Even if you are not a fan of Tyler Perry or you do not prefer his style of directing, you should still go check out his latest project, A Family That Preys. Even if you are sick and tired of his films always being about the same subject matter like family issues and infidelity, you should still go see this movie. Even if you are tired of Tyler Perry putting himself in all of his movies, you should just stop hating and go see the movie.
Academy Award-winner Kathy Bates and Academy Award-nominee Alfre Woodard star as two mothers of very different families that are falling apart because of greed and infidelity. The movie shows the scandal that is going on within the two families and ultimately links them together. While these issues threaten to derail both families, Charlotte and Alice decide to take a breather from it all by making a cross-country road trip in which they rediscover themselves and possibly find a way to save their families from ruin.
Wealthy socialite Charlotte Cartwright (Bates) and her dear friend Alice Pratt (Woodard), a working class woman of high religious ideals, have enjoyed a lasting friendship throughout many years. Their lives suddenly become caught up in drama as their adult children’s extramarital affairs, unethical business practices and a dark paternity secrets threaten to ruin family fortunes and unravel the everyone’s lives. Alice’s self-centered newlywed daughter Andrea (Sanaa Lathan) is betraying her trusting husband Chris (Rockmond Dunbar) by engaging in an affair with her boss and Charlotte’s son William (Cole Hauser). While cheating on his wife Jillian (Kadee Strickland), William’s true focus is to replace the new COO of his mother’s lucrative construction corporation Abby (played by Robin Givens), who was chosen by his mother over him.
Taraji P. Henson plays Alice’s other daughter Pam, who is a kind but no nonsense woman married to a hard working construction worker Ben (Tyler Perry). She tries to steer the family in a more positive direction while still fueling the rivalry between her and her sister, which stems from Andrea’s reluctant attitude about supporting their mother. The affair comes to light when Chris uncovers a secret account with money that is deposited by William. Chris and Ben had been trying to come up with the money to start their own construction business and Chris set up a meeting with William about lending him money. He said that he would get back to him through his wife, but ends up firing him at Andrea’s suggestion.
An interesting twist is that the roles played by Lathan and Givens seem to be complete opposite of what they are used to playing. It was almost as if they switched parts, which made the film a little more interesting. Say what you want about Tyler Perry’s movies being redundant because they always have the same content, but his movies are never boring. They always take you on different unexpected twists and turns that keep you watching. Maybe that’s why Tyler Perry has had 5 out of 6 movies open at #1 at the box office.
- laporsha lowry