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 caution-ary tale about our practical, daily decisions. The Fam-ily 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 entertain-ing 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 pre-side 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 (Ka-Dee 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 han-dles this morality tale with warmth, humor and cama-raderie. It is his finest, most inspiring film yet.

Question: When have you been confronted by tough choices? What does it mean to do the right thing in your home and workplace?

am i doing the right thing?The Family that Preys opens with a wedding. Char-lotte 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 Ver-sion 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.”

entertaining anglesAt 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. Al-ice 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 generos-ity 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 hospi-tality toward strangers.

Bible verse: Proverbs 29:7 measures our faith in relationship to the poor. It says, “The righteous care

does God forgive us for all our previous sins?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?

Charlotte sits in the back during Alice’s church choir practice. The joyous gospel songs burrow into Char-lotte’s troubled soul. She asks Alice, “Does God for-give 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….”

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?

the problem of a little moreThe construction business has been good to the Cart-wright 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)

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?

this is how it is doneAndrea makes some costly choices to commit adul-tery. She may justify it as a temporary lapse in judg-ment 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.

But her mother, Alice, suggests that certain truths en-dure 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 wom-an who shows no discretion.”

to serve as her eyes and ears in the company.

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.”

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?

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 ex-cept 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 Inter-net Movie Database (www.imdb.com). His comedic documentary, Purple State of Mind was named Best Spiritual Film at the 2008 Breckenridge Film Festi-val (www.purplestateofmind.com). He blogs as “Dr. Film” at www.conversantlife.com.