‘Not Easily Broken’ not an easy watch

-- Not Easily Broken" might be dull and lacking complexity, but you can say this for it: One scene is completely unexpected.

Bizarre, yes. Unlikely to the point of being a virtual impossibility, you betcha. Maybe even a little stupid, sure. But you don't see it coming.

One reason you don't expect it is it makes no sense. Perhaps it happened to one person at some point in history (or perhaps not), but it's not the sort of thing you ordinarily have to worry about. And it changes the whole theme of the movie, from being about how God can help keep a marriage together to how God can allow a tragedy like this to happen.

"Not Easily Broken" is about a married couple very much in love but in the midst of a rough patch. David, played by Morris Chestnut, wants a baby while Clarice, played by Taraji P. Henson, does not because she is too wrapped up in her career. She listens to David far less than to her bossy mother (Jenifer Lewis, as the most interesting character by far). And she is a social-climbing nag.

For his part, David spends more time with his friends and the Little League team he coaches than with Clarice.

But the real root of their marital discord is spelled out explicitly for us: Clarice is one of those liberated women who has rejected the traditional role of needing a man to comfort, nurture and protect her. The problem isn't this premise, it's that the film doesn't know what to do with it. So the two main characters end up having essentially the same conversation with every other character: Clarice talks to her mother. She talks to her friend. She talks to her marriage counselor. David also talks to the marriage counselor. He talks to his friend. He talks to his other friend. He fights with his rival.

Nothing happens in any of these conversations, just a lot of talking. At least something happens in the fight (technically, it's just a scramble for a loose basketball), but we recognize it for what it is: a nonverbal conversation.

Besides, the fight gives Chestnut the chance to show off once again his amazing physique. Seriously, his muscles should have their own agent.

The film is based on a book by Bishop T.D. Jakes, who is also a producer. The movie can't hold a candle to his last cinematic effort, "Woman, Thou Art Loosed," which was compelling in all the ways this is not.

Contact Daniel Neman at (804) 649-6408 or .