Not Easily Broken (2009) PG13 - 3½ Stars

I'm marking this movie in my religious category because it does carry the message of keeping yourself connected to God. I'm also putting it in the family category because I feel the movie sends a good moral message about competition, anger, friendship, getting along in your relationships and staying focused on what's important, without shoving religion down your throat. My favorite quote from the movie is "Sometimes the world has to turn you upside down so you can learn how to live right side up." This new married couple is having to do just that after an terrible accident that stressed their marriage vows.

I think Morris Chestnut is a great looking co-star as well as a very convincing actor. Taraji P. Henson plays the good bitching housewife, caught up in the rat race of life, too involved to see what's happening around her. Jenifer Lewis plays an irritating, scorn, mother in law who holds her own failed marriage as a sign that all men are evil and never good enough for women.

This is not an action packed movie but the message is strongly delivered with great direction and heart. Dave Johnson, (Morris Chestnut), has just married the love of his life Clarice Clark (Taraji P. Henson), and the two couldn't be more happy. As they were married, Bishop Wilkes (Albert Hall), places "a threefold cord is not easily broken," around the couples shoulders. He tells them that two of the cords represent their love and the third cord is keeping God close in their hearts. As they will learn, the world will throw obstacles at them but as long as they remain true to themselves and God, no one can ever tear them apart.

After a terrible accident, Clarice is forced into home rehabilitation and her divorced mother Mary (Jenifer Lewis), moves in to take care of her. As Clarice struggles with walking again, their marriage is about to be put to the test. If the couple is to succeed with their marriage, they must find their way back to their "not easily broken, threefold cord."

TriStar Pictures, Duke Media

Director: Bill Duke
Writer: Brian Bird
Producers: Aaron Norris, T.D. Jakes, Bill Duke

I viewed 11/11