The Family That Preys

Synopsis

Starring Academy Award winner Kathy Bates, Academy Award nominee Alfre Woodard, Sanaa Lathan, Cole Hauser, Robin Givens, Taraji P. Henson and Kadee Strickland, The Family That Preys is written and directed by Tyler Perry, who also co-produced and co-stars. The movie focuses on two very different families—one very upper class and the other working class—that become intimately linked by love, business, and scandal. This is Tyler Perry’s sixth feature film.

Review

Simply delicious, Tyler Perry’s The Family That Preys is. His fans and many former non-fans will love it. I loved it. There are no over the top colorful characters like The Browns. This is something new and fresh. This is drama sprinkled with some comedy. The film and the cast deserve a serious hand-clap.

Betrayal, affairs, money, entertaining angels, shady business deals, and violence—all of these things are found into this appealing movie. Oh, I can’t forget there’s even some country line dancing (I thought Kenny Chesney was about to make a cameo). Preys reminds me of the old prime-time shows Dynasty or Falcon Crest. You know how those shows have serious DRAMA in them? So does Preys. Some critics bash Tyler for the dramatics in his films, but I’m one critic who loves his more dramatic stories (not really some others) and the fact remains there is a certain audience for certain films. Some people get it and some just don't—but I don’t think polarizing Tyler’s films along race is fair.

I’ve seen many other non-Tyler movies that had a lot more drama kings/queens/scenes in them, and the bashing wasn’t so intense, personal and divisive. Tyler needs to unleash his Message Board Army on these cats. His dramas do a great job of building up villains, heroes and victims to the point you hate em, love em and feel sorry for them. The film delivers great climatic scenes, especially when big secrets are revealed. Preys has an interesting story with a couple surprises thrown in the mix.

The film is about hardworking Alice Pratt, (Alfre Woodard, American Violet) who loves her job, family, friends and the Lord. She and her dear friend, construction company-owning and high society floating Charlotte Cartwright (Kathy Bates, P.S. I love You) take a cross-country trip like “Oprah and Gayle” as Charlotte would say. Meanwhile, back home the adult children and in-laws swirl up all KINDS of trouble. The movie shares these two storylines almost equally, and it works. Oh, and speaking of home, why did Charlotte’s house look like ‘Massas’ house on the plantation? Mmmm.

Anyhoo, Alice’s daughter Andrea (Sanaa Lathan , A Raisin in the Sun) is a selfish uppity witch…oh excuse me…I better use the word saditty after all the press around the word “uppity” has received during the Presidential Election. She surely forgets where she comes from and gets caught up with her Financier job at the Cartwright’s powerful construction company, turning her nose down at everyone.

But that’s small sweet potatoes. As the movie trailer shows, Andrea is also rockin-knockin the boots with her married boss (and son of Charlotte) William Cartwright (Cole Hauser, Paparazzi). SCANDALOUS! Andrea’s loving and devoted husband Chris (Rockmand Dunbar, Prison Break) is either just plain ol’ dumb or so in love he can’t see she’s playing him for Boo Boo the Fool. Where most people would be two steps behind this type of situation, Chris seems to be walking in the other direction. But when home dude finds out…gurrrrrrrrl....things speed up REAL quick.

The chemistry between Alfre and Kathy in this film is very natural. I love their friendship. It is real and beautiful. They play two very tough women. Tyler Perry is very good at creating leading characters with depth – especially mean ones that make you want to jump on screen and yank them around. It was so funny; my sister said that she hoped a lot of people wouldn’t be talking. I said…”Gurrrrrl, do you know whose film this is? It’s Tyler Perry’s. Come on now…you know the audience is going to talk back to the screen.” For me, these are the only movies I don’t mind it because I might do it too. Except one old heffa behind me was giggling, talking and calling out to her friends two rows in front of us for no reason for the first ten minutes.

Oh, and I saw this man holding up his cell phone and I could see the movie on it. I was about to climb over 5 or 6 people, jump down three rows of stairs and snatch it from home dude's hand and say,

"Lookie here man, don't be trying to videotape Tyler's movie. He deserves better than someone trying to bootleg his material. Especially on that cheap a** Nokia!"

I'm sure glad that I noticed he was just trying to take some still shots of the film. I can't believe how quick I puffed up my chest and became protective of Tyler's work. Well, he’s one of the few brothas at the top of his game in the industry, and his audience should be the last to be tearing him down.

When I sent out information on this movie, a few people thought that I spelled the word ‘prey’ wrong. They thought it should have been “pray.” I had to explain if they watch the trailer, Kathy Bate’s character states, “My family has been known to prey on the weak.” So, needless to say there was a little confusion.

Let me go over my checklist for a great drama:

• Did I tear up? Yes.
• Did I get upset? Yes.
• Did I say things out loud like, “ohhhhhhh no she didn’t do that?!” Yes.
• Did I clap? Yes.
• Will I buy the DVD when it comes out? You bet.

With so many Yesses, it’s easy to see that Preys has done its job at captivating me, and is worthy of many reels.

My Rating ~ 4 Reels

Audience Rating (What's Yours?)