LEAP YEAR
This charming Irish romance honors marriage but calls for discernment.
Should You Watch It?
Amy Adams and Matthew Goode shine in this cute, well-done romantic comedy. The production values, acting, and music are all first rate, and the story ultimately honors marriage and opposes sex outside of marriage.
The movie’s romance is still shaped by familiar Hollywood ideas: thrilling conflict, an unexpected connection, and a weekend of fun. It also includes a few light obscenities, one use of the Lord’s name in vain, heavy drinking to the point of vomiting, and a shower scene shown through a blurry curtain.
So, if you are choosing for teenagers or adults who can exercise discernment, this is a fun, marriage-positive romantic comedy. For younger children, choose something else.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESAnna has been in a four-year relationship with Jeremy, a workaholic doctor, and hopes he will propose. Instead, he leaves for a convention in Ireland.
Anna learns of an old Irish tradition allowing women to propose to men on February 29, which comes only during leap years. She flies to Ireland to find Jeremy, but a storm diverts her plane. Her only available ride comes from Declan, the handsome young owner of a struggling pub. Their journey across the country brings plenty of conflict, comedy, and romance.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is a thoroughly enjoyable romantic comedy. Amy Adams and Matthew Goode shine, and they pull off the classic conflict and resolution very well.
The production values, acting, and music are all first rate. The comedy and romance work, and the film remains fun while presenting marriage as preferable to simply having a relationship.
The Worldview
LEAP YEAR has a strong moral worldview with romantic elements. The couple ultimately chooses marriage over simply having a relationship, and an innkeeper only wants to rent rooms to married couples. A church wedding scene includes a Christian pastor conducting the ceremony.
The film also opposes sex outside of marriage. One refreshing scene places an unmarried couple in a room with one double bed, but no sex is shown or implied. They come to appreciate each other more while staying at the inn.
The film’s weakness is its starry-eyed Hollywood idea of romance. Marriage should not be built merely on a thrilling kiss or a weekend of fun. Couples should seek God’s will and purposefully build their marriage on a relationship with Jesus Christ. Love that reflects 1 Corinthians 13 has a stronger foundation than romance alone: “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:7).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Strong moral worldview with some Romantic elements where couple chooses marriage over just having a relationship and inn owners only want to let married couples stay at their inn, with a church wedding scene where a Christian pastor conducts the ceremony; seven light obscenities and one use of the Lord’s name in vain; one fight scene rescuing a suitcase from thieves; no depicted or implied sex scenes, but there is a scene of an unmarried couple forced to share a bed and another couple has had a four-year relationship without getting married; upper male nudity and woman is in a shower behind a semi-transparent curtain; heavy drinking at a wedding to the point of vomiting, a main character operates a pub, and social drinking in other scenes as well; no smoking; and, dishonesty and couple poses as married in order to get a room at an inn.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The film presents marriage as better than simply having a relationship. Why does Scripture describe marriage as a covenant, and what makes that commitment serious?
Genesis 2:24 · Malachi 2:14The movie contrasts Hollywood romance with love that lasts. How is the love described in 1 Corinthians 13 different from feelings or excitement?
1 Corinthians 13:4–7An innkeeper wants only married couples to stay at the inn. What does Scripture teach about honoring marriage and treating others with integrity?
Hebrews 13:4 · Ephesians 4:25The wedding comedy includes drinking to the point of vomiting. How can Christians think wisely about alcohol and self-control?
Ephesians 5:18 · Galatians 5:22–23The Final Word
LEAP YEAR is a polished, funny romantic comedy with a refreshing respect for marriage. Its Hollywood romance, brief language, heavy drinking, and suggestive imagery call for discernment. For teenagers and adults, the answer is WORTH THE TRIP — TEENS AND ADULTS.
