A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
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Positive Messages
some
The film's messages are clear: Stay loyal to your friends, don't disrespect your family, don't cheat because it always ends badly, and don't give up your dreams. An interracial relationship is depicted negatively, but that's because it's extramarital.
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Violence & Scariness
some
A husband strikes his wife in the face after she insults him and admits to having an affair; he later grabs the other man and holds his body over a ledge. A character purposely overdoses (off screen) on prescription medication.
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Sex, Romance & Nudity
a little
Couples embrace and kiss, including a man and a woman who are having an affair. The affair is discussed by various characters.
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Language
a little
Fairly mild; language includes "bastard," "piss," and "colored woman" (said jokingly by an African-American woman).
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Products & Purchases
some
Featured brands include Mercedes, Porsche, co*ke, and Dasani water. The song "I Hope You Dance" is prominently mentioned in the film, instead of just being on the soundtrack. Oprah Winfrey's roadtrip with her friend Gayle is Charlotte and Alice's inspiration.
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Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
some
Characters say "I need a drink" or "get me to a bar" a few times; wedding guests drink co*cktails; Charlotte gets drunk doing tequila shots and orders mixed drinks on the road trip.
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that, like most Tyler Perry movies, The Family That Preys is a dramedy that focuses on mature themes surrounding race, class, marriage, and family. It's considerably less joke-filled than his previous work, and there's very little strong language ("bastard" is the harshest word, and it's only said once). There are two violent scenes, but only one is notably disturbing -- a husband strikes his wife. There are several allusions to an extramarital affair, but only one scene in which the couple embraces/kisses. Otherwise, the sexuality is limited to a few kisses between married couples. Most of the commercialism involves the fancy cars that some of the characters drive. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
What's the Story?
Tyler Perry once again tackles issues of race, class, faith, and marriage in his dramedy THE FAMILY THAT PREYS. At the film's core is the lifelong friendship between wealthy businesswoman Charlotte Cartwright (Kathy Bates) and working-class diner owner Alice (Alfre Woodard). The story begins at Alice's youngest daughter Andrea's (Sanaa Lathan) elegant wedding, which Charlotte generously hosts. Charlotte's son William (Cole Hauser) offers the bride and groom jobs at his family's lucrative real-estate development firm; after that, the action fast forwards four years. Charlotte and Alice go on cross-country road trip (a la Oprah Winfrey and her best friend Gayle), while at home, a long-term affair between Andrea and William threatens to devastate both families.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about The Family That Preys' messages. What points does Perry emphasize in his movies?
Class doesn't seem to be an issue between wealthy Charlotte and working-class Alice, but in what other relationships are money and entitlement a problem?
Nick tells Pam that Alice is a saint. How is she depicted as the movie's most virtuous character? How is her daughter Andrea portrayed?
Perry's movies have been compared to morality plays. Do the overt messages to be honest, hardworking, faithful, etc. take away from or add to the film's entertainment value?
Movie Details
- In theaters: September 12, 2008
- On DVD or streaming: January 12, 2009
- Cast: Alfre Woodard, Kathy Bates, Sanaa Lathan
- Director: Tyler Perry
- Inclusion Information: Black directors, Female actors, Black actors
- Studio: Lionsgate
- Genre: Drama
- Run time: 111 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: thematic material, sexual references and brief violence.
- Last updated: February 13, 2024
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