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Love Is Not Enough

Jennifer Douglas is an attractive young tenacious fashion entrepreneur who is highly suspicious and mostly skeptical about true love and believes love is only able to go so far. For her, love can only go as far as before the wedding; and so to get the best of love one must stay on the fringes of a marriage proposal. Her philosophy is: Give him enough to make him want to propose and hold back enough to keep him from  proposing – just!

But when her "enough" is not enough to keep her on‐off long term partner, Eli Gold, from  proposing to her, she is thrown into a most unfamiliar territory. She cannot give an answer, but she must.  Eli, an I.T. consultant, is indeed too good to be true – kind, patient, gentle, faithful – the perfect type for Jennifer – perfect before the wedding, horrible after. As much as her heart wants to, she cannot say "yes" to him – not with the scar of her parents' abruptly truncated marriage entrenched in her heart.

But she cannot say "no" either, for fear of losing him. Just about harassed into submission by her talkative friend, Claire Monoghan, and tempted by the seeming marital bliss of her newlywed friend, Zoe Scott‐Jones, Jennifer decides to give Eli a chance, but not before testing his love for her.  

LOVE IS NOT ENOUGH depicts the relationship of Christ, the Groom, with the Church, His bride. The message is that Christ is not seeking a perfect Church, but a Church willing to be made perfect by His union.  It expresses the unconditional love of God, inspires repentance, forgiveness and encourages hope for the  perfection of the bride by the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ.

15
Negative Rating
12345
SexLanguageViolenceDrugsNudityOther
9
Positive Rating
12345
FaithIntegrity

Dove Review

Jennifer Douglas grew up never witnessing love, so whenever a guy proposes, she squirms away, always saying, “I need time to think on it.” However, she doesn’t need time to think on marriage; she needs time to forgive her past and a chance to fully embrace all God has to offer.

Finally, Jennifer meets Eli Gold, a Christian guy who’s nothing like any man she’s ever met. He walks the talk, abstaining from sex, honoring her heart and her body. Doubting that a guy like this actually exists, Jennifer listens to one of her non-Christian friends who recommends that she push Eli’s patience, test his temper, and force him to prove every ounce of his devotion.

Amidst this paralleled How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days, things get dicey when honest communication lacks. Assumptions are made, and Jennifer turns to alcohol and a rebound guy to settle her feelings, which leads to a dramatic twist and a big confession at the altar.

Love is Not Enough is a romantic drama that tests its own title as Jennifer truly wonders if love, even God’s love, can forgive her, stay with her, and sustain her always. Thanks to a healthy Christian friend and a constant pastor, Jennifer lets go of her past to truly take hold of love and all the grace, selflessness, and freedom it has to offer.

This film involves heavy elements that include sex, abortion, infidelity, alcoholism, violence, and a character who mocks Christianity, so parents should note this storyline isn’t for children or teens. However, due to the consistent, powerful elements of the Christian faith, Love Is Not Enough is Dove-approved for Ages 18+.

The Dove Take

Love Is Not Enough is a God-affirming version of How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days, but some material is too graphic and heavy for anyone under 18.

Dove Rating Details

5
Faith

Jennifer and her boyfriend are both professing Christians and have a desire to pursue God. One of Jennifer’s best friends, as well as her pastor, are vital in sustaining Jennifer’s faith in God. Jennifer prays, reads her Bible, and seeks godly counsel after big mistakes. She ultimately embraces true repentance and learns to forgive others—including herself.

4
Integrity

One of Jennifer’s friends mocks being saved, recommends abortion, and promotes lying for the sake of saving a wedding. Another character pretends to accept Christ as dating bait. Jennifer toys with love, making poor choices to prove her boyfriend will always stay. Reference to HIV. Jennifer checks into a rehab facility. Her rough past comes to light during an intense conversation with her dad.

3
Sex

Several sex references exchanged between Jennifer and friends, including when to “test” out a man. Jennifer gets drunk and sleeps with a guy she’s barely dating, though nothing explicit is shown.

1
Language

Mild language, including “jerk” and other minor name calling.

2
Violence

Jennifer is hit by a car—seen onscreen, but no gore and blood. One character confesses to beating his wife and going to prison.

3
Drugs

Most characters in the show drink. Jennifer gets drunk and makes a huge mistake. This huge mistake pushes Jennifer to alcoholism.

2
Nudity

Several girls where tight-fitted, revealing clothes. One character is seen changing in the background, though nothing is exposed. Jennifer is seen in the shower, but only from the shoulders up. Jennifer is also seen without clothes in the bed, but fully covered from the shoulders down.

4
Other

One of Jennifer’s friends mocks being saved, recommends abortion, and promotes lying for the sake of saving a wedding. Another character pretends to accept Christ as dating bait. Jennifer toys with love, making poor choices to prove her boyfriend will always stay. Reference to HIV. Jennifer checks into a rehab facility. Her rough past comes to light during an intense conversation with her dad.

More Information

Film Information
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Runtime
100
Rating
Not Rated
Reviewer
Peyton G.
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