Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys (2008)

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"Sometimes you gotta let them go for them to get it."

Wealthy construction company owner Charlotte Cartwright (Kathy Bates) and cafe owner Alice Pratt (Alfre Woodard) -- two strong, luminous Southern matriarchs -- have been friends for 30 years. Charlotte even paid for and hosted the wedding for Alice's daughter Andrea (Sanaa Lathan) to Christopher (Rockmond Dunbar).

When Charlotte's only child, William (Cole Hauser), attends the wedding, it's obvious that Charlotte has a lot of contempt for him and loathes his wife Jillian (KaDee Strickland). William works for the family construction business Charlotte inherited from her first husband, but Charlotte, who owns controlling interest, doesn't promote him even though he's working hard. Instead, she hires the well educated and experienced Abby (Robin Givens) as Chief Operating Officer of the company.

Andrea, a finance major, and her husband Chris, a construction worker, are both given jobs at the company by William. Her brother-in-law Ben (Tyler Perry, who wrote, directed and produced this film) also works construction for Cartwright while his wife Pam (Taraji P. Henson) works with her mother in the cafe.

Greed, infidelity, and unsavory business practices tear each family apart.

Sebastian Siegel also appears in a small but pivotal role.

The closing song, "I Hope You Dance" sung by Gladys Knight, captures the meaningful moral of the tale.

Run time: 1 hour, 49 minutes

Rated PG-13 for thematic material, sexual references and brief violence.

My personal rating: B+