Lena Schwartz has it all; she’s the top-producing salesperson in the marketing department of a high-powered fashion magazine, she wears only the best designer fashions, she’s perfectly groomed, and lives a life of luxury in Manhattan…until the worst day of her life. Having been fired, betrayed by her boss, and discovering her husband’s affair all on a perfect NYC day, we follow Lena on her slow descent into poverty and depression. Left with nothing but her fancy, all pink outfit, “Miss Pink,” as she’s now known, is reduced to living on the streets and searching for any work possible.

Miss Pink, perhaps a bit out of touch with reality, is quickly brought down to earth as she picks up the pieces of her life and moves forward. The circumstances really bring out her character’s best traits, especially her love for animals and her determination to do what is right for the greater good. In the beginning of the film, you sort of think she’s an uppity person, so kudos to the writers for using her love for animals as a vehicle to humanize her unlikeable character. After a chance meeting, Lena begins working at a local animal shelter. With some fortuitous connections, Miss Pink is well on her way to standing on her own two feet when she is finagled (albeit not unwillingly) in a plot to help a surly investment banker’s wife. In the process, Lena uncovers some unsavory dealings at a local pet shop and takes action to intervene.

I really admire this Hotel for Dogs x Sex and the City x Devil Wears Prada mashup concept for what the creators intended to do, providing a Lifetime-esque mood clearly aimed at women who are into that sort of glamorous with a lesson a la Beauty and the Briefcase-style movie. It delivers on good intentions and puppy cuteness, but it falls short in family-friendliness and faith values.

There are several contrary worldviews playing at one time that never seem to be explained or clarified, including talk about “the universe” in one breath, Judaism and Christianity in another, but never truly settling on what it is or why it’s even included in the movie. Characters are dishonest (even with good intentions), somewhat selfish, and even though there’s a happy ending, a lot of important issues are never resolved, and it’s sort of arbitrary what makes one behavior acceptable over another. Alcohol is consumed frequently, coupled with several innuendo and crude comments that just seem unnecessary.

The idea of Miss Pink is cute, and if you’re not bothered by the inappropriate content and lackadaisical theology, you could try it out for a girl’s movie night. But as a family-friendly film, you’re probably better off just donating to an animal shelter and watching something else.

Due to some crude language, adult comments, and lack of clear faith elements to compensate, this film is Not Dove-approved.

Dove Take:

Miss Pink aims to be a heartwarming comeback tale, but it misses the mark where content and faith values are concerned.