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I Can Do Bad All by Myself

  • 2009
  • PG-13
  • 1h 53m
IMDb RATING
4.8/10
11K
YOUR RATING
Taraji P. Henson in I Can Do Bad All by Myself (2009)
I Can Do Bad All by Myself Trailer
Play trailer2:25
15 Videos
24 Photos
Coming-of-AgeComedyDrama

When Madea catches sixteen-year-old Jennifer and her two younger brothers looting her home, she decides to take matters into her own hands.When Madea catches sixteen-year-old Jennifer and her two younger brothers looting her home, she decides to take matters into her own hands.When Madea catches sixteen-year-old Jennifer and her two younger brothers looting her home, she decides to take matters into her own hands.

  • Director
    • Tyler Perry
  • Writer
    • Tyler Perry
  • Stars
    • Tyler Perry
    • Taraji P. Henson
    • Adam Rodriguez
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    4.8/10
    11K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Tyler Perry
    • Writer
      • Tyler Perry
    • Stars
      • Tyler Perry
      • Taraji P. Henson
      • Adam Rodriguez
    • 76User reviews
    • 33Critic reviews
    • 55Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 5 nominations total

    Videos15

    I Can Do Bad All by Myself
    Trailer 2:25
    I Can Do Bad All by Myself
    I Can Do Bad All by Myself
    Trailer 0:50
    I Can Do Bad All by Myself
    I Can Do Bad All by Myself
    Trailer 0:50
    I Can Do Bad All by Myself
    I Can Do Bad All by Myself: "The Kid Whisperer"
    Clip 0:41
    I Can Do Bad All by Myself: "The Kid Whisperer"
    I Can Do Bad All by Myself: "Aunt April"
    Clip 0:56
    I Can Do Bad All by Myself: "Aunt April"
    I Can Do Bad All by Myself: "When I Grow Up"
    Clip 1:12
    I Can Do Bad All by Myself: "When I Grow Up"
    I Can Do Bad All by Myself: "I Don't Need No One"
    Clip 1:07
    I Can Do Bad All by Myself: "I Don't Need No One"

    Photos24

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    Top cast56

    Edit
    Tyler Perry
    Tyler Perry
    • Madea…
    Taraji P. Henson
    Taraji P. Henson
    • April
    Adam Rodriguez
    Adam Rodriguez
    • Sandino
    Brian White
    Brian White
    • Randy
    Hope Olaidé Wilson
    Hope Olaidé Wilson
    • Jennifer
    • (as Hope Olaide Wilson)
    Kwesi Boakye
    Kwesi Boakye
    • Manny
    Frederick Siglar
    Frederick Siglar
    • Byron
    Gladys Knight
    Gladys Knight
    • Wilma
    Mary J. Blige
    Mary J. Blige
    • Tanya
    Marvin Winans
    Marvin Winans
    • Pastor Brian
    Eric Mendenhall
    Eric Mendenhall
    • Man #1
    David Paulus
    David Paulus
    • Miller
    Randall Taylor
    Randall Taylor
    • Mr. Bradley
    Tess Malis Kincaid
    Tess Malis Kincaid
    • Ms. Sullivan
    Joseph Taylor
    • Announcer
    Cheryl B. Pratt
    • 911 Dispatcher
    Judith Franklin
    • Rock Steady Background Singer
    Jameaka Tubbs
    • Rock Steady Background Singer
    • Director
      • Tyler Perry
    • Writer
      • Tyler Perry
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews76

    4.811K
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    Featured reviews

    7abcvision

    Be Bad

    Set in the dirty dirty ATL, three delinquents break into Madea's (Tyler Perry) house and all her "Madeaness" turns them "childrrrns" into the right path of redemption.

    Seeing they don't have a mother, she died, and their grandmother is MIA, it is up to Auntie April (Taraji P. Henson) to care for them. Church goer Wilma (Gladys Knight) tells April to do the right thing.

    Unfortunately Auntie April is more concerned about her own independence and fawning for her married, good for nothing boy friend.

    In comes handy man Sandino (Adam Rodriguez) who sees the good in people and sheds light to this troubled scene.

    A good story of how a bad situation can not be as bad as it could be however Tanja (Mary J. Blige) said it best in her singing of "I Can do Bad all by Myself".

    The three tough loves in life, God, family, and Madea is all you need to do the right thing.
    Devries49

    Its Not That Bad Seriously a 2.8?!?!?

    This film wasn't the best movie ever and I don't understand why people hate Tyler Perry his films aren't bad and they aren't the worst. I watched this with a group of friends mostly black and we enjoyed the parts with Madea were hilarious. And the drama was okay too. The acting was fine I like Taraj P Henson she was good in this movie. The only thing that bugged me was the sets most of them looked really fake but that was it. Anyways this film wasn't bad and the rating shouldn't be low at 2.8 it should be 4 or 5 stars. The acting was was good and had a fine cast. I recommend renting it or getting it on DVD. If you like tyler perry and his movies then you'll like I can do bad all by myself
    7lindagore-63227

    Can't understand these low ratings...

    This movies was entertaining, funny, heartfelt, and a great escape from the pandemic. Tyler Perry is so good at Madea. I will watch all of his films. Give it a try. The cast is excellent.
    darrickdrew

    It's all about family

    Tyler Perry whole motivation is family and faith many people attack Perry for his way of portraying, African-American families. I can do bad all by my self takes a look at how families and faith are intertwined, when April's life is turned upside down with the unwelcome knock on the door by Madea(Tyler Perry) with three children. As April(Taraji P. Henson) has to learn about the value of family. The Church plays a major role as well without the Church the faith of April would not have been as strong in overcoming her inter-conflicts that she was dealing with her selfish ways and wanting a married man, but with the help of Sandino(Adam Rodriguez) April not only finds her way in finding what true love is but learning how to love herself. Tyler is still learning how to direct a good film, but will every movie be a great one, those who feel that Perry is in above is head need to take notice of what his movies symbolize, faith, family, and love. Tyler's problem is all of his movies are based on the same thing African-American families with some type of issues. This may not be Tyler's best film; however $23,446,785 on an opening weekend is not bad. So say Perry is not a good director, but Perry keeps growing in the film industry, and his television shows. This is a must see movie that is great for family to see as a family.
    7planktonrules

    Whoa....where is the love?!

    I am a masochist. That is why I am trying to see all the movies from Harry Medved's book "The 50 Worst Films of All Time" as well as all of the Bottom 100 from IMDb. Masochism is the only thing that would explain it. However, in my strange quest to see the best of the worst, I have occasionally run across some films that seem to have been included in the lists and you can't understand why. This is the case with I CAN DO BAD ALL BY MYSELF. Why is this film so hated that it made this IMDb list? To quote Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway, "Where is the love?".

    Now I am NOT saying that this is a perfect film--there are two major problems that negatively impact this film. But, the film has so many wonderful moments--so much good acting and excellent writing that I am just baffled at the negative reviews. Let's talk about the two main problems. Tyler Perry apparently plays the comedic Madea character in all his films. However here, this character seems amazingly out of place in this ultra-serious drama. A little less Madea would have helped the film maintain a tighter focus. The second problem is that while the singing was all very high quality, there just seemed to be too much. Less singing and less Madea would have left more time for character development.

    What I really liked, though was the great story--at least once you got to it. Three kids are caught stealing in Madea's home. You soon learn that they are doing this because they are hungry. Their grandmother (who they live with) has disappeared and they chose a stupid way to deal with this. Madea takes pity on them--feeding them and taking them to their Aunt's house. The problem, however, is that the Aunt is a total mess--and one of the most selfish characters you've ever seen. Can all this work out successfully? Of course--that's a given. However, it's all handled very well and this one will most likely get you shedding some tears--so have some Kleenex handy. The acting was superb and the story very involving.

    Overall, a wonderful film that could have been more wonderful. Still, it's well worth seeing and is a good film for older kids--even if the language is sometimes rough and there is a brief (but appropriate) nude scene. This is because the message is awfully good--though I could imagine some finding it all a bit heavy-handed (I know I didn't).

    By the way, I am a middle-aged White guy. Tyler Perry movies are apparently NOT just for African-American audiences!

    More like this

    Meet the Browns
    4.6
    Meet the Browns
    Madea's Big Happy Family
    4.9
    Madea's Big Happy Family
    Diary of a Mad Black Woman
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    Madea Goes to Jail
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    Madea's Family Reunion
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    A Madea Christmas
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    Boo 2! A Madea Halloween
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    Boo 2! A Madea Halloween
    Boo! A Madea Halloween
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    Boo! A Madea Halloween
    Good Deeds
    5.7
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    I Can Do Bad All by Myself
    4.5
    I Can Do Bad All by Myself

    Related interests

    Elsie Fisher in Eighth Grade (2018)
    Coming-of-Age
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Cheryl Pepsii Riley provided the vocals for Taraji P. Henson's singing parts.
    • Quotes

      Jennifer: My Grandma Rose used to tell us to pray about things like this.

      Madea: Then that's what you ought to do, pray about it, talk to the Lord about it. He'll help you.

      Jennifer: Yeah but she only told us to pray. She never told us how. Would you teach me?

      Madea: Huh?

      Jennifer: Please!

      Madea: Show you how to pray?

      Jennifer: Yeah.

      Madea: Oh, Lord, child, I ain't talked to God since the last time I saw a cop in my rearview mirror. I guess I can try. You know the number?

      Jennifer: The what?

      Madea: The number. To call him. They say, "Jesus On the Mainline." I don't know the number. Okay, sit back. Bow your head. First, giving honor to God, to the head of my life.

      [sings]

      Madea: Father, I stretch my hand... to thee. Father God. God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God of Shadrach, Meshach and the billy goat, who was in the fiery furnace that they barbecued on the day of Pentecost when the Jewish people returned from the Sabbath day up on the mountaintop in Ethiopia. God of Mary J. Blige...

      Jennifer: Madea, that doesn't sound right. That's not how Mama Rose used to do it.

      Madea: You ain't feel it? You ain't feel the anointing?

      Jennifer: No.

      Madea: Alright. Well, look, I don't know nothing about praying. But all praying is is talking to God and having a conversation with him. And at the end, you say the name of Jesus. That's your stamp that will get it up there to him. You hear?

      Jennifer: Okay.

    • Connections
      Featured in The Rotten Tomatoes Show: Hot Tub Time Machine/Chloe/How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
    • Soundtracks
      Rock Steady
      Written by Aretha Franklin

      Performed by Cheryl Pepsii Riley

      Published by Springtime Music

      Courtesy of Tyler Perry Studios

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    FAQ25

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    • What is 'I Can Do Bad All By Myself' about?
    • Is "I Can Do Bad All By Myself" based on a book?
    • How does Madea's Bible story about St Peter go?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 11, 2009 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Lionsgate (United States)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All by Myself
    • Filming locations
      • Tyler Perry Studios, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
    • Production company
      • The Tyler Perry Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $13,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $51,733,921
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $23,446,785
      • Sep 13, 2009
    • Gross worldwide
      • $51,733,921
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 53m(113 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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