See more movie reviews

The Preacher's Wife (PG, 1996)

common sense media says

Denzel's Christmas angel meets Whitney's voice.

parents & educators say
Be the first to review it

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that characters face real-life difficulties. One little boy's mother died and he's taken away to foster care because his grandmother is too old to care for him. A teen boy is accused of an armed robbery he didn't commit. A church and community face redevelopment. Dudley also flirts with two women during the film.

Positive messages: A mother dies and her son Hakim is taken away by social services. Henry sells out to a developer and agrees to leave the church. While Julia is a strong woman, there's a very strong vein throughout the movie that women shouldn't work and that their most important role is as mother and wife. Henry, as a father, doesn't take care of his son, leaving that work to the women in the house. This star-studded African-American cast shows the good work people do in their communities. Overall, the message is to have faith and do what you can to make things happen.
Violence: A robber steals from a store and then shoots out a window. A neighborhood boy is accused of the robbery.
Sex: Dudley sniffs Beverly and says he hasn't "smelled a woman in a while." Son Jeremiah witnesses the growing flirtation between his married mom, Julia, and Dudley, though no kissing ever happens.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Grandma Margueritte smokes regularly, even inside the house where she's been told not to, but eventually says she's given it up. Dudley has a drink at a jazz club.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on The Preacher's Wife

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about how they cope during trying times. What do you have faith in? How do you express it? Families can also discuss how it feels for children to see their parents fight or to worry about their friends leaving.

What's the story?

What's the story?
In the heartwarming and family-friendly THE PREACHER'S WIFE, Rev. Henry Biggs (Courtney B. Vance) bears the weight of his small and struggling community on his shoulders and he seems to be losing every fight. First a neighborhood kid Henry bailed out in the past is accused of holding up a local store and shooting out the windows. Then his son's best friend Hakim (Darvel Davis Jr.) loses his mother and is put in foster care, crushing his son's spirit. Then the local teen center gets shuttered to make way for luxury condominiums. Amid all this, his mother-in-law is staying with him and he and his wife (Whitney Houston) are growing further and further apart. Calling this a crisis of faith would be an understatement. One night, Biggs utters, "If you get a moment, I sure could use some help," and instantly a friendly angel in the form of Denzel Washington appears. Hallelujah, indeed.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
Hope is nothing but a prayer, according to The Preacher's Wife. Or rather, hope is what it feels like to pray and have faith. Those lessons are the center of this big-hearted film, which offers some of the sweetest and best farce and comedy around. Seeing Denzel Washington twirling about in the snow and Vance hamming it up is a real treat. And because this is a Whitney Houston movie in a church setting, she appropriately plays the choir mistress. Expect lots of wonderful singing from her and the Georgia Mass Choir.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Buena Vista
Director: Penny Marshall
Cast: Denzel Washington, Gregory Hines, Whitney Houston
Genre: Family and Kids
Run time: 124 minutes
Theatrical release: December 13, 1996
DVD release: August 13, 2002
MPAA Rating: PG
MPAA explanation: parental guidance
This review was written by Heather Boerner
 
 

Review It

 

Review The Preacher's Wife

Hang on! You need to be a member to post your review.
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines.
 

There aren’t any reviews yet. Ask your friends to review this title.

More reviews ...

An independent voice for families
Age-appropriate reviews
Advice on the big issues
 

vote now

Will you see The Preacher's Wife?

Won't miss it
On the fence
No way

Already seen it? What do you think?

I recommend it
It's a pass
 

Great alternatives handpicked by our editors

Browse more movies
About our rating system
ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
OFF: Not age appropriate for kids this age
Our child development rating guidelines