Ruth and Boaz Netflix Review: Tyler Perry Finally Gave Us the Love Story We’ve Been Waiting For

Serayah McNeill and Tyler Lepley star in Netflix’s Ruth & Boaz, a modern reimagining of the biblical love story.

If you’re searching for a faith-based romance to watch, Ruth and Boaz Netflix is worth your time

Yesterday I watched Netflix’s new film Ruth & Boaz, directed by Alanna Brown and produced by DeVon Franklin and Tyler Perry. It’s a modern reimagining of the biblical story, set in the American South and starring Serayah McNeill as Ruth and Tyler Lepley as Boaz. And let me tell you, it surprised me in the best way. This wasn’t your usual Tyler Perry film where the drama gets toxic and everybody is battling each other. This one felt like a Black Hallmark movie. Sweet. Faith filled. Refreshing.

I grew up in the 90s when romance movies gave us butterflies. They made us thirsty for love and made us want our own happily-ever-afters. But looking back, a lot of those stories weren’t so healthy. We see now how toxic some of them really were. Ruth & Boaz is not that. This story showed love as something uncomplicated and beautiful. Life still came at the characters, but the drama didn’t come from them tearing each other apart. The couple was on the same side, fighting through life together.

What I loved most was how much of God’s love was woven into the story. Ruth was intentional about being a blessing, especially to the character played by Felicia Rashad. Both of them had experienced trauma, and instead of letting it divide them, they walked through healing together. Ruth’s faith, her heart to serve, and the way she carried herself reminded me that love is more than butterflies. Real love is about how we show up for each other in hard seasons.

Felicia Rashad brings grace and wisdom to the story alongside Serayah McNeill in Ruth & Boaz.

And then there’s Boaz. Tyler Lepley gave us a Boaz that was believable, grounded, and yes, fine. The romance between him and Ruth unfolded gently, and their chemistry felt natural. You wanted them to win.

Tyler Lepley and Serayah McNeill bring natural chemistry to the screen as Boaz and Ruth.

The cast made this film come alive. Serayah McNeill as Ruth was beautiful and talented. I hadn’t seen her since Empire, and this reminded me how strong of a singer and actress she really is. Tyler Lepley is mostly known for Tyler Perry shows, which I personally don’t watch because those storylines test my patience. I tried Ruthless and it drove me crazy even though it was good. But here he stepped up as a true leading man. Felicia Rashad is my she-ro for life, and seeing her name was enough to make me press play. Her presence brought grace and wisdom to the whole film. And the cameos from Babyface and Jermaine Dupri were fun and fit right into the musical element of the story.

What stood out most is how different this project felt compared to Tyler Perry’s usual films. His formula often leans heavy into toxic relationships and drama. This one was soft, hopeful, and filled with faith. That shift felt intentional. You can tell DeVon Franklin’s heart for inspirational storytelling was present, but it was also Alanna Brown’s direction that gave the film its warmth and flow. She really did her thing.

By the end, I felt hopeful. It reminded me that life will always test us. Bills, grief, family, obstacles. That’s real. But relationships don’t have to be another battle. They can be a safe place. Ruth & Boaz reminded me that love can be simple and peaceful even when everything else isn’t.

MsiCandi stamp of approval: five stars for Ruth & Boaz.

So here’s my final word. This movie was excellent. Five stars. I’ll watch it again. I’ll recommend it. And I’ll keep asking for more films like this. Faith based. Love centered. Black romance that is healthy and hopeful.

Shout out to Alanna Brown for directing it so beautifully, to DeVon Franklin and Tyler Perry for producing it, and to the entire cast for bringing these characters to life. Sometimes we don’t need complicated. Sometimes we just need to be reminded that love, when it’s real, can be simple.