Tyler Perry's the Family That Preys

Though the movie at times flowed like a soap opera with its dramatic turns and pregnant pauses, it kept your attention.

It has Tyler Perry's trademark trio: sincerity, spirituality, and story. And if he passes on that other "s" -- subtlety -- that's all right.

While it's wonderful to see actresses as shamefully underemployed as Woodard and Bates on the big screen, even they can't make sense of [these] incoherent characters.

By far the best thing about the enterprise is Woodard. If she's not in this thing, I think it goes kaput.

While Perry, much like Spike Lee, seems to have his finger on the pulse of the black community, his storylines and themes are universal.

Whatever its other sins, the movie cannot be accused of wanting for ambition or scope.

Exactly the kind of preachy, pandering, tone-shifting, gospel-laced soap opera that [Perry has] served up time and time again to his dedicated audience.