Tyler Perry's Temptation

Movie review by Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media
Tyler Perry's Temptation Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 15+

Soapy melodrama has mixed messages about love and marriage.

PG-13 2013 111 minutes
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Parents say

age 10+

Based on 3 reviews

Kids say

age 15+

Based on 1 review

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Temptation is another Tyler Perry drama that deals with issues of marriage, fidelity, and faith. Like most of Perry's movies, there's an emphasis on mature (and sometimes disturbing) issues like adultery, domestic abuse, and even HIV. There are a couple of sex scenes (as well as a party where both same- and opposite-sex couples kiss) and plenty of sexual references. Language includes a few uses of "s--t," "a--hole," and "bitch," and there's some upsetting violence: A man beats his girlfriend nearly unconscious, a woman describes how her ex tried to kill her, and a man pounds on another man after learning of his despicable actions. Substance abuse (alcohol and cocaine) is also depicted.

Community Reviews

915071
915071 Adult
April 25, 2013
age 2+

good

good
Americanplaya217
Americanplaya217 Adult
April 6, 2013
age 15+

Wait til DVD or on netflix

The movie was not what I expected, the movie was slow the plot got in at towards the ending. Violence is an issue, some blood is shown and beating a woman is seen. A beaten woman is shown in a bathtub with blood, not graphic but some viewers may see it as graphic. Positive messages are shown through out the movie. The sex scene is very quick and very mild other viewers may see it as graphic but isn't, no nudity is shown. Adult Language is very mild and not frequent. Consumeration is shown throughout the movie but not really as focused. The movie is not worth the money. I should've waited til it came out on DVD or Netflix. The movie is a waste of money and very disappointing.

This title has:

Great messages
Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much consumerism
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

TYLER PERRY'S TEMPTATION is about a marriage counselor who tells a cautionary tale to one of her clients. The story is about her "sister," Judith (Jurnee Smollett), who marries her childhood sweetheart, Brice (Lance Gross), at age 19 and moves to Washington, D.C., where she eventually works for millionaire matchmaker Janice (Vanessa Williams), while her husband works at a small pharmacy. At work, Judith is ordered to consult with handsome Internet billionaire Harley (Robbie Jones), a prospective investor. Their business dealings about matchmaking turn personal as Harley begins to overtly proposition and compliment Judith, asking her if she can truly be happy with her sweet but unambitious husband. Brice, meanwhile, is concerned about his new coworker, Melinda (Brandy Norwood), who's constantly worried about her abusive ex discovering her whereabouts.

Is It Any Good?

It's a shame that so many talented actors seem to feel obliged to work for Perry, because he again and again wastes their abilities. What's worse is that, for once, there's not much of an inspiring message in Temptation, which is a dreadful treatise on young marriage. Smollett, who was so impressive in Eve's Bayou and Friday Night Lights, does her best with the cheesy, overwrought material, as do her two men: Gross as the sweet but boring husband and Jones as the arrogant, bedroom-eyed love. Making an already bad movie even more laughable is Kim Kardashian, who makes a distracting appearance as Judith's materialistic, looks-obsessed coworker.

Also as (almost) always, Perry manages to fill his movies with enough inauthentic, cliched dialogue ("I want to make love to you right now" and "I don't want to be with a good man, I want to be with a phenomenal man" are two gems), and melodramatic twists that, by the last act, anyone who's not a faithful Perry devotee will find themselves laughing at deadly serious moments. The story is that ridiculous.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what Tyler Perry's Temptation has to say about marriage. Is there a bias against "young" marriage in the movie? Do you agree with the idea that people should be intimate with more than one person in order to know if they're truly compatible? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.

  • Does it seem believable that someone like Judith would turn away from her marriage (especially considering she's a marriage counselor) so easily? What could she have done to avoid the titular "temptation"?

  • Critics of Perry's movies complain that they're too preachy and soap operaish. Do you think there were too many "issues" explored in the movie? Did it seem like a morality tale? If so, what's the takeaway?

Movie Details

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