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Keeping the Faith
Metascore
60 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 31 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 31
  3. Negative: 3 out of 31
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  1. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Lou Lumenick
    88
    The ideal date movie for the Passover-Easter season and beyond, guaranteed to keep audiences rolling in the pews.
  2. San Francisco Examiner
    Reviewed by: Wesley Morris
    88
    Funny and untouched by cynical, ironic bids to be taken seriously.
  3. TNT RoughCut
    Reviewed by: Graham Verdon
    80
    What more can we ask from a romantic comedy?
  4. Rolling Stone
    Reviewed by: Peter Travers
    80
    A funny and touching date movie that dares to celebrate decency.
    All this critic's reviews
  5. Film.com
    Reviewed by: Gemma Files
    80
    It's adult and humane, genuinely sexy, laugh-out-loud funny.
  6. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Kevin Thomas
    80
    All the more rewarding because of the challenge the material presented.
  7. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Stephen Hunter
    80
    May be the most ruggedly decent film to come along in a couple of decades.
  8. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Marc Savlov
    78
    A disarmingly enjoyable film.
  9. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    75
    We're swept up in the story's need to find a happy ending.
    All this critic's reviews
  10. Christian Science Monitor
    Reviewed by: David Sterritt
    75
    Norton gives the comedy unexpected sparkle in his directorial debut.
  11. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: Jack Mathews
    75
    A mostly accomplished first film, with precise comic timing and some hilarious moments.
  12. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Maitland McDonagh
    70
    A very entertaining, hugely neurotic romantic comedy.
  13. Film.com
    Reviewed by: Ernest Hardy
    70
    In a sterling ensemble cast, (Elfman) just about walks off with the movie.
  14. Seattle Post-Intelligencer
    Reviewed by: William Arnold
    67
    A pleasant, old-fashioned kind of a love triangle.
  15. Mr. Showbiz
    Reviewed by: Kevin Maynard
    65
    Works so hard at being pleasant and ingratiating that it wears out its welcome.
  16. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Marc Caro
    63
    Despite scattered bits of nice writing, the movie never quite comes together.
  17. Miami Herald
    Reviewed by: Rene Rodriguez
    63
    Does more than pay lip service to its subtexts.
  18. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Mike Clark
    63
    Even surly moviegoers may discover how pleasant it can be to actually like movie characters.
    All this critic's reviews
  19. Baltimore Sun
    Reviewed by: Ann Hornaday
    63
    Depends on breezy attitude and effortless delivery for its success.
  20. L.A. Weekly
    Reviewed by: Paul Cullum
    60
    Unbearably talky and earnest in equal measure.
  21. Slate
    Reviewed by: David Edelstein
    60
    A slick, not-too-thoughtful love story.
  22. Variety
    Reviewed by: Emanuel Levy
    60
    Norton directs with assurance.
  23. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: Jonathan Rosenbaum
    60
    The charm of the three leads makes it a movie worth seeing.
  24. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Mick LaSalle
    50
    The audience is made to wait a long time for an ending that's not worth waiting for.
  25. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Lisa Schwarzbaum
    50
    Commits sins of romantic comedy as well as sins of spiritual tragedy.
  26. Film.com
    Reviewed by: John Hartl
    50
    Too long, too predictable.
  27. Newsweek
    Reviewed by: Ted Gideonse
    50
    A fine film; as an Ed Norton picture, it's a disappointment.
  28. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Amy Taubin
    40
    Its exploration of faith and love is skin deep.
  29. Salon.com
    Reviewed by: Andrew O'Hehir
    30
    Edward Norton's dopey directorial debut gives interfaith romance a bad name.
  30. Dallas Observer
    Reviewed by: Robert Wilonsky
    30
    Banal sit-comedy masquerading as religious deepthink dolled up as boy-meets-goy love story.
  31. Portland Oregonian
    Reviewed by: Diana Abu-Jaber
    0
    Chock-full of the sort of levity that leaves you feeling you've been beaten about the head with a lead pipe.
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User Reviews

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User Score
7.3 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 22 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. kcunning
    9
    This is an underrated romantic comedy with a warm and complex theme of friendship, love, betrayal & redemption. What a great debut as director by Edward Norton. I'd love to see him direct more films as charming & warm-hearted, & funny as this one. This was such a delightful film. Stiller is at his most charming & sexy as a rabbi who falls in love a non-Jew yet doesn't want to hurt his mother(a poignant & funny turn by Anne Bancroft) nor endanger his job as a young rabbi. Stiller & Norton as his lifelong friend, a priest, both fall for their childhood friend, played by a charming, & complex Jenna Elfman. This was her role of a lifetime & it deserved much more positive recognition. Norton gave Stiller a great role. His rabbi has many social & family obligations, but he & Norton's priest have a lifetime of friendship, & competition, & their relationship is completely believable. Elfman's blond, high-powered businesswomen returns to their life from their long-ago childhood friendship & turns both of their worlds upside-down. Anne Bancroft's Jewish mother, who has damaged her relationship with her eldest son because of her refusal to accept his Christian wife, now realizes her mistake. Bancroft gives her last, great performance which is funny & nuanced. When she & Elfman weep about the love & pain that Elfman & Stiller's relationship has caused & the difficulties they may encounter, you believe these strong women love & respect each other & will help themselves & the man they both love to move through their problems toward a new family. I must also point out the great soundtrack, with Tom Waits, & other wonderful singers, and note that Elmer Bernstein composed the lyrical & haunting movie's theme.… Full Review »
  2. ovi_bz
    6
    A nice comedy. Nothing much to expect. A simple story. Good actors. Funny and original comic situations where Ben plays very well.
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