Tyler Perry takes ‘Madea’ to jail

When: Opening Friday at local theaters

Cast: Tyler Perry, Derek Luke, Keshia Knight Pulliam, Viola Davis

Director: Tyler Perry

The story: Following a high-speed freeway chase, pistol-packin’ grandma Madea winds up in the slammer, where she befriends a variety of fellow inmates — including a young prostitute and former drug addict.

The buzz: Writer-director (and star) Tyler Perry revives his mischievous matriarch (one of three roles he plays) in an adaptation of his play of the same name. It’s the fourth time Perry has brought Madea to the big screen, following “Diary of a Mad Black Woman,” “Madea’s Family Reunion” and “Meet the Browns.” (Madea also turned up on Perry’s “House of Payne” TV series.) But Perry escapes Madea’s orbit in his next screen role: “Star Trek’s” Starfleet Academy president.