Tyler Perry's Temptation - D+

Rated PG-13, 111 minutes

"Temptation" is a slow, awkward effort from Perry

Vanessa Williams and Kim Kardashian

There's a lot to say about "Tyler Perry's Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor" and not all of it is bad, but not all good, either. Though one of Perry's more compelling efforts (which may not be saying much compared to all the Madea movies he's done), it's still slow-moving, dramatically flat and awkwardly staged. Judith (Jurnee Smollett-Bell), a marriage counselor, is married to her childhood sweetheart and pharmacist Brice (Lance Gross) yet becomes bored and frustrated personally and professionally, beginning a torrid affair with a client (Robbie Jones) without fully realizing the consequences of her actions. "Temptation" is being advertised as something bold from Perry is a second-rate effort that plays more like a Lifetime movie of the week, which is unfortunate for such a gifted, attractive performer such as Smollett-Bell. Smollett-Bell, who has been acting since she was a child (most memorable in the excellent "Eve's Bayou") could've benefited from a better script and direction, and the film takes much too long for it's story to really develop. Perry is a gifted performer himself (he doesn't appear here though) but further casts doubt on his abilities by casting reality star Kim Kardashian as a drawing card, not to mention miscasting Vanessa Williams in a ridiculous role and wasting Brandy Norwood on one of Perry's trademark battered women subplots. Thankfully, Kardashian's best friend/co-worker role is minimal, but any part, even a small one, shows that Kardashian is little more than a reality personality with no acting skills. As with many Perry efforts, it becomes a tad preachy near the end as the main character pays for her actions, with a cause-and-effect simplicity that lacks the boldness or originality the trailers give it. "Temptation" (and Perry needs to realize it's not temptation if you actually go through with it) should no doubt please Perry's fan base, and while the film is peppered with a few PG-13-esque steamy moments, it's an otherwise pale effort who trades one buxom woman (Madea) for another (Kardashian) as its drawing card, both with dubious acting skills. Not worth your time, though I wish for better material in the future for Smollett-Bell.

Wes's Grade: D+