Based on a best selling Christian romance novel which in turn was inspired by the Biblical book of Hosea, 'Redeeming Love' is a movie which I went to see ironically based on the recommendation of a trusted source. Turns out I kind of liked it.
It's corny, some of the messaging retrograde, and the content at times is shocking. I'd almost call it a "dirty Christian movie". This film contains as important plot elements prostitution, suicide, a lynching, pedophilia and incest. It's like if V. C. Andrews wrote Christian fiction. The mix of exploitation and Hallmark is fascinating, this movie should not exist, which is what makes it so watchable.
As a redemption story I actually think it works, its the tale of a prostitutes (Abigail Cowen) reformation, via the love of the God and a good man (Tom Lewis, who looks remarkably like a former roommate of mine). It's actually less preachy then I thought it would be, and I do wonder some if the woman's self actualization arc was pumped up some from the source material, the novel being thirty years old.
Oh also this is a western, given some of the subject matter and traditionist social agenda of the piece it would be hard to contemporize this story without upping a not already insignificant awkward factor. Featuring Famke Janssen and Nina Dobrev in supporting roles, also Eric Dane channeling Colin Farrell. This film seems to have a good budget and is a legitimate big studio release (Universal Pictures). It's box office has not been good, which is a little sad because it's a refreshing unusual offering as wide release film. **1/2
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