ENOUGH

REVIEWED BY CHARITY BISHOP

Our rating: 3 out of 5

Because of: brief strong language, nudity, domestic violence

Rated:

The scripture-based role of men are protectors and defenders of their wives. Unfortunately, due to sad circumstance and a general disrespect for women (brought on, I feel, in some part by the media’s satirizing women into sexual objects) some men take a reversal role, and control their wives with violence. Research shows there are warning signs, but few women heed them. Most endure the wrath. Some learn to fight back. Up until now, Slim (Jennifer Lopez) hasn’t noticed anything wrong with her marriage. She met Mitch (Bill Campbell) while on duty at the local greasy spoon. His charm, comportment, talent and wit seems out of place, and safer than some of the other men she’s known. But things are never what they first appear. After five years of marriage, things start turning rocky. They live in a beautiful home in the finest neighborhood, and have an adorable little girl. But Mitch isn’t the same. He’s constantly gone, less interested in her romantically, and seems cold and distant.

One evening, Slim answers a beeper call for her husband only to hear another woman’s voice on the other end of the line. Confronting Mitch with her findings, she is horrified to learn this isn’t the first fling he’s had... nor will it be the last. Refusing to be a “doormat,” Slim demands he stop his infidelity. Mitch slaps her to the floor. “I make the money;” he says, “I make the rules.” If she doesn’t like it, she can pay the consequences. What has happened to her perfect, loving family? Over the days that follow, Slim realizes her husband has her in the perfect trap. He takes her identification out of her purse. He freezes her bank account. He picks Gracie (Tessa Allen) up from school and takes her to the zoo. He makes threats toward her. And there’s nothing she can do. His mother knows his temperament, yet can offer little help. Her friends at the cafe encourage her to get out while she can. But Mitch is far too dangerous to be taken lightly. If she were to turn him in to the cops, he would just bail himself out and come after her.

If they went to court over a custody battle, it’s likely he would get Gracie. Even when her friends try to help, their homes are ransacked, their lives are threatened, and the trail never seems to grow cold. Mitch has friends in the law department. With very little effort, he can trace her friend’s credit cards, telephone calls, and bank slips/ After the girls are nearly caught by some of his henchmen in LA, Slim realizes she must cut all ties to everyone she’s ever known or loved. She has to take Gracie and disappear. But that may prove more difficult than she ever imagined... 

The sad thing about this is that the story is all too true for many people. When in an unstable and volatile relationship, the women bears the brunt of the violence. Some men, like Mitch, are wealthy enough to bail themselves out if accused and gain custody of the children, as long as they haven’t lifted a finger against the kids. Many women are too frightened to leave, and those that do so, without the protection of the law, family, and friends, have an upward struggle to gain independence. Enough is a film that makes the viewer grateful for the men in her life who treat her with love and respect rather than violence. I admire Slim for having the courage to get out early, after only one episode with Mitch. Her grit and determination as she attempts to evade his clever traps are praiseworthy. Her friends are loyal and true to the end. But I disapprove of her means. “Self-defense is not murder,” she says. And that is true. But in the end, she’s the one who provokes him to attack by breaking into his house and accosting him. The case could be argued as premeditated murder, which it is. The horrible thing about it is by this time we don’t care. We’ve watched Mitch abuse her both physically and psychologically so many times we feel it’s justice.

Most of the film is handled tastefully. I was surprised at the lack of violence there actually is until the final scenes. Mitch does slap her several times, tries to strangle her, pulls her hair, and throws her to the ground, where he kicks her, but every time it’s out of camera range or dulled down. At one point he throws Gracie across the room when she tries to defend her mom. In the climax, Slim wears brass knuckles and hits him numerous times, bloodying his face; the two scrap violently over furniture, fists and feet flying before she kicks him through the railing and into a glass table. A car bashes the rear end of another in a tense-filled chase; one is eventually forced to collide with a large piece of machinery. 

While language is surprisingly limited (one f-word and some mild profanity) it’s unfortunate that dialogue centers around whether or not a main character is “lousy in bed” on several occasions. Conversation implies he’s slept with both Slim and her best friend. Mitch is shown nearly nude in two brief scenes; through a hazy shower door (Slim offers to join him, and we see her bare back) and later from above (essential anatomy is blocked) after a rendezvous with his girlfriend. He keeps several mistresses, but no activity is ever seen. Slim’s old boyfriend curls up in bed with her and Gracie. In the end, it becomes a moral paradox. Enough is worthy of a hearty debate, and has heated up conversation on several fronts. Christians will root for Slim, although perhaps not appreciating all of her tactics, but also feel sorry for her that there is no believer in her life to help show her the way. No situation is impossible when we invite God into our life. It’s just too bad Slim didn’t... the outcome might have been different.