'Jumping the Broom' a cautionary tale for women

“Jumping the Broom” violates the first two rules of romantic comedies: It isn't all that funny and it's not a booster for happily-ever-after true romance.

That's because Salim Akil's domestic dramedy serves up a cautionary tale about women with the survival instincts to protect themselves from men. Not just the one-night Lotharios, but the very men they profess to love and let into their lives.

Admittedly, “Jumping the Broom” should have been a much better movie. It falls back on sitcom conventions and offers an arch, stagy performance by the usually reliable Paula Patton in the role of a woman about to be married.

If you look beyond these and a few other misjudgements, “Jumping the Broom” is a rather sober warning to women to beware and prepare for life, and not rely on men to protect them.

Because they don't always do that.

Sometimes, they can't.

The title “Jumping the Broom” comes from an American-American slave tradition to jump over a broom to a signify a couple's commitment to each other.

Patton plays Sabrina Watson, who opens the movie with a promise to God she will no longer give away her “cookies” to all the men who take advantage of her baking skills.

All she wants in return is for Him to give her a sign when she meets Mr. Right. And she practically runs into him on the street. His name is Jason Taylor (Laz Alonso), a handsome, self-made businessman.

Six months later, they've got a wedding date. And a class war on the horizon.

Sabrina's uptown family hails from posh and prestigious Martha's Vineyard.

Jason's downtown family hails from a blue collar New York neighborhood.

Jason's single mom, Pam (Loretta Devine), works as a stereotypical rude and self-centered postal employee.

Sabrina's mom, Claudine (Angela Bassett), lives a life of relative leisure as the wife of successful corporate CEO Greg (Brian Stokes Mitchell).

Things get off to a rocky start when Pam gets miffed because the Watsons don't bother to meet her at the ferryboat dock.

The expected charges of elitism come flying for the rest of the movie, and Pam doesn't pull her punches with her overt dislike of the Watsons.

Claudine has other issues, especially with her aloof and distant husband, whom she suspects of cheating on her with his pretty assistant.

As Jason's Uncle Willie (Mike Epps) tries to hound dog the available women, Sabrina's friend Blythe (Meagan Good) cooks up something physical with the Watsons' chef (Gary Dourdan).

For comic relief, Pam's good friend Shonda (Tasha Smith) becomes wildly amused by the robust, romantic overtures of a much younger man (Romeo Miller, in ultra-charm mode).

Most of these are characters played close to the surface, save for Claudine, given more depth and complexity by Bassett than the screenplay requires.

Patton, perfectly cast as the lesbian mentor in “Precious,” is the disappointment here in a thin, sitcomy performance that undermines the strength Sabrina displays by protecting herself against her own destructive sexual behavior.

In time, Pam also reveals her bad conduct as a form of self-protection against losing the affections of her son.

But it's the slight twist in the movie's ending — deceptively appearing as an upbeat attempt to tie up loose ends — that shows just how far the smart and resourceful Claudine is willing to trust her husband to protect her.

In jumping the broom, none of these women jump the gun.

<b>“Jumping the Broom”</b>

★ ★ ½

<b>Starring: </b>Paula Patton, Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine, Mike Epps, Meagan Good, Tasha Smith

<b>Directed by: </b>Salim Akil

<b>Other: </b>A Tri-Star Pictures release. Rated PG-13 for sexual situations. 107 minutes.