Leap of Faith
Leap of Faith

Leap of Faith

1992Movie108 minEnglish

Jonas Nightengale is a fraudulent Christian faith healer who makes a living travelling around America holding revival meetings and conducting 'miracles' with the help of his friend and manager, Jane, and their entourage.

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Insights

IMDb6.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes33%
Metacritic45/100
Google Users64%
Director: Richard PearceGenres: Comedy-Drama, Musical

Plot Summary

A charismatic but fraudulent faith healer travels with his con-artist entourage through the rural American heartland. When their bus breaks down in a drought-stricken Kansas town, they are forced to set up their revival tent and try to scam the desperate townsfolk. However, the healer finds his faith tested when a young boy with a genuine illness seeks his help, and a persistent local sheriff begins to investigate their operation.

Critical Reception

Leap of Faith received mixed to negative reviews from critics. While Steve Martin's performance was often praised, the film was criticized for its predictable plot, uneven tone, and for not fully exploring its themes. Audiences were similarly divided, with some appreciating the blend of comedy and drama, while others found it to be a somewhat disappointing or uninspired effort.

What Reviewers Say

  • Steve Martin delivers a performance that is both comedic and surprisingly touching.
  • The film struggles to balance its dramatic and comedic elements, leading to an uneven viewing experience.
  • Despite a compelling premise, the plot becomes predictable and lacks genuine emotional depth.

Google audience: Audience reviews indicate a mixed reception, with many appreciating Steve Martin's performance and the film's attempts at emotional resonance. However, some viewers found the story to be formulaic and the execution lacking, failing to fully capitalize on its interesting premise.

Fun Fact

The film was inspired by the life of televangelist Oral Roberts and his followers, and the script took several years to develop, undergoing numerous revisions.

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TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
Wuchak

Wuchak

***Religious cons take advantage of the incurable human need for faith beyond the mundane*** “Leap of Faith” (1992) tackles the topic of a fraudulent traveling evangelist/faith healer played by Steve Martin. One of the trucks of his reli...