Tyler Perry's Temptation

Tyler Perry's moralistic, preachy Temptation stars Jurnee Smollett-Bell as marriage counselor Judith, who works for an upscale Washington, D.C., millionaire matchmaking service. Judith is a dutiful Christian woman married to Brice (Lance Gross), who was her high school sweetheart and now works as a pharmacist. But their life together has become boring, so when her boss, Janice (Vanessa Williams), introduces her to Harley (Robbie Jones), a social-media magnate whom Janice covets as an investor, Judith is intrigued. Playboy Harley plies Judith with flattery, vintage champagne, rides in his Rolls Royce and red Ferrari, and even arranges for a jaunt in his private jet. At first, cuckolded Brice doesn't grasp the situation, particularly since he's distracted by his new assistant, Melinda (R&B singer Brandy), who's escaping from an abusive boyfriend. But Judith's Bible-quoting minister mother, Sarah (Ella Joyce), realizes what's up and reprimands her daughter. Adapted by writer-director Perry from his 2008 stage play, The Marriage Counselor, this is a sluggish, stilted, strait-laced, cautionary tale seemingly meant to condemn those who deviate from righteous church teachings (alcoholism, cocaine addiction, domestic abuse, and the threat of HIV infection are the punishments for the promiscuous). And reality TV celebrity Kim Kardashian proves here—indisputably—that she has zero acting talent, even though she's been astutely typecast as a rude gold-digger. Not recommended. (S. Granger)