Movie Reviews: The Family That Preys

Movie Reviews: The Family That Preys



All five of Tyler Perry's movies have wound up as big money-makers, but they have generally received cool-to-lukewarm reviews from critics (which is undoubtedly why his latest film, The Family That Preys received no advance press screening). The new Perry film, is an exception, however, garnering quite a number of positive reviews.Indeed, Bob Baker constructs his review of the film in today's (Monday) Los Angeles Times as a memo to Perry, writing, "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." Carrie Rickey in the Philadelphia Inquirer is one of those shouting her praise. "Defiantly old-school, undeniably entertaining, Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys is a shiny, two-timing throwback to 1950s melodramas like Giant, those wellsprings of such prime-time soaps as Dallas and Dynasty. The writer/director/actor ... whips up the suds with the best of 'em," Rickey writes. Roger Moore's review in the Orlando Sentinel includes much criticism of the plot; nevertheless, he observes that the movie marks Perry's "most cinematically polished production to date, [showing] grand advances in [his] filmmaking education." Still, there are plenty of naysayers, as well. Stephen Holden in the New York Times writes that suds "cascade" through "this crude interracial fable." And Ty Burr in the Boston Globe comments that Perry has served up "a plate of leftovers, a bland, baldly written melodrama.