Tyler Perry's Temptation Review

Tyler Perry's Temptation

2.5 stars out of 4

By Brett Takeshita

After I saw Safe Haven (or I guess I should say the last 5 minutes of Save Haven), I thought I had seen the nuttiest film of 2013. Then comes along Temptation. Oh, what a wacky concoction. Part soapy melodrama, part erotic romance, and 100% Tyler Perry. It's hard for me to recommend a movie like this to everyone, especially intelligent moviegoers who enjoy plausible, coherent, well-made cinema. But if you like your films trashy and over-the-top, and if you are a huge Tyler Perry fan, you must check this movie out.

Temptation tells the story of Judith (Jurnee Smollett-Bell), a smart and intelligent woman with an unsatisfactory life. Sure, she's married to a nice guy named Brice (Lance Gross), and she has a comfortable job at a matchmaking service company, but none of this is ideal. Judith wants to begin her own practice as a marriage counselor, and she wishes that Brice would remember her birthday every now-and-then. Things are too dull, and her life lacks excitement. Then comes along Harley (Robbie Jones), the rich, handsome investor who meets and works with Judith every day. Harley is absolutely entranced by Judith. He doesn't just want her. He lusts after her like a dog lusts after a piece of meat. He needs her. Judith won't admit that she's attracted to Harley. After all, she's married, and she's a "good Christian woman." So begins Judith's "temptation," which leads her towards a downward spiral of lies, danger, and immorality.

Boy, does Temptation have some problems. From the erratic pacing to the unintentionally hilarious dramatic scenes, this movie has a lot going against it. One of the main problems is that Perry seemed to struggle with translating his wild script to the screen. The movie is supposed to be dramatic, funny, romantic, and thrilling all at once. However, the film doesn't feel cohesive. The awkward tonal shifts are jarring, and I still can't figure out if some of the scenes were supposed to be funny or sad. (I, along with many of the people in the audience, were laughing so hard at some of the juicy dramatic moments that were supposed to pack an emotional wallop). It makes for a weird moviegoing experience, one that defies genre classification. When this film leaves theaters, will it be remembered as one of Perry's misfires or will it be remembered as a "so-bad-it's-good" film? I'm not really sure.

Temptation might infuriate many. The film is basically a cautionary tale for women. The main theme is that infidelity and sinfulness lead to dire consequences. The script follows Perry's trend of melodrama with a message. There is no subtlety to this film. It starts off fine, and soon dissolves into something very weird. Then, the final act arrives, and all hell breaks loose. It's so twisty and packed with so many surprises that it puts Days of Our Lives to shame.

Temptation is not all bad. I will say that the acting is quite good. Smollett-Bell, Gross, and Jones are all strong. They have steamy chemistry and attempt to add some depth to their somewhat archetypal characters. Smollett-Bell especially works hard to make audiences sympathize for a character who is, at times, downright unlikable. However, Perry seemed to have some difficulties with directing his actors. I got the impression that they didn't know exactly how to deliver their lines. For example, the soapy moments are so overblown, and the comedic moments lack some punch. So it's a little weird to watch, but the actors try to do their best. The performances are mostly successful. The supporting cast is great as well. Vanessa Williams is hilarious and charming as Judith's boss. Sure, Williams' French accent is strange, but when you figure out why she talks the way that she does, it's a riot. Brandy is lovely as Melinda, Brice's co-worker with a dangerous past. She gives the strongest performance in the film. She's a character with which you can identify because of Brandy's emotive facial expressions and emotional delivery. Unfortunately, Kim Kardashian is miscast as Ava, Judith's bitchy, snarky co-worker. She is basically playing herself, but she delivers her lines with such flat lifelessness that it sorta removes you from the film. (Kim's character actually gets some very funny, witty, and sassy lines. A stronger actress with some good comedic timing could have turned Ava into the best character in the film). Aside from one weak performance, the ensemble cast is the best part of this film.

After reading this review, you might be wondering why I'm recommending Temptation. It's a ridiculous mess that almost makes no sense. I was in a state of disbelief for much of the third act. I didn't believe the sudden twists and turns for a second. However, I must admit that I sorta dug this film. I went along with the crazy juiciness of it all, and I enjoyed the ride. Is this one of Tyler Perry's best works? No it's not. In fact, it might be one of his weakest films. (I've seen almost all of them and am a big fan of his works. Want to see his best films? Check out Why Did I Get Married? and I Can Do Bad All By Myself). However, is it a fun, entertaining flick? Absolutely. Don't watch the trailers. Don't read anything about it. Just go see this movie in a packed theater. Be prepared to throw popcorn at the screen and yell back at the characters. Brace yourself for the mind-boggling twists and hammer-you-in-the-head lessons. Most importantly, get ready to laugh your ass off and be entertained for two hours. Boy, is this a terribly strange movie, and yet, it might become a cult classic. Two and a half stars out of four.