The Family that Preys is only slightly better than the wordplay.
Confession: I have only seen two Tyler Perry movies. The first was Meet the Browns a few weeks ago. The second was The Family That Preys. Meet the Browns was a kind-hearted, well-meaning movie, though chock full of convention and barely drawn characters. The Family that Preys ups the ante with corporate backdrops, interracial relationships and plot twists that eventually unspool into Tyler’s (apparently) comfortable and familiar moral fabric.
I don’t know what Mr. Perry’s aspirations are — Pure entertainment? Inspiration? Art? Awards season recognition? He succeeds with the first, mostly achieves the second, but I wouldn’t hold my breath for the last two. And, that’s ‘ok’. Everyone’s not always shooting for Oscar.
Pure Entertainment: There are raucous moments of comedy in this film. Brisk one-liners, eye rolls, strippers doused with holy water; I mean good ‘ole aunt Irma, family ups and downs stuff. Perry also does a fine job of weaving in high-stakes corporate dreams and greed. And the two veterans, Alfre Woodard and Kathy Bates, bring pure magic when on screen together. They deserve a buddy movie of their own.
Inspiration: The encouragement and comeuppance flow like traffic on a Sunday morning. If you do good, you will get good. If you are bad, well, you reap what you sow, right? Pursue your dreams, honor your commitments, family first! A good marriage is contrasted with a bad one. A christian friend contrasted with one seemingly more concerned about money. Good sister vs. bad sister. Getting to the top with your brains instead of your body … it’s all here, mind you, with little subtlety or nuance. It’s not all pretty, though. There is a brief scene of domestic discord in this movie so cynical and dated that I nearly wanted to leave. Except I wouldn’t have been able to because of the scores of people in the audience on their feet, applauding or flailing their arms in righteousness and joy. The message: you can do something to deserve being hit by the one you love. To me, that’s dangerous.
Art: Here is where Mr. Perry has some room to grow. What the film lacks is a polished script and characters with dimension. Sanaa Lathan was almost unbearable for me in this movie. Her one-note character is the center of much of the movies’ mischief, which is probably why the film doesn’t exactly take off. Her deception, dismissiveness and rudeness are too blunt. And where the script fails to offer her layers, Ms. Lathan is unconvincing and unable to come out from under the shadow of the more agreeable characters she’s played in the past. And, the direction and cinematography in some points was laborious. The key to a well-directed movie is not noticing the direction. The characters are piously lit in the appropriate scenes, but religion is feigned and used a narrative agent a bit too haphazzardly.
Awards: Despite the obvious attempt at crossover appeal, don’t count on ‘em, at least not the snooty ones like the Academy Awards or Golden Globes. Perhaps a Globe nomination for Woodard or Bates because of their pedigree and longevity, the rest is too derivative.
Some time back, Kimberly asked “why do people always hate on Tyler Perry?” I hope this isn’t received that way. I mean, you can recognize talent and not always like what is produced. For instance, I don’t own or claim as a favorite a single Steven Spielberg movie, though some would proclaim him one of the greatest of our time. However, I recognize some of the genius of A.I., and the authenticity and honesty of The Color Purple. I do want to see more from Mr. Perry. A slightly more fearless treatment of the communities and families he obviously cares so much about. I want him to challenge us and some of the ideas and customs we hold on to so doggedly and sometimes unnecessarily. He is in a unique position to bring people to the movies who don’t always come (like my Dad). And, since change seems to be in the air, let’s break from the typical melodrama.
Kimberly
I think Perry’s best movie thus far is Why Did I Get Married. This movie was OK- but I do not have high expectations when going to the movies. What bothered me wasn’t even the movie but the crowd I was amongst. What is the problem with OUR people? Why can’t “we” act right when we go to the movies??? And (***spoiler alert***) WHY OH WHY did the crowd cheer for all joy when the man back slapped the woman?! I don’t care how verbally abusive she was, we should not be applauding DOMESTIC VIOLENCE!
September 16, 2008 at 9:48 pm
James
Here is where Mr. Perry has some room to grow. What the film lacks is a polished script and characters with dimension. Sanaa Lathan was almost unbearable for me in this movie. Her one-note character is the center of much of the movies’ mischief, which is probably why the film doesn’t exactly take off. Her deception, dismissiveness and rudeness are too blunt. And where the script fails to offer her layers, Ms. Lathan is unconvincing and unable to come out from under the shadow of the more agreeable characters she’s played in the past.
September 18, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Jonzee
I absolutely agree with you about Mr. Perry's craft. I have not seen “The Family that Preys”, but I must say much of what you have said is much of what I would say of the three movies I have seen. The one that, to me, showed the most promise, was “Why did I get Married?”. I keep wondering if Mr. Perry is trying to ready his core audience for better crafted, more nuanced (both cinematography wise, and character development wise), much more complicated narratives? I also, in the back of my head, hope that he is getting ready to pull a “gotcha” moment on Hollywood expectations and do something fabulous. I personally am longing for more interesting movies like “Love Jones”–but I digress.
September 18, 2008 at 1:26 pm
modusoperandi
I'm not moved to see this movie for the same reason that I don't see Eddy Murphy movies… Tyler Perry's characters are one dimensional caricatures, stereotypes and to me, not very likable.
I like more dept and nuance. A movie that takes me to unexpected places. One that makes me ponder new ideas, gives me greater insight and challenges societal or communal mores.
It's reprehensible that this movie would present violence against a woman as cool under ANY circumstance. The hypocrisy of that is just breathtaking, when you consider that Tyler Perry's modus operandi is so “churchy” and “preachy.”
September 23, 2008 at 10:31 am
Thoney Gangstasweet
i agree with Kim 200%! i was so disturbed when they cheered i had a true boondocks worthy nigga moment and said “erbody shut the fugg up so we can suffer through the rest of the SORRY excuse of a film” yes i sure did say that. i bout wanted to walk out but after paying $300 just to enter the theater i wanted my whole money's worth.
iG$ ur da bomb boy! i hate tyler perry movies and only go see them to help “support” a brotha. as embarassng as this may seem i've even bought tickets before and forgotten to see the film, as they have that little impact on me.
December 17, 2008 at 11:15 am
Thoney Gangstasweet
yes! love jones was wonderful! why aren't we producing more movies like that!? i blame bob johnson he's the devil of black media if ever there was one! when he opened the film studio, i almost cried. and then he got blinded by tracy edmunds' racially ambigous big boobs and allowed her to produce some bs. Who's Ur Caddy?!!? are you serious!? i mean she's responsible for hell date. she shouldn't be allowed anywhere NEAR that film studio…i digress… we are a talented people that should be producing more love jones, or miracle at st. ana's or hell the notebook starring black characters. i'm also tired of these random rappers or pop stars stinking up the screen. would somebody PLEASE keep bad acting beyonce away from the movie set! i prefer my b's bagel buns shakin it to the beat, thank you very much! ;P
December 17, 2008 at 11:27 am
Toussaint
Tyler Perry never fails to present black people as walking stereotypes. As much as I loathe his work for its lack of substance, poor story lines, negitive images and cliche' stereotypes, a part of me is also upset with the way out culture or at least a part of our culture celebrates the work. Is this the image of us that we really want people to see. Just because it makes money doesnt make it right or good. (Slavery and Crack also made lots of money) WAKE UP ………..To be great we must think Great.
December 21, 2008 at 1:34 pm