to fill in on his behalf. After the trial, Joshua, who has paid Candace's bail, meets with church activist Ellen (Viola Davis), who tries to help Candace, who seems somewhat bitter and angry about her circumstances, but determines her to be a survivor. Joshua and Candace talk briefly over lunch, and it is implied that the two had some past dealings with one another as college students.