Review of Keeping the Faith (2000) by Dan J — 25 Aug 2009

"Keeping the Faith" starts off very funny and promising: three friends from childhood develop an unexpected romantic triangle as adults when the workaholic, independent-minded woman (Jenna Elfman) returns to NYC to find her male friends, who remained in touch, have become a priest and a rabbi. Ben Stiller is outstanding as the unorthodox single rabbi who upsets the elders of his congregation and nearly looses his job.

Where the film falls short is the sweet happy ending, which seems a bit too conventional for Jenna's independent character. It's as though the producers had a good concept and didn't have enough faith in the characters, or the audience, to allow a more adult ending.