In the live-action real world, Madea is watching television while eating her breakfast. After wishing she could discipline the kids in the animated show she is watching, she is transported into the cartoon after pushing the "Do Not Push" button on her remote control.
In the animated world, Madea chases a group of rude and unruly skateboarders named Netta and Dang Dang....a chase that the police soon join. Madea elicits an apology from Netta and Dang Dang, but is subsequently arrested by Officer Frank, Officer Fred, and their fellow police officers for excessive damage to public property, two bench warrants, 25 unpaid parking tickets, and an unpaid speeding ticket.
At the courthouse with her nephew Brian Simmons defending her, Madea is sentenced by Judge Michaels to community service guiding the young souls at the Moms Mabley Youth Center where a special monitor is placed on her to make sure she does her job as Officers Fred and Frank are assigned to keep an eye on Madea.
With Joe and Aunt Bam present, Madea attends the youth center's gym class and is horrified at the kids’ raucous behavior. Madea locks the children in a cage, but the children protest, claiming they have to practice to win a local sporting event and its cash prize. The police are alerted to Madea's actions as she tries to catch Netta causing Officers Frank and Fred return her home.
That evening, Madea returns to the youth center to find her purse. She encounters two of the children, Netta and Dang Dang, who are also looking for the purse. After learning the children are homeless, Madea takes them home with her. Madea makes the children breakfast in the morning, but after learning Madea is planning to call social services Netta and Dang Dang leave.
Madea finds Netta and Dang Dang playing basketball with the other children at Moms Mabley Youth Center in Freedom Park. However, the center is condemned by Betsy Holiday, a mayoral candidate for Atlanta who is running against Mayor Thomas while working for a mysterious person that runs M.A.N. Corporation and had previously taken Holiday off the streets. Holiday details her plans to construct new buildings and make the city's neighborhoods safe for children. However, Madea distrusts Holiday's intentions. Madea takes the children to Chastain Park, which has since been repurposed into a shopping mall, and explains this is what Holiday intends to do with their youth center.
Madea breaks into Holiday's headquarters and confronts her. Madea learns Holiday also has a team entering the sporting event, the "Chastain Park Players". After getting filmed spanking Netta, Madea is taken away by Officers Frank and Fred following a call to them from Judge Michaels. Holiday takes Netta and Dang Dang in separating them from the rest of the team. Madea is told by Judge Michaels that she will fulfill the rest of her sentence under house arrest much to the dismay of Joe. Officers Fred and Frank take Madea home where they claim to each other they partially believe Madea's claim about Holiday.
After escaping her house with Joe and Aunt Bam, Madea rallies the children together after persuading the police to help her against Halliday. Netta and Dang Dang defect back to the Chastain Park Players. They ultimately defeat the Chastain Park Players in the sporting event and win the $25,000 prize, which they will use to save the youth center after it was discovered that Halliday rigged Netta's sneakers to make her lose. Madea and the children celebrate, but Holiday steals the check and speeds away with Madea and the police able to catch her as her wig comes off. Holiday is arrested for her crimes.
The youth center is saved where Madea, Joe, Brian, Officer Fred, Officer Frank, and Judge Michaels assist in the repairs and the refurbishing. Madea, Joe, and Aunt Bam are watching a friendly basketball game while Betsy Holiday is seen doing community service. She implies that she is happier now that she is not running for mayor or working for bosses anymore, but Madea teases her by throwing chips on the floor. The mysterious person watches from his limousine and plans to have his revenge on Madea. Upon his limousine getting caught in traffic and seeing Madea get over it with the hydraulics in her car, the mysterious person states that his limousine needs to get some hydraulics in it.
Back in the live-action real world, Madea wakes up back at her kitchen table eating breakfast, wondering if the whole thing was a dream when she notices that the "Do Not Push" button is gone.
Brian Orndorf of Blu-ray.com gave the film a five out of ten, saying "Tough Love plays to the Perry fanbase, featuring cameos by Madea’s brother Joe and Aunt Bam (Cassi Davis), and keeps its street cred with a finale that includes a chase between two cars fitted with hydraulics. It’s also blessedly short (64 minutes), which is exactly the type of brevity this character needs to succeed. Madea’s Tough Love isn’t funny, not even amusing, but it’s palatable, which is a rare reaction to a Perry project. The ending promises a sequel, which isn’t necessary, but if Madea must return to action, I’d rather watch her as an animated character than endure Perry in drag once again."[2]
