Tyler Perry's Temptation 2013

The film begins in a dreary office where a marriage counselor is attempting to mediate a couple’s issues. After a heated argument, the husband storms out, leading the counselor to observe a noticeable shift in the wife’s demeanor. She suggests that it’s clear the wife has encountered someone new, and offers to share a poignant tale about her sister, Judith.

We then transition to a series of heartfelt moments showcasing Judith, played by Jurnee Smollett, and her husband Brice, enacted by Lance Gross, as they navigate love and life in southern Virginia over the years. With the approval of Judith’s mother, Ms. Sarah, portrayed by Ella Joyce, they marry and relocate to Washington D.C. Here, Brice finds work at a local pharmacy under the elderly owner, Ms. Chapman (Renée Taylor), while Judith takes on the role of an in-house therapist at a matchmaking service run by Janice, played by Vanessa Williams. Within the office, Judith faces constant belittlement from Ava, played by Kim Kardashian, who mocks her appearance and fashion sense.

Meanwhile, at the pharmacy, Brice and Ms. Chapman hire Melinda, portrayed by Brandy Norwood, who is unfairly judged by Ms. Chapman based on her attire. Melinda takes the job nonetheless. Back in their small apartment, Judith voices her desire to establish her own practice, but Brice suggests a long wait until they are more secure. To lift Judith’s spirits, he takes her out to a bargain buffet dinner. However, during their outing, Judith is subjected to unwanted advances from a group of young men, prompting her frustration, though Brice encourages her to ignore them.

As the story unfolds, Judith encounters Harley, played by Robbie Jones, an ambitious software inventor who wants to invest in Janice’s matchmaking business. Their interactions take a flirtatious turn when Harley expresses his interest in her, which ignites something within Judith. As their professional relationship deepens, Judith confides in Brice about meeting Harley.

Judith’s life takes a different trajectory as her 26th birthday approaches. She attempts to revamp her look to impress Brice, who disappointingly neglects to acknowledge her birthday, leading her to believe he has forgotten about her. Later, Judith receives flowers from Harley, mistaking them for Brice’s gesture, only to realize their true sender at work the following day. After embracing Ava’s makeover suggestions, Judith is invited on a business trip to New Orleans with Harley, against Janice’s cautious advice.

Once in New Orleans, the chemistry between Judith and Harley escalates, resulting in a passionate encounter on his private plane. Upon their return, Judith feels the weight of her actions, declaring that she wishes to never hear from Harley again. Yet, with tensions rising during a dinner with her mother and husband, her emotional conflict becomes apparent.

As Judith’s affair continues, she grapples with her identity and marital obligations, leading to further clashes with both Harley and Brice. Frustrated and desperate, she begins to reveal her true self during an explosive confrontation where she claims: > “It’s not my fault that your mother left you to go to a crack house!”

After a series of tumultuous events, including a heartbreaking revelation about Melinda’s past with Harley, Brice finds Judith in a fragile state after an altercation with Harley, prompting him to confront Harley in a fit of rage. As the story shifts back to the present, we conclude with the marriage counselor’s narrative wrapping up, as the client expresses a desire to remain with her husband amid the revelation of Judith’s struggles.

In a reflective concluding scene, it is revealed that Judith carries the weight of her choices, having contracted HIV. As the counselor enters Brice’s new pharmacy, it becomes evident that the path for Judith and Brice has diverged; Brice has remarried and built a new life. Judith steps out into the world, seeking solace in her mother’s teachings as she heads to church, leaving the audience contemplating the unresolved complexities of love and fidelity.