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Parents' Guide to

About Hope

By Andrea Beach, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Sweet faith-based romance has some drinking.

Movie NR 2021 91 minutes
About Hope Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 15+

Based on 4 parent reviews

Donna MARIE
Donna MARIE Adult
December 27, 2021
age 14+

SCRIPT NEEDS WORK--IT WAS WEAK

This script was a weak one. I liked it that VICTOR MARX was in the movie b/c I know him & his work for many years, not as an actor but as a Christian rescuer of girls & women in Iraq & other ministries. He didn't have to act b/c the way he was in the movie is the way he is. i WAS A BIT SURPRISED TO SEE VICTOR MARX IN THIS MOVIE AFTER I SAW IT. Having said that, there were holes in the script! Having the lead guy paint a picture of a dream woman w/ the SAME DRESS she wore later on was unbelievable! Having NO explanations after HOPE saw that her guy was in Desiree's house w/ a robe on. ACTUALLY KISSING HIM LATER ON w/o any words or apologies from him is NOT REAL & sends a bad message to women to just take it instead of holding someone ACCOUNTABLE!!! The part about the seductive women dropping their jackets to reveal that they were naked before the lead guy was NOT necessary! This movie is NOT an act of worship to our LORD! I could have written more but I wanted to keep this comment short. (Added later on---this is NOT a film for children unless the parents are there pointing things out about the alcohol/alluding to sex & lack of accountability, etc)
TeacherRhonda
TeacherRhonda Adult
August 8, 2021
age 13+

PG to PG-13

This was a very good movie and well done. Great acting! I believe it should have been rated at least PG though, at minimum. (There are some scenes I had to fast forward through while watching with my daughter.)
See all 4 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In ABOUT HOPE, photographer Thomas McKenzie (Justin Ray) just can't find the perfect woman for him. Maybe it's because he's been keeping a list of qualities his future wife must have since he was 12, and this list has gotten pretty long now. Then one day Hope (Christine Juarbe) walks into his studio looking to hire him for a photo shoot. Even though Hope doesn't have all the qualities on Thomas' list, they start dating and having fun together. But almost at the same time Hope appears, so does Desiree (Claire Bermingham), seemingly the woman of his dreams and also someone in a position to get his photography career on the fast track. How can Thomas be sure if either one is right for him?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (4 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

This sweet, low-key romance with a solid Christian framework has some flaws, but it also has likable characters and some wry humor. Viewers who share the faith in About Hope may feel more connected to it and enjoy going along for the comfortable ride. Those who don't may find themselves hung up on some production flaws or the occasional story snag. The religious messages are overt, but they don't hit you over the head. And they're universal enough so that viewers who don't share the same faith can still appreciate their value.

The main characters all appear to be in their 30s, so teens may not relate to their exact life stage, but the characters do experience things teens think and dream about, like how you know if someone's right for you, getting engaged, family dynamics, and career choices. There is one child character featured in a few scenes, but it's not enough to generate and hold the interest of younger kids. Some alcohol use and mature themes make it best for older kids and up.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the characters of Hope and Thomas in About Hope. Are they positive role models? What are their character strengths and weaknesses?

  • The Christian faith provides a pretty solid framework for this story. Do you think people of any faith, or even of no faith, would enjoy this movie? How universal are the themes?

  • What other faith-based movies have you seen? What are your favorites? How does this one compare?

Movie Details

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