JANE GOODALL: THE HOPE
Admiration for chimpanzee protection, clouded by climate-change confusion.
Should You Watch It?
JANE GOODALL: THE HOPE is most inspiring when it shows Jane Goodall’s work protecting chimpanzees. Her efforts to rescue orphaned and wounded animals, protect wildlife, support reforestation, and help African communities manage their land are admirable. Her welcoming but determined personality also makes her work with children, scientists, oil companies, and other groups worth watching.
The film is less successful as entertainment. It is divided into sections rather than shaped as a dramatic narrative, so it never develops the riveting story of a film such as MARCH OF THE PENGUINS. Its worldview is also mixed. Light Christian and biblical references appear alongside spiritual language about nature, uncertainty about God and the afterlife, and repeated promotion of apocalyptic climate change.
For your family, this is better watched at home, where you can discuss its worthy example and confusing ideas.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESThis documentary follows primatologist and activist Jane Goodall as she reflects on five decades of influence. It revisits her chimpanzee studies and her work rescuing animals, protecting forests, changing views of chimpanzee testing, and reaching children through Roots & Shoots Clubs.
The film also follows Goodall as she speaks with children in Tanzania and London about protecting wildlife, stopping deforestation, and fighting climate change.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means a worthwhile but uneven documentary. JANE GOODALL: THE HOPE is strongest when it shows Goodall’s major improvements in chimpanzee protection and her personal magnetism, especially with younger people. Her emotional approach to changing scientists’ and companies’ views is compelling.
The film’s structure keeps it from becoming a riveting story. Because it is divided into sections instead of unfolding as a dramatic narrative, viewers may find it informative without being placed on the edge of their seats.
The Worldview
The documentary rightly values protecting animals, rescuing orphaned chimpanzees, preserving forests, and helping African communities manage their land for the future of both people and wildlife. Goodall’s willingness to work with different groups, including oil companies, is presented as a practical way to bring change.
But the worldview becomes confusing. The film includes a biblical reference without identifying God or Jesus. Goodall speaks of spiritual power in forests and around chimpanzees, comparing it with the spiritual experience of old cathedrals. She says she does not know whether there is an afterlife, agrees with language thanking “Mother Nature,” and says, “If humans have a soul, then chimpanzees have a soul.” These ideas blur the distinction between the Creator and creation.
The film also repeatedly promotes apocalyptic climate change and presents solar and wind energy as greener than oil and gas. The review disputes that claim, saying oil and gas are just as green and more effective. Goodall’s message emphasizes reaching people emotionally rather than intellectually.
The film’s central call to faithful work echoes its biblical quotation from Luke 9:62: “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Yet Scripture directs that devotion toward God, not nature.
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Mixed, sometimes confusing, pagan worldview with some strong environmentalist elements and sometimes moral content about protecting Africa’s chimpanzee population and rescuing orphaned chimps, reforestation, helping people in Africa manage the land around them better for both their future and the future of wildlife, and some politically correct talk about apocalyptic climate change (including brainwashing millions of children into believing this nonsense), with talk comparing the “spiritual power” or energy in old cathedrals where generations of people have worshipped with the spiritual power felt when the title character is visiting the forest and visiting chimpanzees in the wild but there is no overt reference to God or Jesus, title character is called the “Mother Theresa to the environment,” title character says she feels chosen as a “messenger” and called to do what she does and says she’s concluded that things happen for a reason but doesn’t refer to God or Jesus and says she doesn’t know if there’s an afterlife though she appears to lean that way, title character quotes a biblical aphorism from Luke 9:62 but only indicates it’s from the Bible somewhere, title character says, “If humans have a soul, then chimpanzees have a soul,” some talk about Mother Nature indicating a worship of the Creation rather than the Creator, man mentions some anti-capitalist attitudes of some environmentalists against oil companies but praises Jane Goodall for working with oil companies to protect chimpanzees in Africa, and title character makes some light feminist comments
Foul Language
No obscenities but one OMG exclamatory profanity
Violence
A suffering elderly chimpanzee is shown
Sex
No sex
Nudity
Natural chimpanzee nudity but not graphic
Alcohol Use
Adults drink whiskey and wine
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
No smoking or drugs;
Miscellaneous Immorality
Title character mentions moving from oil and gas to “clean green energy,” but green energy like solar and wind power has been exposed as not very green, and title character says people should use their mind and their heart but focuses on reaching people emotionally rather than intellectually with her message.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The film shows Goodall protecting animals and helping communities. What responsibilities has God given people toward creation and toward one another?
Genesis 1:26–28 · Matthew 22:37–39Goodall speaks about the spiritual power of forests and chimpanzees. How is appreciating creation different from worshiping creation?
Romans 1:25 · Psalm 19:1The documentary emphasizes reaching people through emotion. How should Christians use both the heart and the mind when considering a message?
Mark 12:30 · Acts 17:11The film includes a reference to Luke 9:62. What does faithful perseverance look like when God calls us to a difficult task?
Luke 9:62 · Galatians 6:9The Final Word
JANE GOODALL: THE HOPE offers admirable work on behalf of chimpanzees, wildlife, and forests, but its divided structure and confusing worldview make it better for discussion at home. For a clearer family choice, see our. The answer is WAIT FOR HOME.
