“You know. Girls, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll.”
On the surface, that’s exactly what you might expect from Elijah Peel. The film is based on the real-life story of writer and co-director Kevin D. Sepe. He was a musician who pretty much did the whole rock-star scene. The drugs, sex, and rock ‘n’ roll world. At some point he changed his ways. He found Jesus, and he managed to course-correct his life. Yes, this is a faith-based film. Kevin Sorbo is one of the film’s stars, and he has dedicated his more recent career to faith-based and family kinds of films over the years. He’s actually a pretty good fit for Kevin D. Sepe and the film. He’s even left California to join us not-so-much party people here in Florida. OK. Roll your eyes if you must. Just know the kind of film you’re getting with Elijah Peel, and I think you’ll have a better chance of also being entertained.
Robert Malcolm Cumming plays rock star Elijah Peel. He’s coming off a huge hit and in the middle of a sold-out tour. He’s also been doing what rock stars are often known for doing. The girls, booze, and drugs have turned him into a pretty manic idiot. His manager is appropriately named Rock Diamond, played by Kevin Sorbo. He’s getting sick of keeping Peel on course. While trying to get him out to a sound check for that evening’s concert, Elijah Peel has a heart attack. The lifestyle has finally caught up with the 37-year-old rocker. It’s in the hospital that his life is about to change.
“There’s a whole hospital full of people for you to pester.”
I don’t know if you believe in angels, but this film might get you to do just that. Elijah meets 8-year-old Jessica, played magically by Evelyn Grace Kite. Jessica is dying from brain cancer. Her bald head shocks Elijah at first, but he’s due for a few more shocks. The little girl speaks to him like he hasn’t been spoken to before. She points out that he deserves where he’s at because of the life choices he’s made. She scolds him for treating women like toys to be abandoned at the Salvation Army when he’s through with them. And she then drops the “Do you believe in Jesus?” line on him. Like Elijah, we’re very much taken off guard by the young girl. She drops the straight talk and still remains addictively charming and cute. Kite might object to the cute part. Wouldn’t every 8-year-old girl? But it aptly describes the character, and more importantly the performance.
Jessica gets under his skin. He can’t help being fond of the girl even while he objects to her message. But the message slowly starts to sink in. Soon he’s leaving the hospital against medical advice and telling Rock he’s quitting the music business and the lifestyle it has led him through. No matter what he does, he can’t help but returning whenever he can to visit Jessica. It takes a bit to win over Jessica’s mom, Maria, played by April Billingsly, who is a probation officer, but she also falls for the wonderful chemistry between the girl and rock star. Trust me. You will as well. He starts to change his life. A great moment here is a montage of babes that come to his door when he’s looking for a nurse, but he slams the door on them to escape yet another temptation and addiction. He finally settles on a middle-aged nurse who also accents his path to Christianity, played by Princess Elmore. The irony here will not be lost on you.
He eventually returns to music, but now Christian rock. That doesn’t go over with Rock Diamond, and even worse by label boss Joe Mancetti (Wilson), who throws Rock out of his office. Over time the relationship between Elijah and Jessica continues to grow, and he finds himself being there for her. These moments are the film’s gold. Look; I get there is a formula for faith-based films. One of those requisites is the serious preachy scene between characters talking about Jesus. They always looked staged, and the one between Elijah and the nurse is no exception. It’s far too preachy, and the dialog is always so forced and unnatural. The same is true here. I wish that Sepe had trusted the remarkable story here and realized the “message” and the “faith” are all completely found in the relationship between Elijah and Jessica. The “talk” is merely a distraction that does more to harm the cause than sell it. Hey, Sepe! It’s already sold. Don’t talk yourself out of the sale.
Of course, these films are always about redemption in more ways than one, and that’s the case here. But true redemption stories must have that potential fall from grace. Even Jesus had that moment. It happens here, and before you know it redemption and rescue, of a sort, is happening all over the place.
The film is compelling when it’s about the real heart and center. It strays from that at times. But it’s the kind of film that gets under your skin just like Jessica/Kite is sure to do to you. The two are absolutely wonderful here. The end pushes it a bit, but I do love the coda. It’s one of those things that, at least I believe, is open for interpretation. I can’t explain without giving it away. I will say that Elijah fulfills one of two promises he makes to Jessica that are teased but not revealed until the end. I love that I’m not sure which of the two promises he is fulfilling. We know it’s only one because he tells us it’s one … just not which one. I really loved that about the film.
Kevin D. Sepe wrote the songs on the film, and they’re pretty good. It’s a film intended to both teach and entertain. “Yeah, that’s what they all say, isn’t it?”
