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Family That Preys, The
Lionsgate


8.8

based on 14 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 37 votes
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Rate this movie

FILM:

MPAA RATING: PG-13 for thematic material, sexual references and brief violence

Starring Kathy Bates, Alfre Woodard, Tyler Perry, Cole Hauser, Sanaa Lathan, Rockmond Dunbar, Taraji P. Henson, and Kadee Strickland

Wealthy socialite Charlotte Cartwright and her dear friend Alice Pratt, a working class woman of high ideals, have enjoyed a lasting friendship throughout many years. Suddenly, their lives become mired in turmoil as their adult children’s extramarital affairs, unethical business practices and a dark paternity secret threaten to derail family fortunes and unravel the lives of all involved. Alice’s self-centered newlywed daughter Andrea is betraying her trusting husband Chris by engaging in a torrid affair with her boss and mother’s best friend’s son William. While cheating on his wife Jillian with a string of ongoing dalliances with his mistress Andrea, William’s true focus is to replace the COO of his mother’s lucrative construction corporation. Meanwhile, Alice’s other daughter Pam, a kind but no nonsense woman married to a hard working construction worker, tries to steer the family in a more positive direction. (Lionsgate)

GENRE(S):	Comedy
WRITTEN BY:	Tyler Perry
DIRECTED BY:	Tyler Perry
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: January 13, 2009 Theatrical: September 12, 2008
RUNNING TIME:	111 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	USA

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

TV Guide Ken Fox

Thanks to some first-rate acting from its stars, it ranks among Perry's best.

Philadelphia Inquirer Carrie Rickey

Was it just three years ago that Perry made his feature debut with "Diary of a Mad Black Woman?" Then his filmmaking was strictly amateur; now his sweeping pans and portentous closeups approach those of Pedro Almódovar.

The Hollywood Reporter Stephen Farber

Woodard conveys the rock-solid values of a true Christian without ever falling into sappiness. Bates is enjoyably larger-than-life, as the role requires.

Variety Peter Debruge

Bates and Woodard strike up a real dynamic, and picture gives the duo room to improvise, leading to one raucous scene after another as they Thelma-and-Louise it in a top-down convertible.

Los Angeles Times Bob Baker

Dude, what made you refuse to screen your film for critics before it opened Friday? I'm betting you would have received an earful of praise for your writing and directing.

New York Daily News Staff (Not credited)

Perry's notoriously overstuffed plots have sometimes been top-heavy, but this movie, like Woody Allen's "Hannah and Her Sisters," hangs on an elegant structure that doesn't feel forced.

Entertainment Weekly Gregory Kirschling

All over the place:It's a boardroom/family/couples/road-trip story.

The Onion (A.V. Club) Sam Adams

Perry deserves due respect for exploiting an untapped niche.

USA Today Claudia Puig

Though better than most of Perry's broad comedies, The Family That Preys still suffers from excessive predictability and mawkish sentiment, which detracts from the story's believability.

LA Weekly Chuck Wilson

What's memorable here is the sparkling chemistry between Bates and Woodard, whose scenes together are a pleasure to watch, even as one thinks that their next outing should be to co-teach a master class entitled, "How To Rise Above Cliché."

Austin Chronicle Steve Davis

Contradictions abound in this messy and unfocused drama that purports to believe that family is everything, when all else fails.

Chicago Reader Reece Pendleton

The usual mawkishness is made slightly more palatable by the two leads and by Perry himself.

Boston Globe Ty Burr

Family, sadly, is a plate of leftovers: a bland, baldly written melodrama about two longtime best friends and their messed-up families.

The New York Times Stephen Holden

The suds that cascade through Tyler Perry’s The Family That Preys more than equal the cubic footage from nighttime soaps like "Dallas," "Dynasty" and their offspring.

The average user rating for this movie is 8.8 (out of 10) based on 37 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Jay H. gave it a3:
Yet more Tyler Perry far fetched melodramatics, nice acting but the screenplay is completely unconvincing. Poor direction, fair score. Unmemorable and pointless.

Charles W. gave it a1:
I was between watching the family that preys or high school musical 3 but i decided to watch the family that preys with my homies intead of HSM 3 with my girl and i really got bored in this movie so without the movie staff noticing i changed to the HSM 3 screen and enjoyed a great movie. Dont watch this movie. It is not worth it if you dont like senseless movies.

Judy K. gave it a10:
Wonderful the acting,,,,edting...the music thank you Tyler Perry for a movie I could watch and feel good about as a Christian, Next time Tyler get a better wig.

Turner gave it a10:
I thought this movie was Fantastic! It was different from Perry's norm and it was great! It had the realism of everyday life that no one wants to talk about. Excellent Job!

Jennifer N. gave it a10:
His movies are getting better. I was impressed with this movie.

Mocha W. gave it a9:
A great movie as usual. Keep it coming.

Cathy R. gave it a10:
I enjoyed the movie. This is Tyler's production best movie. I'm going back to see it again!!!

Family That Preys, The Lionsgate

Family That Preys, The
Lionsgate