Morris Chestnut has been a leading man for many years in such Black 90s classics as Boyz N The Hood, The Best Man and The Inkwell. For the last decade, hes played a role in several ensemble casts in movies such as The Brothers, Two Can Play That Game, Breakin all the Rules and last years break out holiday flick, A Perfect Holiday. This weekend Chestnut steps up his game by not only starring as the lead character but also acting as producer of the marriage-in-turmoil movie, Not Easily Broken. Chestnut plays Dave Johnson, a one-time aspiring ballplayer who blew out his knee and now runs a small home-improvement business. Johnson is a working husband and an all-around good guy whos married to an ambitious and overbearing wife Clarice, played by Taraji Henson of Hustle and Flow and Baby Boy fame. Taken from the popular novel of the same name, written by TD Jakes, Broken is the story of a couple who go through hell and high water to keep their bond tight. But there are distractions, namely Clarices near fatal auto accident that leaves her unable to do the things shes use to doing, and becoming completely dependent on her insecure and terribly opinionated mother, Mary Mama Clark, played by Jenifer Lewis. Another huge distraction is Daves platonic relationship with another woman, single mom Julie Sawyer, whom he befriends after meeting at her sons, swim competition. Julie is hired as a rehabilitation therapist for Clarice following the accident and develops a close bond with the Johnson family. She also happens to be White, which adds another dynamic to the storys conflict. Not Easily Broken is a simple film with three powerhouse actors; at times, the simplicity becomes boring. Taraji Hensons character as the bring-home-the-bacon wife and her mother, who distrusts all men after loving a no-good husband, make for recognizable retread characters that weve seen time and again in these movies. Because we know that Not Easily Broken is written by the Bishop TD Jakes, we assume that theres a happy ending, and true to form, it has a perfect bow attached. Dave learns his lesson just before his love scene with Julie and Clarice realizes that shed rather have her man next to her than her mom. Unfortunately, this film doesnt do much for its audience in the lesson-learning department. Weve seen this movie and these characters before, so dont expect anything new. Niecy Nash, from the Style Network’s top rated show, Clean House and Comedy Centrals hilarious Reno 911 adds a bit of flavor to the cast, as a friend and co-worker of Clarice and the esteemed Albert Hall, from Apocalypse Now plays a bishop who keeps reminding the struggling couple of their marriage vows, the “cord with three strands” religious metaphor that will make it all better. In a nutshell, this movie isnt horrible, just typical and unauthentic. If you want to go on a date movie then fine, but if you’re looking for more, then this movie is not easily impressive.
Morris
Chestnut has been a leading man for many years in such Black 90s classics as Boyz N The Hood, The Best Man and The Inkwell.
For the last decade, hes played a role in several ensemble casts in movies
such as The Brothers, Two Can Play That
Game, Breakin all the Rules and last years break out holiday flick, A Perfect Holiday. This weekend Chestnut
steps up his game by not only starring as the lead character but also acting as
producer of the marriage-in-turmoil movie, Not
Easily Broken.
Chestnut
plays Dave Johnson, a one-time aspiring ballplayer who blew out his knee and
now runs a small home-improvement business. Johnson is a working husband and an
all-around good guy whos married to an ambitious and overbearing wife Clarice,
played by Taraji Henson of Hustle and
Flow and Baby Boy fame.
Taken
from the popular novel of the same name, written by TD Jakes, Broken is the story of a couple who go
through hell and high water to keep their bond tight. But there are
distractions, namely Clarices near fatal auto accident that leaves her unable
to do the things shes use to doing, and becoming completely dependent on her
insecure and terribly opinionated mother, Mary Mama Clark, played by Jenifer
Lewis. Another huge distraction is Daves platonic relationship with another
woman, single mom Julie Sawyer, whom he befriends after meeting at her sons,
swim competition.
Julie
is hired as a rehabilitation therapist for Clarice following the accident and
develops a close bond with the Johnson family. She also happens to be White,
which adds another dynamic to the storys conflict. Not Easily Broken is a simple film with three powerhouse actors; at
times, the simplicity becomes boring. Taraji Hensons character as the
bring-home-the-bacon wife and her mother, who distrusts all men after loving a
no-good husband, make for recognizable retread characters that weve seen time
and again in these movies.
Because
we know that Not Easily Broken is
written by the Bishop TD Jakes, we assume that theres a happy ending, and true
to form, it has a perfect bow attached. Dave learns his lesson just before his
love scene with Julie and Clarice realizes that shed rather have her man next
to her than her mom. Unfortunately, this film doesnt do much for its audience
in the lesson-learning department.
Weve
seen this movie and these characters before, so dont expect anything new. Niecy
Nash, from the Style Network’s top rated show, Clean House and Comedy
Centrals hilarious Reno 911 adds a bit of flavor to the cast, as a friend and
co-worker of Clarice and the esteemed Albert Hall, from Apocalypse Now plays a bishop who keeps reminding the struggling
couple of their marriage vows, the “cord with three strands”
religious metaphor that will make it all better. In a nutshell, this movie
isnt horrible, just typical and unauthentic. If you want to go on a date movie then fine, but if you’re looking for more, then this movie is not easily impressive.
