Redeeming Love

Directed by Benjamin Cleary

★½

I’ve always had a soft spot for Romance. Like a big one. So I am more inclined to give them a break, especially considering ‘the cheese factor’. And, oh boy, is Redeeming Love a big ol’ wheel of Gouda.

Based on the religious historical romance novel of the same name (which I have had multiple people recommend to me), the film follows the beautiful Angel (yes, that’s literally her name), who has the roughest of lives. Her father didn’t want anything to do with her or her mother, his mistress. After Angel’s mom passes, she lives as a prostitute in a brothel. One day a kind man (also beautiful) named Michael sees her in the street and is immediately infatuated, er, in love with Angel. And thus follows their will they, won’t they dynamic.

Let me cut to the chase (brace yourself for the puns). There is not much redeeming about Redeeming Love, be it the lackadaisical, repetitive nature of its storytelling or its dairy-infused performances, the film never amounts to be much more than a Hallmark movie, and not even a good one at that. What’s truly astonishing is that you’ve got some names in this cast. Eric Dane, Nina Dobrev and Famke Janssen all need to have a conversation with their agents.

Additionally, the film looks like it was made by a bored, rich conservative who’s mom wanted him to make a movie. There is nothing fascinating that unfolds, nor any truly moving moments as you would come to expect in a story of this nature. Its just misery porn, but its so freaking bland that you wouldn’t even want it on your sickest of days. Maybe in a more capable filmmaker’s hands this could’ve been worth a watch. Go watch Scream or, hell, even C-Span if you want something more interesting.