Not Easily Broken

Not Easily Broken

By Magdaleen Duvenage

Directed By Bill Duke.
Screenplay By Brian Bird
Produced By Mr. Duke, Mr. Jakes and Curtis Wallace.

Cast:
Morris Chestnut (Dave Johnson), Taraji P. Henson (Clarice Johnson), Maeve Quinlan (Julie Sawyer), Kevin Hart (Tree), Wood Harris (Darnell), Albert Hall (Bishop Wilkes), Eddie Cibrian (Brock Houseman), Jenifer Lewis (Mary Clark) and T. D. Jakes (Allen).
Running time: 1 hour 39 minute

The main story is about a couple who's marriage is in trouble. The opening scene is a wedding, where the pastor places three cords around the couple, symbolizing the bonds in a marriage. This is also the part where you know we are going to see a troubled marriage, obviously “losing the three string cord”, we know that God would save the day and they will “live happily ever after.” It is truly one of those movies you have seen before, and just can't come up with its name. Clarice (Taraji P. Henson) is an ambitions real estate manager, Dave (Morris Chestnut) was a aspiring basketball player, due to a knee injury he was called back to the real world, and became a a general contractor.

Dave seems like the perfect husband in this movie, he is loving, kind, generous – he clearly adores and loves his wife. She however, can't stop to humiliate and degrade him, even to the extend of doing so in front of her clients. The movie takes an unexpected turn when the couple gets into a car accident, leaving Clarice cripple and bittter, she would be able to walk again after intensive therapy. Her mother (Jenifer Lewis) blatantly blames Dave for the accident and moves in with them, he gets verbally beaten now from two angles.

Dave finds a way out, he coaches baseball to a little league team for underprivileged kids, with his two buddies Tree (Kevin Hart – the funny one) and Darnell (Wood Harris). The wedge between Dave and his wife grows deeper and deeper. The fire is turned on when Clarice's physical therapist Julie Sawyer (Maeve Quinlan), and Dave become intimately involved. Dave had a interest in her son first – and it is clear that his intentions was pure, but when the movie takes an emotional turn, she seeks comfort; Dave being the all American hero turns her down! I was very sad when this happened, he deserves happiness and his wife's over clichéd ego, self-obsessive attitude drove me insane! A blind woman, with no sense of touch or hearing could tell he was an amazing husband!

I know the African Americans have an over stated vocabulary that is mostly funny. In this movie it was exactly the opposite, it was irritating. Niecy Nash had one part to play – you don't need to actually know what that part is, one can watch Clean House on TSN to find out. The difference is, this is on a movie set and she gets to play her self, with the "Giiiiiirlll", "Don't make me go all Oprah on you" and the "Don't go all Waiting to Exhale on me." Niecy, don't quit your day job yet!

I am also not sure I like the way they portray God in this movie. He seems to be the Guy who fixes everything, with no effort from our part when it comes to character related issues. If something is not working out, go to God – He will fix it! The moment Clarice decided to admit in her life that she might have left God out of their marriage, everything magically began to sort themselves out. No hard work, no therapy secessions - just nothing. What I don't understand is that five minutes ago, she was standing by letting her mother throw all Dave's clothes out, now she wants him back, all issues aside, even willing to give him kids, which he so longed for!

The story line goes missing when it gets to the plot, and they seem to then go and say: Well, don't worry, no work required, all you need is God and your marriage will be saved! This movie is extremely upsetting – I agree that God is a vital part of any marriage but it takes work and devotion from both parties! There is no magic wands when it comes to marriage. I don't even think these two belong together. From this type movie I expected more...

A disappointing 4/10

See you at the movies!