TYLER PERRY`s THE FAMILY THAT PREYS

TYLER PERRY’s THE FAMILY THAT PREYS
A Study Guide by Craig Detweiler
An accomplished ensemble cast enlivens Tyler Perry’s
most moving film so far. The Family That Preys is
funny, heartwarming, and challenging. It is a cautionary tale about our practical, daily decisions. The Family that Preys draws upon the timeless truths found in
the Proverbs. This movie guide is designed for small
groups, churches, filmgoers who want to discover the
biblical themes emerging from Tyler Perry’s entertaining film.
The Family that Preys stars Alfre Woodard as Alice, a
saintly restaurant owner and Kathy Bates as Charlotte,
the matriarch of the powerful Cartwright construction
company. Their enduring friendship serves as the
clue holding two families together. They both preside over children riddled with deceit and foolishness.
Alice’s daughter, Andrea (Sanaa Lathan) is willing
to do almost anything to get ahead. Charlotte’s son,
William (Cole Hauser) schemes for ways to wrestle
control of the business from his mother. Caught in
the middle are Andrea’s dedicated husband, Chris
(Rockmond Dunbar) and William’s wife, Jillian (KaDee Strickland). One happily married couple, Pam
(Tariji P. Henson) and Ben (Tyler Perry) bring both
comic relief and common sense to the story.
Tyler Perry’s The Family that Preys illustrates the
importance of wisdom and the consequences of
reaping what we sow. It is a visual representation
of what happens when we lie, cheat, and steal.
Any family that preys upon the weak pays a steep
price for their indiscretions. Yet, those who walk
humbly, give generously, and steward their resources
wisely reap tremendous blessings. Tyler Perry handles this morality tale with warmth, humor and camaraderie. It is his finest, most inspiring film yet.
am i doing the right thing?
The Family that Preys opens with a wedding. Charlotte Cartwright has generously offered to host the
marriage of Andrea and Chris. Yet, Andrea seems
oddly ungrateful about the occasion. She argues with
her mother, Alice and sister, Pam. Meanwhile, Chris
asks his best man, Ben, “Am I doing the right thing?”
This key question at a wedding applies to every single
day. We are faced with ethical dilemmas on the job,
at school, within our families. The right thing may
prove costly. We may not get ahead if we tell the
truth. There could be consequences to reporting deceit
or indiscretions in the office. While the high road
may involve a tougher journey, it remains the right
path.
Bible verse: Proverbs 11:3 says, “The integrity of the
upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed
by their duplicity.” The Contemporary English Version of the Bible makes it even plainer, “If you do the
right thing, honesty will be your guide. But if you are
crooked, you will be trapped by your own dishonesty.”
Question: When have you been confronted by tough
choices? What does it mean to do the right thing in
your home and workplace?
entertaining angles
At Alice Pratt’s Wing and a Prayer Diner, the homeless
are always welcome. Nick wanders into the diner on
a regular basis, needing a shower and a fresh start. Alice extends kindness to people sleeping on the streets
with such regularity that she maintains a locker with
towels and clean clothes in the back of the diner.
Alice’s daughter Pam recognizes that such generosity is the mark of a saint. What motivates Alice to
care for the hungry and hurting? She quotes Hebrews
13:2: “Be not forgetful of strangers, for thereby some
have entertained angels unawares.” Her “Wing and a
Prayer Diner” is always open, ready to extend hospitality toward strangers.
Bible verse: Proverbs 29:7 measures our faith in
relationship to the poor. It says, “The righteous care
about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such
concern.”
Questions: What strangers have knocked on your
door? How can you be prepared to entertain such
potential angels?
does God forgive us for all our
previous sins?
Bible verse: Psalm 103: 11-12 puts the wonder of
God’s forgiveness in perspective. It says, “For as high
as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love
for those who fear him. As far as the east is from the
west, so far has he removed our transgressions from
us.”
Questions: What kinds of regrets have you
been carrying around and trying to pay for?
What areas of your life do you need to
invite God to forgive?
Charlotte Cartwright is a wealthy, but haunted woman.
She buys a classic baby blue Cadillac convertible to
match her outfit! Charlotte invites Alice to join her on
a road trip. But what is she running from?
the problem of a little
more
Charlotte sits in the back during Alice’s church choir
practice. The joyous gospel songs burrow into Charlotte’s troubled soul. She asks Alice, “Does God forgive us for all our previous sins?” She understands the
cost involved in unwise choices. Her memories haunt
her. As a wealthy businesswoman, she recalls, “I’ve
been paying for things my entire life….”
The construction business has been good to the Cartwright family. But Charlotte admits, “My family has
been known to prey upon the weak.” Now, as she
grows older, her son plots ways to remove her from
the company. Charlotte has suspicions about her son,
William. She says, “Your private thoughts give
me pause.” She hires Abigail Dexter (Robin Givens)
to serve as her eyes and ears in the company.
this is how it is done
While the Cartwright’s business involves millions
of dollars, Chris hopes to start his own construction
company. Just a $300,000 loan will get Ben and Chris
started. But at what personal cost? Ben tells his wife,
Pam, that he is content with what they already have.
When she talks about needing just a little more, Ben
shakes his head, “A little more is the problem we all
have.”
Andrea makes some costly choices to commit adultery. She may justify it as a temporary lapse in judgment or a necessary step in climbing the corporate
ladder. But when confronted by her errors, she tells
her mother and sister, “This is not the sixties. This is
how its done now.” She suggests that moral standards
are simply old-fashioned.
Bible verse: In Philippians 4:12, the Apostle Paul
says, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what
it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being
content in any and every situation, whether well fed or
hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”
Questions: What compromises have you made to get
ahead? Have you learned the secret of being content
in your circumstances? In what area of your life, do
you need contentment?
But her mother, Alice, suggests that certain truths endure across time. She tells Andrea, “You can’t make
yourself happy bringing misery to other people. It’s
only gonna lead to disaster.” The wages of Andrea’s
sin will unravel the life she’s stitched together.
Bible verse: Proverbs 11:21-22 promises, “Be sure
of this: the wicked will not go unpunished, but those
who are righteous will go free.” Despite Andrea’s
outward beauty, her choices have sullied her life.
“Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout, is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.”
Questions: Where or when have you been tempted to
compromise because “This is how it is done now?”
How can you guard your heart against foolishness or
temptation?
Conclusion: The Family that Preys demonstrates that
foolish choices can have devastating consequences.
We are reminded to pursue wisdom, to put our faith
into practice. For those who are tempted, the biblical
promises endure. As the Apostle Paul reminds us in I
Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he
wil not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.
But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way
out so that you can stand up under it.” So stand firm
in the faith. And as the rousing closing song of The
Family that Preys suggests, “When you get the choice
to sit it out or dance, I hope you’ll dance.”
Craig Detweiler, PhD, is the director of the Reel
Spirituality Institute at Fuller Theological Seminary
in Pasadena, California (www.reelspirituality.org).
Craig’s acclaimed new book, Into the Dark, finds the
sacred amidst the top rated recent films on the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com). His comedic
documentary, Purple State of Mind was named Best
Spiritual Film at the 2008 Breckenridge Film Festival (www.purplestateofmind.com). He blogs as “Dr.
Film” at www.conversantlife.com.