it becomes a chore to sit through -- despite some first-rate performances by its lead 
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP it)) (VP (VBZ becomes) (NP (NP (DT a) (NN chore)) (SBAR (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB sit) (PP (RP through))))))) (, --) (PP (IN despite) (NP (NP (DT some) (NML (JJ first) (HYPH -) (NN rate)) (NNS performances)) (PP (IN by) (NP (PRP$ its) (NN lead))))))))
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP )) (VP (VBZ ) (NP (NP (DT ) (NN )) (SBAR (S (VP (TO ) (VP (VB ) (PP (RP ))))))) (, ) (PP (IN ) (NP (NP (DT ) (NML (JJ ) (HYPH ) (NN )) (NNS )) (PP (IN ) (NP (PRP$ ) (NN ))))))))