Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys (2008) Movie Review

Tyler Perry has a dedicated built in audience that is mostly comprised of church-going African American women that every one of his films will be a hit. Since the talented playwright broke away a few years back to making films, all of his films, with The Family That Preys being his sixth have done well. Focused around the themes of faith, betrayal, redemption, and family all in a religious sense, Perry has a gift of entertaining audiences by pushing the right buttons. Some of his films have been good, such as Diary of a Mad Black Woman and Madea’s Family Reunion, but mostly have been mediocre and his last film, Meet the Browns being barely plausible.

Now comes Tyler Perry’s The Family That Preys, which was once again is missing his signature Madea character, but is okay at best, mostly falling into the realm of slushy soap operaish moments, but it still should be a winner with Perry loyalists.

The film follows the friendship of Alice Pratt (Alfre Woodard) and Charlotte Cartwright (Kathy Bates), who are two Atlanta based ladies, one black, one white that have different social status. Alice is a devoted Christian that runs a small diner and helps out everyone, including the homeless. Charlotte is a cut-throat owner of successful corporate construction company that a dedicated friend to Alice, but all business when it comes to work. Alice’s unlikeable daughter Andrea (Sanaa Lathan) is all about the dollar and works for Charlotte’s company and is married and has a son with the hard-working entrepreneur Chris (Rockmond Dunbar). Andrea’s attitude does not sit well with Alice’s other daughter, Pam (Taraji P. Henson), who constantly calls her sister ungrateful. Pam is married to Chris’ co-worker and shy best friend Ben (Tyler Perry). It is also evident that Andrea’s job is her priority, in which she works closely with Charlotte’s vigorous son William (Cole Hauser), who just lost out on a company promotion to Abby (Robin Givens). In questioning his mother of her decision, she stated that she knows he is smart, but does not trust him. All of these characters then intersect with one another and the film turns into a tale of friendship, heartbreak, and growth told in typical Tyler Perry fashion.

As with most of his films and plays, The Family That Preys takes place in and around Atlanta, but when Charlotte and Alice go on a spastic road trip, Perry also focuses on different landscapes, including Perry’s birthplace New Orleans. As a director, Perry is still in the mode of learning the tricks of the camera, with all of his shots being standard and safe. With his type of stories, it is not relevant that he does anything flashy with the camera selection, but if he does want more energy, he needs to get out of his comfort zone. The writing has snappy dialogue and layered with religious undertones, but The Family That Preys is a story of friendship. The first two thirds of the film moves along at a simple pace, but there is nothing surprising that happens in the final act that you can not see coming from a mile away. The film falters into the land of predictable soap opera melodrama, which fans of Perry love, but it really sinks the film.

Kathy Bates plays the successful Southern Charlotte with fire and force that we have seen from her time and time again. Alfre Woodard delivers a solid performance as always and the scenes with her and Bates are some of the film’s best. Sanaa Lathan plays a good materialistic and selfish character and Taraji P. Henson continues to show her talented acting skills as Lathan’s sister Pam. Perry also stars in the film as the likeable Ben and Cole Hauser does his usual demeanor as the greedy power hungry son William.

Tyler Perry’s The Family That Preys plays out like a weepy drama that one would see on cable and as a Tyler Perry film it is not his best, but also not his worst effort. However, his fans will cherish this one as they have all of his others, and the return of Madea is on the horizon as Perry’s next film is Madea Goes to Jail, which opens next spring.