> > The Family That Preys
The Family That Preys Poster

The Family That Preys

PG-13
Genre: Drama, Kids/Family, Comedy
In Theaters:
3.0
In a prologue, socialite Charlotte Cartwright (Kathy Bates) hosts the wedding of her best friend Alice Evan (Alfre Woodard)'s daughter Andrea (Sanaa Lathan), who is marrying ambitious construction worker Chris Bennett (Rockmond Dunbar). The couple is congratulated by Charlotte's son William and his wife Jillian, who deprived Charlotte of planning an elaborate reception for them by eloping. William suggests the newlyweds contact him for employment with the Cartwright family's highly successful Atlanta construction company after they return from their honeymoon.Four years later, Andrea is an accountant and Chris is working on the site of a new high-rise with his friend and brother-in-law Ben (Tyler Perry), who is married to Andrea's sister Pam (Taraji P. Henson). Pam looks after her three-year-old nephew for extra income while working at her mother's diner. It troubles her that Andrea doesn't do more to help their mother financially when her designer clothes and new Mercedes make it clear she is prospering. What Pam doesn't realize is her sister is involved in an extramarital affair with William and enjoying all the perks that come with the relationship.Chris has dreams of opening his own construction firm with Ben, but Andrea - who clearly now thinks she's much better than her husband - ridicules him and his aspirations. He and Ben apply for a loan at the bank and are declined, but he accidentally discovers his wife has nearly $300,000 on deposit in a secret account. When Andrea returns home late one night to find Chris sorting through financial records she had hidden, she claims the money is an accumulation of bonuses she received from William and insists she has the right to keep some things private from her spouse. Telling him he never will be as charming and successful as William, she refuses to finance his dream.William is determined to wrest control of the company from Charlotte, and is certain the $500 million deal he recently has closed will prove he's capable of running the firm. Instead, his mother hires Abby Dexter (Robin Givens) as COO. She determines the company will have to front $25 million to make William's new deal viable, and the only way to raise the money is for Charlotte to sell 10% of her shares, thus leaving her with a minority vote. William reminds Abby his vote combined with his mother's will give the Cartwrights continued control, and she advises Charlotte to sell her shares.Charlotte suggests she and Alice take a road trip in the vintage turquoise Cadillac convertible she has purchased. Alice initially declines but eventually agrees, and the two women head west, following neither a set route nor timetable. Rambunctiously adventurous Charlotte introduces Alice to honky tonks and strip clubs with male dancers, while religiously strait-laced Alice reciprocates by bringing Charlotte to a communal baptism so her soul can be saved. Late one night, when Charlotte becomes unduly stressed while trying to deal with her digital camera, she reveals she has been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease and has been told there is nothing that can be done to slow the process of her mental decline.Meanwhile, both Jillian and Abby becomes aware of Andrea and William's affair. William fires both Chris and Ben after Chris approaches him requesting seed money to start their own business, and Abby fires Andrea, who then is told by Jillian to stay away from her husband.Charlotte and Alice return to Atlanta, where William is plotting a takeover of the family firm. Although she and her mother-in-law never have been close, Jillian warns Charlotte about her son's plan. She calls a board meeting and ousts him from the company, telling him she has the support of the Calvary Company, until now a silent investor that turns out to be Alice, who for years has been given financial guidance by Nick Blanchett (Sebastian Siegel), a homeless man she frequently fed at the diner. Nick once worked for William and was fired by him without cause, so he finds some satisfaction in William's downfall.In the parking lot, William is approached by Andrea who, unaware of the recent turn of events, expects him to back her in her battle with Abby and leave Jillian to marry her. Instead, he tells her their affair is over and drives away, despite her claim her son is his.Charlotte decides to take matters in her own hands and commits suicide by ingesting a lethal combination of medications. Chris leaves Andrea and Andrea moves into a small apartment with their son, whose paternity is left unresolved. However, Chris is now successful and wealthier while Andrea is poor. Chris and Ben open their own firm, and Alice decides to sell the diner. Getting into the car Charlotte left her, she resolves to stop procrastinating and enjoy life while she can and, with a photo of the two friends taped to the dashboard, she heads north.

Director:

No Director information.
Screenplay: Tyler Perry
Studio: Others
DVD Release: 2009-01-13 00:00:00.0
Tagline: Follow your heart. But watch your back.
Synopsis
In a prologue, socialite Charlotte Cartwright (Kathy Bates) hosts the wedding of her best friend Alice Evan (Alfre Woodard)'s daughter Andrea (Sanaa Lathan), who is marrying ambitious construction worker Chris Bennett (Rockmond Dunbar). The couple is congratulated by Charlotte's son William and his wife Jillian, who deprived Charlotte of planning an elaborate reception for them by eloping. William suggests the newlyweds contact him for employment with the Cartwright family's highly successful Atlanta construction company after they return from their honeymoon.Four years later, Andrea is an accountant and Chris is working on the site of a new high-rise with his friend and brother-in-law Ben (Tyler Perry), who is married to Andrea's sister Pam (Taraji P. Henson). Pam looks after her three-year-old nephew for extra income while working at her mother's diner. It troubles her that Andrea doesn't do more to help their mother financially when her designer clothes and new Mercedes make it clear she is prospering. What Pam doesn't realize is her sister is involved in an extramarital affair with William and enjoying all the perks that come with the relationship.Chris has dreams of opening his own construction firm with Ben, but Andrea - who clearly now thinks she's much better than her husband - ridicules him and his aspirations. He and Ben apply for a loan at the bank and are declined, but he accidentally discovers his wife has nearly $300,000 on deposit in a secret account. When Andrea returns home late one night to find Chris sorting through financial records she had hidden, she claims the money is an accumulation of bonuses she received from William and insists she has the right to keep some things private from her spouse. Telling him he never will be as charming and successful as William, she refuses to finance his dream.William is determined to wrest control of the company from Charlotte, and is certain the $500 million deal he recently has closed will prove he's capable of running the firm. Instead, his mother hires Abby Dexter (Robin Givens) as COO. She determines the company will have to front $25 million to make William's new deal viable, and the only way to raise the money is for Charlotte to sell 10% of her shares, thus leaving her with a minority vote. William reminds Abby his vote combined with his mother's will give the Cartwrights continued control, and she advises Charlotte to sell her shares.Charlotte suggests she and Alice take a road trip in the vintage turquoise Cadillac convertible she has purchased. Alice initially declines but eventually agrees, and the two women head west, following neither a set route nor timetable. Rambunctiously adventurous Charlotte introduces Alice to honky tonks and strip clubs with male dancers, while religiously strait-laced Alice reciprocates by bringing Charlotte to a communal baptism so her soul can be saved. Late one night, when Charlotte becomes unduly stressed while trying to deal with her digital camera, she reveals she has been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease and has been told there is nothing that can be done to slow the process of her mental decline.Meanwhile, both Jillian and Abby becomes aware of Andrea and William's affair. William fires both Chris and Ben after Chris approaches him requesting seed money to start their own business, and Abby fires Andrea, who then is told by Jillian to stay away from her husband.Charlotte and Alice return to Atlanta, where William is plotting a takeover of the family firm. Although she and her mother-in-law never have been close, Jillian warns Charlotte about her son's plan. She calls a board meeting and ousts him from the company, telling him she has the support of the Calvary Company, until now a silent investor that turns out to be Alice, who for years has been given financial guidance by Nick Blanchett (Sebastian Siegel), a homeless man she frequently fed at the diner. Nick once worked for William and was fired by him without cause, so he finds some satisfaction in William's downfall.In the parking lot, William is approached by Andrea who, unaware of the recent turn of events, expects him to back her in her battle with Abby and leave Jillian to marry her. Instead, he tells her their affair is over and drives away, despite her claim her son is his.Charlotte decides to take matters in her own hands and commits suicide by ingesting a lethal combination of medications. Chris leaves Andrea and Andrea moves into a small apartment with their son, whose paternity is left unresolved. However, Chris is now successful and wealthier while Andrea is poor. Chris and Ben open their own firm, and Alice decides to sell the diner. Getting into the car Charlotte left her, she resolves to stop procrastinating and enjoy life while she can and, with a photo of the two friends taped to the dashboard, she heads north.
editor-ajax-loader
a4
a4
Reply Report Delete Edit
Choose Your Language
Interface Language
This changes the interface language of the site. It won't change the language of the site content.
Content Language
This changes the content language of the site. It won't change your interface language.
editor-ajax-loader