LITTLE ROCK — In its story of a couple who uncover secrets about each other in the days immediately following the disappearance of their daughter, Woman Thou Art Loosed: On the 7th Day is really only a sequel to the 2004 film Woman Thou Art Loosed in that both stem from the world of influential minister T.D. Jakes.

The first Woman was loosed just ahead of the wave of Tyler Perry films and somewhat prefigured Perry’s capacity for tapping into a potential audience under-served by most Hollywood films and even their niche “urban” productions.

In 7th Day, directed by Neema Barnette from a script credited to Cory Tynan, there is talk of faith and religion sprinkled lightly throughout, largely touching on letting go of past baggage, but the child kidnapping plot is really the main engine, making it more of a crime picture with a faith-based redemption story at its edges.

Blair Underwood and Sharon Leal are credible and engaging as a couple under pressure, grappling with their own issues even as they try to maintain a grasp on the big picture. As a local New Orleans detective, Pam Grier injects a bit of salty fun that helps keep the film from veering into self-righteousness, while Nicole Beharie, recently seen in Shame, also has a small but pivotal role.

Woman is in essence an earnestly competent, slightly overcooked B-movie potboiler, with ideas of faith occasionally added to frame the story as parable.

Woman Thou Art Loosed: On the 7th Day

83

Cast:

Blair Underwood, Sharon Leal, Pam Grier, Nicole Beharie

Director

: Neema Barnette

Rating:

PG-13, for thematic material violence, sexuality, drug and alcohol content, and language

Running time:

101 minutes

MovieStyle, Pages 42 on 05/04/2012