The Family That Preys

I had the opportunity to see The Family that Preys this weekend, this is my second Tyler Perry movie, to be honest from what I've seen, I think I may check out his other movies, because I do like what I've seen so far. The Family that Preys is seriously one of the better films I've seen so far in September, it's an honest drama that keeps your attention, it was also very touching. In some ways this was the female version of The Bucket List, even as it was hard to watch, it was still an incredibly moving movie. The chemistry between Kathy Bates and Alfre Woodard was just dead on and you really believed in their friendship. I also loved the side story between the two sisters and their husbands, one sister who is rich and spoiled with a good husband who is in major denial about what his wife really is, the other sister who wishes for her husband to keep his head up and live his dream. Tyler Perry pulls in a good family story that will have you smiling at the end.

Alice and Charlotte are best friends, Charlotte is a rich business woman who's son wants to take over her company, she's rooting for a different C.O.O. that she hand picks, Abby, who is a strong woman who is working her way to the top. Alice is a struggling woman who Charlotte asks if they can go on a road trip together, she agrees, they go across country enjoying the last bits of life. But what they don't realize is that at home Alice's daughter, Andrea, is sleeping her way to the top behind her loving husband's back, her other daughter is begging for her husband to live his dreams, and Charlotte's son is just a sleaze who will step on anyone to get to the top.

The Family that Preys is seriously a very good movie, it will not disappoint you. I'm really disappointed in a lot of these ratings. I believe there are some users lately who don't even see the movie, they just rate it a low number just because they don't like who's the star or whoever is making the film, please, you have to trust me on this film, it's a little treasure and a very strong film that will remind you to not take life for granted, stay strong, and remain proud of who you are. The script had extremely well written lines and I loved the representation of the hardship of being a woman trying to compete in a man's working world, not to sound horrible, but I imagine that's even harder for an African American woman and this movie just inspires you that it is possible to stay strong and work hard, keep the faith, and good things will come to you. This is a fantastic movie, I highly recommend it.

8/10

I saw this movie last night, and found it entertaining, with great acting, and intriguing twists. Perry's movies get better and better. Most of his early work, I did not take very seriously, and did not pay to see in theaters. I thought "Why Did I Get Married" was his best. The Family That Preys, in my opinion ties with it. I think southerners, with insider's knowledge of complicated relationships between Blacks and Whites, (especially between wealthy Whites and the people who work for them), viewers familiar with Faulkner's work, family stories passed down from generation to generation will walk away with a special, "ah ha" that reminds me of so and so and "miss" so and so...moment.

So often family secrets cross color lines, friendship and loyalty have a unique southern flavor. Proximity to the powerful often holds special dangers and temptations. I think most memorable are the strong women who in their unique southern style, play for keeps while holding their heads up, cursing while wearing hats and gloves, in ladylike form. If you've ever lived in the South, you know what I'm talking about. Southern Belles, matriarchs, supportive wives--who have a manipulative, strategic side--are so often the real backbone of the family.

Am I the only one who noticed (thankfully) the absence of the "N" word, or similarly distasteful references? The audience knew why Alfre Woodard's character said, "He won't marry you", without any reference to race.

My rating is 6.5. Okay, this is not an Oscar film--but for what it is, for Tyler Perry's "genre" if you will--it's decent and at the very least watchable. It's tailored for Perry's audience in that the substance or breadth or depth of the plot or characters is (apparently) not his focus, but rather generating conversation amongst movie-goers seems to be his aim...which he does maybe better than anyone else. For all his flaws, Perry knows his audience.

That said, let me offer honest criticism. The movie is entertaining and keeps you watching, but it is not refined. It's Hershey's not Godiva if you catch my drift. The main dig I will give is that there is almost no character depth. The characters are one-dimensional and thus the movie's IQ is diminished. There is little thinking involved; it--like most of Perry's works--is emotion-based. I found the plot rather clever, so no dig there. But it's the characterization surrounding the plot that could have used more attention.

So in sum, this movie is watchable and enjoyable. It's not deep, it's not enriching, it's not life-changing. It's just quintessential Tyler Perry...and all that that entails.

Another film filled with secrets and surprises. Good set-up of plot and characters, if a bit predictable. Writer, director, producer, actor Tyler Perry (best known for his "Big Momma" franchise) goes for a bittersweet comedy-drama that delivers well. We were quite satisfied with the story and filming. A lot of restraint (no one swears in the film, for example) and non-preachy religious themes. We sat through the credits. Great song sung by Gladys Knight. Woodard's arc is grand. Definitely recommended. Perry is evolving well in his milieu as his empire grows. A fun update of Southern Gothic genre and good performances all round, save for Taraji P. Henson, who is all tics and gestures. Surprised at the IMDb fan-base low rating ( <3/10 ). Perry is a natural to bring our "Hayes Hotel" musical to the big screen or Atlanta and Broadway! - Frederic Kahler

The hard worker and religious Alice Pratt (Alfre Woodard) raised her two daughters managing a simple bar of her own. Her snobbish and arrogant daughter Andrea (Sanaa Lathan) is graduated in Economic Science and works in a construction corporation while her sister Pam (Taraji Henson) stayed with Alice working in the bar. Andrea is married with the construction worker Chris (Rockmond Dunbar), who works in the same corporation of his wife and dreams on initiating his own business. However she is betraying him with their boss William Cartwright (Cole Hauser). William is the son of Alice's best friend, the wealthy Charlotte Cartwright (Kathy Bates). While Alice travels with Charlotte in a road trip without destiny, the ambition and infidelity of William trigger a series of events that will affect relationships in both families.

"The Family That Preys" is a reasonable soap-opera and my first impression is that it is underrated in IMDb. However, the plot point in the meeting of the board of Charlotte's company is so absurd and incoherent that spoils the story and might be the reason for such bad rating. My vote is six.

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