The Family That Preys
Skeletons Aplenty in Latest Tyler Perry Dysfunctional Family
Drama
The
Family That Preys
Click to order via
Amazon
Rated PG-13 for mature themes, sexual references and brief
violence.
Running time: 111 minutes
Studio: Lions Gate Films
Film Review by Kam Williams
Excellent (4 stars)
First, on the stage, then on screen,
Tyler
Perry has successfully introduced his unique brand of modern
morality plays uniquely flavored with the distinctive refrains
of African-American culture. These uplifting, faith-based
melodramas tend to explore a variety of timely themes of concern
to the black community while mixing in generous helpings of
Tyler’s trademark comedy.
His latest offering, The Family That Preys, is a slight
variation on the familiar formula in that whites have been added
to the principal cast. But the film otherwise relies on the
staples of a typical Tyler Perry production, namely,
well-crafted female characters summoning up the gumption to deal
with dysfunction in real-life crises pitting good versus evil.
This story revolves around Alice Pratt (Alfre Woodard) and
Charlotte Cartwright (Kathy Bates), Southern matriarchs
presiding over a couple of families about to be embroiled in the
same scandal. Socialite Charlotte is the CEO of the
multi-million dollar construction company she inherited from her
late husband, while relatively-humble Alice owns a down-home
diner located across the tracks called A Wing and a Prayer.
Despite the difference between their financial fortunes, the
widows’ have remained best friends over the years, a
relationship about to be sorely tested.
The point of departure is the wedding of Alice’s almost
college-graduated daughter Andrea (Sanaa
Lathan) to Chris (Rockmund Dunbar), an unemployed
blue-collar worker. During the reception, Charlotte’s married
son, William (Cole Hauser), who can barely hide his attraction
to the bride, promises both her and the groom jobs with the
Cartwright Corporation after the honeymoon.
The film then fast-forwards four years, and we discover that
Andrea is already unhappy being the principal bread-winner. She
neither respects her husband, nor shows much interest in raising
their young son, whom she leaves for long stretches at the diner
to be cared for by her waitress sister (Taraji
P. Henson).
The picture soon starts dropping hints at every turn that Andrea
might be sleeping with her boss, too, from her working overtime
in the evenings, to her having a secret six-figure bank account,
to her driving a Mercedes company car, to her wearing jewelry
she couldn't afford. Cuckolded Chris is either too trusting or
too dense to notice anything funny until his brother-in-law, Ben
(Perry), finally blurts out the truth.
Meanwhile, equally-clueless Charlotte talks Alice into joining
her in a classic convertible for a hedonistic cross-country trip
reminiscent of The Bucket List or Thelma & Louise, take your
pick. The overplotted production has creepy William not only
cheating on his wife (KaDee Strickland), but planning to fleece
his mother out of her controlling interest in the family
business.
Fortunately, Charlotte and Alice return just in the nick of time
to right the wrongs and to tie up the rest of the loose ends oh
so satisfactorily. That’s the magic of the Tyler Perry genre. A
pat and predictable cautionary tale which nonetheless manages to
push the right emotional buttons every time.
Related Links
Tyler Perry - The Family That Preys
Interview
http://aalbc.com/reviews/tyler_perry1.htm
Sanaa
Lathan: The Family That Preys Interview
http://aalbc.com/reviews/sanaa_lathan1.htm
Taraji P. Henson: The Family That Preys Interview
http://aalbc.com/reviews/taraji_p_henson.htm
Tyler Perry - The Madea’s Family
Reunion Interview
http://aalbc.com/reviews/tyler_perry.htm