Common Sense Media Review
By Heather Boerner , based on child development research. How do we rate?
age 10+
Denzel's Christmas angel meets Whitney's voice.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
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Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
some
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.
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Violence & Scariness
some
A robber steals from a store and then shoots out a window. A neighborhood boy is accused of the robbery.
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Sex, Romance & Nudity
none
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.
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Positive Messages
none
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.
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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. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Preacher's Wife
Parent and Kid Reviews
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- Parents say
- Kids say (2)
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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?
Our review:
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Kids say (2):
Hope is nothing but a prayer, according to this big-hearted film. Or rather, hope is what it feels like to pray and have faith. Those lessons are the center of The Preacher's Wife, 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.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
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.
Movie Details
- In theaters: December 13, 1996
- On DVD or streaming: August 13, 2002
- Cast: Denzel Washington, Gregory Hines, Whitney Houston
- Director: Penny Marshall
- Inclusion Information: Black actors, Female actors
- Studio: Buena Vista
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy
- Run time: 124 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- MPAA explanation: parental guidance
- Award: NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Winner
- Last updated: September 12, 2024
Did we miss something on diversity?
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The Preacher's Wife
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