Not Easily Broken 2009

Ann Hornaday, Washington Post: Not Easily Broken exerts an unmistakable appeal, thanks to an absorbing story and fine performances from Morris Chestnut and Taraji P. Henson. Read more

A.O. Scott, New York Times: Not Easily Broken is not easily dismissed. For one thing, the cast is excellent, and for another, its intentions are serious and generous. Read more

Andrea Gronvall, Chicago Reader: A queasy mix of comedy, melodrama, and self-help spirituality. Read more

Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times: It's predictable but ultimately moving; a glimpse of a bond near-broken yet straining to become whole again. Read more

Nathan Rabin, AV Club: It's as simplistic, reductive, and heavy-handed as Deep Cover was gloriously ambiguous. Read more

Boston Globe: For most of Not Easily Broken, I wondered why the movie wasn't worse. Then I remembered it was directed by the veteran Bill Duke, who applies ample TLC. Read more

Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times: Not Easily Broken isn't perfect, but it is persuasive in its portrait of a husband and wife who must decide whether their frayed marriage is worth fighting to save. Read more

Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: Remarkably the movie, like the couple at its center, isn't easily broken. Read more

Chris Nashawaty, Entertainment Weekly: Laughter through tears is director Bill Duke's M.O., and he hits the bull's-eye of that modest target. Read more

Christine Champ, Film.com: Read more

Scott Foundas, L.A. Weekly: 'Don't go all Waiting to Exhale on me,' advises one of Clarice's soul sisters late in the film. If only. Read more

Rafer Guzman, Newsday: It turns out, though, that a woman can save any marriage with a little home cooking and extra sex. Read more

Kyle Smith, New York Post: Why go for imitation Tyler Perry when the master is so industrious? Perry's next one should be along in about 10 minutes. Read more

Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel: Not Easily Broken is a marriage-in-crisis melodrama baked from the Tyler Perry recipe. Read more

Justin Berton, San Francisco Chronicle: Like some marriages, it has its flaws, but perhaps it's the good stuff that's worth focusing on. Read more

Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune: A well-crafted message picture disguised as soap opera. Read more

Hank Sartin, Time Out: That's a reasonable message, but it might feel more resonant if the script were a little fairer to both sexes. Read more

Claudia Puig, USA Today: Not Easily Broken is well-acted and involving, though this relationship drama may put some people off with its overt sentimentality and moralizing. Read more

Robert Koehler, Variety: The pigeonholed characters constrict Chestnut and the usually good Henson from portraying fully developed adults; the same dilemma hits most of the supporting cast. Read more