Movies/TV
Not Easily Broken
By Esther Iverem—SeeingBlack.com Editor and Film Critic
Jan 9, 2009, 11:30

Take a troubled marriage, add a bit of tragedy and sprinkle in some church. Stir for about two hours and you will have the makings of “Not Easily Broken,” a formulaic movie with some sterling moments based on the novel by Bishop T.D. Jakes.

Morris Chestnut and Taraji P. Henson in "Not Easily Broken."

Even though “Not Easily Broken” could easily be described as a predictable morality play or soap opera, it has a few elements working highly in its favor. The film’s leading man, Morris Chestnut, has matured greatly as an actor and is able to carry the action and storyline. One of his sidekicks, Tree, played by comedian Kevin Hart, is pretty funny. And while director Bill Duke does get bogged down in some tired scenes adorned with annoying mood muzak, he is able, in other moments, to reveal the story in creative hues and textures. And then, of course, there is the fact that even soap operas can be highly entertaining.


But what makes it feel like a soap opera? When we first meet Dave Johnson and Clarice Clark (Morris Chestnut and Taraji P. Henson), they are bride and groom at their 1995 wedding, which is presided over by Bishop Wilkes, the stern-faced pastor of their church. Maybe, in this scene, that soapy feeling is ushered in by Henson’s unattractive wig or, worse, the laughable afro rug worn by Chestnut. Fast forward several years later and maybe we get all soaped up by the fact that Clarice has developed into a caricature of a career-driven, ultra-materialistic Black woman that I see often in movies but don’t know personally in real life.


Soap operas present us with stark villains and heroes and, in this Jakes story, it is woman’s turn to be the bad guy. Not only does Clarice view everything—including her husband—in materialistic terms, she allows her mother “an equal vote” in all matters pertaining to her marriage. Poor Dave! He is always out-voted and he has just had it.


The couple’s journey presents them with serious challenges that serve to show us more about each of them—but never enough to make them more than archetypes of husband and wife. Their journey becomes a collective community experience shared with the audience, which like at a Tyler Perry movie, becomes a Greek chorus for the film. Part of the couple’s experience involves a White woman who might be “the other woman” and, all I can say is that, woe to that White woman if she must face the wrath of a Black D.C. audience!


In addition to appealing to community tastes and prejudices, Jakes offers his own interpretations about men and women, and what ails us in today’s society. You may or may not agree with this bit of sermonizing but it’s just one man’s opinion. In the process of his preaching and narrative, Jakes does bring to the big screen a Black love story, in all its successes and failures. Despite the formula, soap (and momentary bad hair), we always love a love story.

This review also appeared on Tom Joyner's BlackAmericaWeb.com,/i>

You can order Esther Iverem's critically praised We Gotta Have It: Twenty Years of Seeing Black at the Movies, 1986-2006 (Thunder’s Mouth Press, April 2007)at Amazon.com or purchase at your favorite bookstore. It makes a wonderful gift! Thanks!

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