Review: Tyler Perry Goes R Rated in Joe’s College Road Trip on Netflix
- Lance
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
You might think you know what a “college road trip movie” is but then Tyler Perry throws the script out the window and sprays profanity, chaos and bizarre life lessons all over it. In this Netflix spin-off of the Madea universe, Perry stars as Joe Simmons, Madea’s crazy, foul-mouthed brother, who insists on personally taking his sheltered grandson B.J. (Jermaine Harris) on a cross-country college tour that quickly becomes more about real life lessons than actual admissions visits.
People need to keep in mind that this film is RATED R, told from the perspective of JOE SIMMONS, a former PIMP with 0 FILTER. This film IS NOT for kids and has mixed reviews from a lot of people but for me, I believe this is one of Tyler's better projects in a long time, tv and film combined.
From the opening scenes, Joe’s plan goes off the rails. Instead of campus tours and polite conversations, B.J. gets dragged into biker bars, tense encounters with small-town law enforcement and one outrageously awkward stop at a whorehouse where Joe thinks life experience should come with a foul disclaimer. Along the way, Joe drops cranky “old school” wisdom about Black heritage, college history and surviving real America. Lessons B.J. badly needs because his dad sheltered him so much that the kid cluelessly dismisses historically Black colleges and doesn’t even appreciate rock ’n’ roll’s roots.
Some scenes play like broad satire, others are shock-value comedy and a few try to strike emotional chords when Joe finally admits he’s proud of B.J. and his father (Brian, also played by Tyler Perry) even if he can’t say it without a loud, inappropriate joke. Some fan reactions are split with some finding Joe’s relentless attitude hilarious and heartfelt, while others think the raunchy moments and tonal swings undermine anything meaningful.
In short, Joe’s College Road Trip never tries to be subtle. It’s a messy, loud and borderline offensive road movie that aims for the heart beneath all the chaos and for some viewers, that reckless energy is exactly the wild ride they came for, for others it may be a turn off.
Small nitpick: Tyler has to pay attention to small details when it comes to make up. This is the second film that ended with him playing Brian and still having a face full of makeup from his other characters. He honestly looked like he was ready for a casket.
What did you think?
Loved it
Hated it
So/So