Rhemalogy

“A three strand cord is not easily broken.”

In the church a wedding is taking place. Young newlyweds leave happy with many hopes for the future.

Fast forward some years later. Dave Johnson’s hopes of becoming a pro baseball player are crushed along with his knee. Now he’s driving a construction truck. A man whose only desire is to have a child upon which to shower his fatherly love. But for right now, is channeling that fatherly love and attention on his neighborhood baseball team of disadvantaged youths.

This is causing fissures in an already troubled marriage; where his real estate broker wife, Clarice, has replaced the love for Dave (Morris Chestnut) with lofty ambitions and an unquenchable thirst for success.

In the foreground of this drama is a monster-in-law (Jenifer Lewis), who is a very bitter woman. She walks around with past hurts—reflective facets in which any woman watching this film may find a piece of herself. A church-goer who does not know how to love or forgive. These negative characteristics are passed onto her daughter.

Add to this mixture a trio of friends who are different as day and night. Yet have the hearts of the Three Musketeers sprinkled with humor by Tree (Kevin Hart)

In the background lies an old high school rivalry which is holding back one disadvantaged youth from the future prospects of pro ball, positive character building and plain old team spirit.

On the way to her awards dinner, they have a car accident. This leaves Clarice (Taraji P. Henson) with not only a broken leg, but also a bitter and broken spirit.

The physical therapist they hire is a single mom phenom who helps put the patient’s leg and emotions back together again. But in the process, Julie Sawyer (Maeve Quinlin), loses the one person who matters most in her life.

Amid all the life changing events and tragedies he encounters, Dave Johnson continues to stand on and believe God’s word. And at the same time tries to help others at the risk of his own peril. One of his observations: “If you want to know the purpose of a thing you can’t ask it to tell you. A car doesn’t know it’s a car. Only the manufacturer knows what it’s made to do. I guess that’s the way it is with us and God.”

This movie has several subplots that all lead to one thing. Certain aspects of our lives may not always end on a happy note or the way we think they should. But no matter how hard things get or how difficult they may seem; we should never stop standing on the Word or putting our hopes in God. “To whom much is given, much is required;”(Luke 12:48)

Initial release: January 9, 2009
Director: Bill Duke
Screenplay: Brian Bird
Production company: TriStar Pictures
Producers: T. D. Jakes, Aaron Norris

Rated PG-13. We give this movie 4.5 stars.