A famous rock star faces a near-fatal heart attack caused by severe addiction. During recovery, a bond with a young, faithful girl helps guide him toward healing and redemption.
What We Thought:
If you read me enough you’ve seen me state that I’m not a religious person numerous times. On paper, a faith-based film like Elijah Peel shouldn’t be for me. I’m 100% not the target audience. But I try to watch things as if I’m someone the movie is geared towards, whether or not that audience can enjoy it. With that being the case, then yes Elijah Peel gets a heavy recommendation.
The film isn’t anything we haven’t seen before, a reckless musician ends up in the hospital because cocaine gave him a heart attack at an age a normal person doesn’t get a heart attack. There he meets a young bald girl with cancer. They shouldn’t have anything in common. They shouldn’t even interact in the slightest, but she’s drawn to the man and their friendship develops while he’s in the hospital. Her mom and his manager don’t get it and don’t seem to approve at first, but both seem to be better around each other. She of course helps him find Jesus and get his life together. He wants to help the sick girl however possible.
Again, on paper, the movie isn’t for me, but I actually thought the acting was very solid. I don’t think I’m familiar with Robert Malcolm Cumming who plays the British musician. He looks a lot like Edgar Wright and if that’s him actually singing, he’s not bad at all. I thought the young actress, Evelyn Grace Kite, was fantastic. In a movie where the only name I recognize is Kevin Sorbo (he plays the manager), Kite is an absolute scene stealer. I thought she was genuinely good and brings heart and laughs to a film that could have been very heavy handed.
Is Elijah Peel something I can see myself watching again? Probably not, but for a movie I thought was going to be tough to sit through, I was pleasantly surprised. The faith-based audience will eat it up especially the performance of the young actress. If you are part of that target audience then the film is…
RECOMMENDED!
