I’ve never been a fan of Tyler Perry.

I say this as a disclaimer before I get into my review of his latest film, “Madea Goes to Jail,” because I appear to be in the minority – judging from the $41 million grossing opening weekend.

For anyone who considers themself a fan of Perry and his style of filmmaking and storytelling, this review is not for you. There is clearly something in his films that have clicked with a loyal audience, and I don’t think my arguments will sway anyone to think otherwise.

For anyone else thinking of giving Perry a chance, however, “Madea” is definitely not worth your time. This is a film that, like most of Perry’s previous work, is all over the map – with a plot that weirdly melds some serious social issues with dopey slapstick comedy that would make the Vicki Lawrence TV series “Mama’s Family” seem sophisticated.

“Madea Goes to Jail” follows two separate stories of forgiveness. The main plot follows Josh (Derek Luke), an assistant D.A., whose path crosses with Candace (Keisha Knight Pulliam), a former childhood and college friend who is now a prostitute and drug addict.

Josh, who feels responsible for how Candace’s life has ended up, decides to help his former friend get her life back together – much to the dismay of his fiancee (Ion Overman).

There are some genuine moments of drama and realism that really work. All the actors, with the exception of Overman (who is stuck in a cartoon-like bad guy role), do fine – including recent Academy Award nominee Viola Davis as a former drug addict trying to make a difference in the lives of Candace and other women like her.

If the film just involved this story, I could at least respect the material. Unfortunately, it is intertwined with the story of Madea (played by Perry in drag) – a gun toting, sassy grandmother who’s anger management issues eventually land her in prison.

Perry appears to really enjoy playing Madea, so you can’t fault him for wanting to don the dress and makeup again. Still, if he really feels the need to itch his feminine side, I think it’s time that Perry went all in and just gave Madea a movie of her own.

In “Madea Goes to Jail,” we have a wildly uneven film that follows up a scene that deals with rape with a scene where Madea smashes a women’s car with a forklift after the woman takes her parking space.

It’s that lack of focus that is Perry’s fatal flaw as a filmmaker. Until Perry decides one way or another what tone he is going to approach with his projects, the results – for moviegoers like myself, at least – will continue to be frustrating.

DVD dandy of the week

This week’s dandy is “Sex Drive” (B-), a raunchy teen sex comedy that isn’t afraid to offend – or entertain.

In “Sex Drive,” Josh Zuckerman plays Ian – a mild mannered teenager who sets out with his best friends Lance (Clark Duke) and Felicia (Amanda Crew) on a cross-country drive to meet a girl he met on the Internet.

But the trip proves to be anything but easy. Along the way the trio encounter car trouble, jail time and some colorful characters – including a wise-cracking Amish farmer (Seth Green).

On paper (and in its trailer) “Sex Drive” doesn’t seem like it offers many laughs, but the film proves to be an unexpected surprise. The humor is pretty risque – along the same lines as “Superbad” – and for the most part the cast is up to the challenge.

The biggest laughs come from Green and James Marsden, as Ian’s psychotic older brother.

I’m sure that there will be some people that might be offended with some of the film’s humor (I’ll admit the gay jokes grew a little tiresome), but in the end if your looking for a gleefully juvenile comedy with a few good comedic bits, you could do a lot worse than “Sex Drive.”

“Sex Drive” is rated R for strong crude and sexual content, nudity, language and some drug and alcohol use and is now available on DVD.

— Sportswriter/movie reviewer Micheal Compton – who’s still gloating over his successful picks for Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor, among others – can be reached by e-mailing mcompton@bgdailynews.com.