Gavin Stone needs to work off 200 community service hours because of trashing a hotel room during a `bad boy' spree.
And his choices are seemingly stark: Either clean sewers, or help out at a church in his home town.
Reluctantly, Gavin chooses the second option.
That's the set-up for THE RESURRECTION OF GAVIN STONE.
When we meet Gavin, he's a former child-star who had his own tv show where he was constantly getting into trouble. His made-for-tv excuse when asked if he was the culprit: "Don't look at me!"
It was cute when he was nine, but now Gavin's in his mid-30's and still operating under the assumption that the world revolves around him.
Gavin (played to the "t" by Brett Dalton) has burned most of his bridges behind him. He has few financial resources. So he lands on the front door of his old home, where he faces his dad. It helps that Gavin's dad, Waylon, is played by Neil Flynn (who was the nameless janitor on "Scrubs" for nine seasons).
Flynn gives us an understatedly-wise Father, a man with few words, but immense thoughts as he welcomes his son back home.
Gavin's first day at his home town's church is a bit rough. He's surprised that Pastor Allen (played by D.B. Sweeney) doesn't seem to know him from his television days. Pastor Allen is willing to sign him up for community service, but lets Gavin know he won't tolerate any fudging of the hours. And Pastor Allen fully expects to hold Gavin to fulfilling every one of them - doing janitorial work.
Meanwhile Gavin runs in to the Pastor's daughter, Kelly, as he's attempting to clean the women's bathroom. Although Kelly (played by former MAD-tv star and stand up comic Anjelah Johnson Reyes) recognizes him, she's too busy juggling church projects to be impressed.
And so begins their relationship.
One of the projects Kelly has on her plate is directing the church's Easter production.
Gavin slips in to a rehearsal and is immediately captivated by the chance to do something theatrical in place of pulling mop duty.
After a reluctance to cast Gavin because of his mega-sized ego, Kelly talks it over with Pastor Allen, who convinces her that giving second chances is what Christianity is all about.
As the title implies, the remainder of THE RESURRECTION OF GAVIN STONE chronicles his epiphany and eventual personal resurrection into a relationship with God's son.
For the most part, the film, written by Andrea Gyertson Nasfell, (who also wrote the screenplay for MOM'S NIGHT OUT) does a great job delivering a solid message without thumping us over the head with it.
Some of the most brilliant moments of Nasfell's script take place as Gavin is playing the part of Jesus on stage. Gavin's Jesus whispers to the man who balks when asked to give away everything and follow him. "Don't walk away! Don't go!," Gavin ad-libs, pleading with him. An improvisation built on Gavin's own growing relationship with the person he is portraying.
The film's direction by Dallas Jenkins (son of writer Jerry Jenkins) does much to gently draw this out. He also extracts a believable performance from former WWF star Shawn Michaels as Doug, a fellow church member, a bit gruff on the outside, but with a heart of gold.
In the end Gavin says to Kelly, "I was rude and selfish and you guys gave me a second chance." To which Kelly replies, "That's what we do."
All in all THE RESURRECTION OF GAVIN STONE is a faith-based film filled with little gems that record Gavin's turn around. It is, indeed, a resurrection.
Here's the trailer for THE RESURRECTION OF GAVIN STONE.
Photo credit: From Christianity Today website.
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