Pure Flix’s FINDING LOVE IN QUARANTINE Is a Bright Spot of Hope in the Streaming World
By Movieguide® Contributor
Finding TV shows you love – even like – pandemic quarantine or not, can be a rare discovery. FINDING LOVE IN QUARANTINE, a series streaming on Pure Flix, is well worth a look for satisfying viewing. Though you would be right in guessing it’s a romantic comedy, you would only be partially correct; FINDING LOVE IN QUARANTINE provides multi-level meaning that deepens the storyline.
Additionally, through the honed talents of some proven actors, the deepened narrative arcs are portrayed convincingly and compellingly. Rick Baldwin (David A. R. White) is a career-focused single dad who finds new challenges at every turn when a virus of pandemic proportions shuts down most pursuits of daily life. The company he works for has called time out until further notice. School is closed, so his 9-year-old daughter Gracie (Ocean White, David’s real-life daughter) joins him at home, attending required online elementary school classes.
Rick’s first love found in quarantine is that of a parent. The shut down affords more quantity time at home, and brings Rick to the realization that little of any of it up to now has been quality time. He commits to changing that.
Rick also has a passion for what he does for a living. Rick’s boss Steve Middleton (Tom Arnold) encourages Rick to get creative with his clients online, so Rick responds by committing to a periodic webinar, reflecting upon life values that bring the best to work and career, a subject he loves to wax eloquent about.
One client, Theresa (Stacey Dash), tunes in, yet walks into another room, intentionally ignoring the content. The rom-com love interest enters here as Teresa’s housemate Amber Russell (Eva LaRue) happens upon the abandoned laptop as it broadcasts, and consequently she becomes increasingly interested in Rick and in what he ponders in his vlog.
FINDING LOVE IN QUARANTINE promotes a Christian worldview in a variety of ways that are never heavy-handed nor preachy, but rather presented in quiet, everyday situations. Amber mentions that she goes to church online, and invites Rick to try it out. Rick pauses with his daughter to pray “just like Mom used to.” Quite effectively, half the episodes begin with a narrator (Lee Majors) that turns out to be Amber’s pastor Michael Hewitt, thinking out loud about daily preoccupations like time, fear, and masks we wear. Old and New Testament Scriptures are sometimes quoted as a part of these meditations.
As a short-form series, the eight episodes last no more than 16 minutes, so the show moves fairly quickly. Refreshingly, there is no foul language, no violence, no smoking or drug abuse, and no nudity or sexual content, whether implied or depicted. Rick does sip on one glass of wine in an online dinner date, an example of social drinking sans inebriation. The sole source of potentially inappropriate content is an off-color remark by a mother lamenting family life in the viral pandemic as she complains about finding “chip crumbs in [her] bra.”
Production value is found in the simple home settings of both Rick and Amber, whether in various rooms of their homes, or out in their yards. Effective neighborhood shots populate the show’s transitions. The only falters script-wise could be considered the caricatures created for: the neighbor always dressed in pajamas, bathrobe, and curlers her hair: and the two Property Owner Association security guards, portrayed as a bumbling but lovable infraction hunting duo. Such is forgiven when realizing that that was probably done for the intended children in the targeted daytime audience.
Continuity conflicts seemed to be kept to a minimum, with only two noticed: in Episode 2, as the camera focuses on Gracie listening to her dad Rick speak to her, the image of Rick in a background mirror does not show him talking; and the end titles misnamed the leading lady’s character. Even if noticed, neither detail would deter the viewer from enjoying this poignant and funny look at this otherwise subject of pandemic life in the 21st century suburb.
Fact is, the series was filmed during the first year of the COVID-19, and the script had the same effect on the actors as is hoped for the viewers; the actress who played Amber was quoted to say in an interview that, “It was so much fun to do … For me, it was this little bright spot of hope.”
With no questionable elements to be found, and lots to smile about, FINDING LOVE IN QUARANTINE promotes a Biblical and specifically Christian worldview; watch for your dose of a bright spot of hope.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
