Parents' Guide to

Faith, Hope & Love

By Tara McNamara, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Faith, fun, and footwork in dance-centric romcom.

Movie PG 2019 105 minutes
Faith, Hope & Love Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

See all
age 10+

Based on 3 parent reviews

G M.
G M. Parent
February 3, 2022
age 12+

Great message of leaning on God

I was happily surprised to see the dad in this film caring about his daughters, having limits for them, being involved in their lives. I liked how he made his faith natural and a basic part of his life. My only caution is that there is a parent death in case that's a concern, there is also talk of a divorce and mentioning of the adultry that lead to the divorce. A few of the dance outfits are skimpy.

This title has:

Great messages
1 person found this helpful.
mjtaylor84
mjtaylor84 Adult
February 21, 2020
age 9+

Dance And Faith

This movie is about the joy of dancing while finding love the second time around in a safe relationship with each other and God. Robert K and Peta M connect with wonderful personalities. It’s a faith based dance comedy.

This title has:

Great messages
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In FAITH, HOPE & LOVE, ad man Jimmy Hope (Robert Krantz, who also directs) is a widower raising two daughters on his own. He faces unemployment unless he can land the account of a dating app company. Faith Turley (​​​​Peta Murgatroyd) is an unlucky-in-love divorcée who needs to win a ballroom dance competition to save her dance studio. By helping each other, the two find and develop a deeper connection.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3):
Kids say (1):

Dancing and Christianity have come a long way since Footloose: This is a faith-based film that doesn't need to kick off its Sunday shoes -- it boogies in them. Just like the Kevin Bacon classic Dirty Dancing, Step Up, and other beloved dance films, Faith, Hope & Love hinges on a top-notch dancer coaching someone with two left feet on how to wow a crowd. It's been done before for a reason: It's just plain fun to watch, especially when it involves skilled stepper Peta Murgatroyd, a Dancing with the Stars pro making her acting debut, shining with an on-camera ease. And a brief side story with actors Ambrit Millhouse and EJ Gage is so delightful that it's hard not to hope their characters will get a sequel.

Faith, Hope & Love is perfectly imperfect -- words the filmmakers will wear as a badge of honor (it is, after all, the film's message). What works is a real-life authenticity in which one main character is a dedicated Christian and one isn't but is nevertheless accepting of and interested in what drives the other's faith. That said, there's a palpable struggle to entertain "casual Christians" while still satisfying the devout crowd. And as the movie goes on, it starts to get bogged down by the need to hit more scriptural components. Plus, since Murgatroyd, Krantz, and much of the supporting cast create a world that feels really genuine, it's all the more distracting when co-producer Michael Richards appears as a zany, over-the-top, Kramer-like character. The grown-up relationship stuff isn't too likely to interest kids, but for faith-based parents, Krantz's "So You Think Dad Can Dance" story is sensational.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Faith, Hope & Love's assertion that a relationship should be founded in a mutual belief in God. Parents, talk about the importance you place on someone's belief system when it comes to dating. What other key questions do you think should be asked to see if someone is a match for you?

  • Jimmy gets Faith to go on a "revenge date," posting pictures on social media to make another man like her. Is this lying? Is it deceptive? Many people use social media to show what a fabulous life they're living, even if it's misleading -- is that wrong? What are the consequences of using social media in this way?

  • How do the movie's story and characters show the importance of teamwork and gratitude?

  • Jimmy "helps" his daughter with her college application essay without her knowledge. How much should parents help their children with school work? Where do you think the line is between helping and cheating?

  • Do you think this movie will appeal only to Christian audiences? Who do you think will most enjoy this movie?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate