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The Preacher's Wife

The Preacher's Wife (1996)

tomatometer

75

Average Rating: 7.4/10
Critic Reviews: 12
Fresh: 9 | Rotten: 3

No consensus yet.

audience

55

liked it
Average Rating: 2.9/5
User Ratings: 29,043

My Rating

Movie Info

An angel wonders if love can be Heaven on Earth in this family-themed romantic fantasy. Rev. Henry Biggs (Courtney B. Vance) is the pastor of a struggling Baptist church in a poor section of New York City. Biggs is devoted to serving his flock and his community, but things are not easy; membership is down, money is tight, the furnace is broken, and real estate mogul Joe Hamilton (Gregory Hines) wants to buy the property and put up condominiums. The strain is taking its toll on Biggs' marriage to

Aug 13, 2002

Disney

Cast

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All Critics (52) | Top Critics (16) | Fresh (26) | Rotten (17) | DVD (2)

There are many good reasons for going to see The Preacher's Wife.

September 24, 2002 Full Review Source: Washington Post
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The Preacher's Wife qualifies as old-fashioned Hollywood movie making at its corniest and most saccharine. But the mostly African American cast puts an engaging spin on the chestnut, and it works beautifully.

June 18, 2002 Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
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For a movie that might have offered a new twist of the mistletoe, The Preacher's Wife delivers the Scrooge-like acceptable market minimum.

April 12, 2002 Full Review Source: Globe and Mail
Globe and Mail
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The Preacher's Wife is one Christmas picture that actually is in the spirit of the season. It's warm, sentimental, amusing yet serious, bringing fantasy to bear upon the painfully real.

February 14, 2001 Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
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An endearingly modest entertainment elevated by the luminous double presence of Whitney Houston and Denzel Washington.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Sacramento Bee
Sacramento Bee
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Has a big heart, but no sense of pace and conflict to sustain the viewing experience for an unnerving two hours.

February 18, 2013 Full Review Source: Blu-ray.com
Blu-ray.com

While the sheer force of Washington's charisma keeps his otherwise monotonous character watchable, the same can't be said for the late Houston, woefully flat in a malnourished role.

September 13, 2012 Full Review Source: Creative Loafing
Creative Loafing

The music, the chemistry between Houston and Washington, and minor characters that make us smile make this film worth watching-especially around Christmas, when this is set.

August 6, 2012 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis
Movie Metropolis

Denzel's Christmas angel meets Whitney's voice.

December 18, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media

Houston's inevitable chart-toppers aside, the film mainly sells the values of cooperation and good-samaritanism.

September 5, 2009 Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix
Boston Phoenix

Definitely not Denzel Washington's finest hour.

July 14, 2005
Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA)

Generally pleasant and unobjectionable, if not rather bland.

July 10, 2003
eFilmCritic.com

Lukewarm update of the superior "Bishop's Wife."

May 15, 2003

Audience Reviews for The Preacher's Wife

Bad...
February 10, 2012
Lucas Martins

Super Reviewer

Saw this one a few times when it was new. Liked it a good bit. Now I know it was right before Whitney turned crazy and as far from being like a preacher's wife than anything.
October 14, 2009
stormyweather980

Super Reviewer

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