Not Easily Broken (2009)

Dave (Morris Chestnut) and Clarice (Taraji P. Henson) are shown getting married in the beginning of the film. They are all smiles as Bishop Wilkes (Albert Hall) tells them that marriage consists of three strands: the husband, the wife, and God. These strands should not be broken. After they are pronounced man and wife, Dave notices that Mary (Jenifer Lewis), Clarice's mom, is giving him the evil eye.

Fast forward to present day. Clarice is a busy real estate agent who makes more money than Dave, who runs his own construction/maintenance business. The couple's together time appears to be limited due to Clarice's career. Also, Dave spends a lot of his free time coaching a kids' baseball team with the help of his buddies Brock (Eddie Cibrian) and Tree (Kevin Hart). Her career is also a factor is why they don't have children; Clarice feels a baby would get in the way. Dave shows up late the night Clarice is going to be presented with a salesperson of the year award. They argue while driving to the gala. Another car runs a red light and smashes into them.

Clarice is understandably bitter and upset over her leg being mangled in the crash. Dave tries to do all he can to comfort her, but Clarice pushes him off. The tension between the couple is heightened when Mary decides to move in to take care of Clarice. We learn that Mary has always given Dave a hard way to go. A physical therapist named Julie (Maeve Quinlan) is hired to assist Clarice in her recovery. Dave takes a liking to her son Bryson (Cannon Jay), and invites him to join the kids' baseball team. Clarice recovers physically, but the emotional tension between her and Dave keep rising to a breaking point.

This film is based on a book by T.D. Jakes, a prominent pastor, and directed by Bill Duke. It presents a good message about working hard to keep marriages together, which I appreciated. But I was a little put off by some of Dave's voiceovers, which suggested that women should stay in traditional roles of homemakers and mothers. Tree's character serves as comic relief (he doesn't get his wife is going through mood changes because she's pregnant). Brock represents the opposite of Dave, a guy who's lack of fidelity has cost him a marriage. I especially liked the Mary character, a woman who's bitterness over her own failed marriage will not allow her to see the good in her daughter's marriage.

Taraji P. Henson was nominated for an Oscar for her work in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008). Morris Chestnut was in the best of the inner-city gang movies of the 1990's, Boyz In The Hood (1991). Jenifer Lewis was in Meet The Browns (2008) and Madea's Family Reunion (2006). Kevin Hart is a stand-up comedian who has appeared from time to time on "Chelsea Lately" (2007-present). Director Bill Duke is also an actor (Menace II Society, 1993). Nicey Nash, who appears as a co-worker/friend of Clarice, hosts the reality show, "Clean House" (2004-2008), and was a cast member on "Reno 911!" (2003-2009).

Boyz In The Hood (1991)

Absolutely the best of the "'hood" movies that were produced during the 1990's. Tre' (Cuba Gooding Jr.) is a teen who resides with his dad, Furious (Lawrence Fishburne) in rough South Central Los Angeles. His buddies are Doughboy (Ice Cube) and Ricky (Morris Chestnut), half-brothers who have somewhat of a rivalry going. Ricky is a high school sports star, while Doughboy has spent his time in and out of juvenile hall. In fact, as the movie opens, there is a party being thrown by the brothers' mom to welcome Doughboy home from another stint in jail.

It is explained that Tre' is living with his dad because his mom felt the boy was getting out of hand. Indeed, under his father's guidance, Tre' is a decent kid. However, he and his friends have to deal with the day-to-day trials of living in a neighborhood that lives under the cloud of gang warfare and street violence. Police helicopers patrol the area at night, shining bright lights on everyone. There is a scene where Tre's girlfriend, Brandi (Nia Long) is trying to do her homework as shots ring out on the street. Tre' is harassed by the cops in another harrowing scene, for apparently no reason other than he is an African-American young man.

Doughboy continues his gang association, and quickly starts a beef with a rival group. A war of words soon turns into a war of bullets, and tragedy follows the main characters.

This was director John Singleton's first major film. Cuba Gooding Jr. is the son of the lead singer of the R&B group The Main Ingredients. Gooding won a Best Supporting Oscar for his work in Jerry Maquire (1996). Nia Long appeared as Will Smith's girlfriend on "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air"(1990-1996). Ice Cube was a member of the infamous rap group Public Enemy, who were chastized by the FBI for their hit "Fuck The Police". He was also the lead in the comedy Barbershop (2002). Morris Chestnut was in The Inkwell (1994). Angela Bassett, who was nominated for a Best Actress Oscar for What's Love Got To Do With It?, appears as Gooding's mom.