The Heavenly Kid (1985)

User Rating:

5.3/10   

Director:

Cary Medoway

Writers:

Cary Medoway (writer) &
Martin Copeland (writer)

Release Date:

26 July 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

Thou shalt be cool!

Plot:

When Bobby dies in a car accident he is not allowed to enter heaven but has to stay in one of the lower...

Plot Keywords:

Angel | Afterlife | Death Of Loved One | Invisible | Drag Racing

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Lewis Smith	...	Bobby Fantana
Jason Gedrick	...	Lenny Barnes
Jane Kaczmarek	...	Emily Barnes
Richard Mulligan	...	Rafferty
Mark Metcalf	...	Joe Barnes
Beau Dremann	...	McIntyre / Bill
Stephen Gregory	...	Fred Gallo
Anne Sawyer	...	Sharon
Nancy Valen	...	Melissa
Chad Wiggins-Grady	...	Jerry
Scott Stone	...	Frank
William Kerwin	...	Suburbaner (as Rooney Kerwin)
Will Knickerbocker	...	Max
Harold Bergman	...	Mr. Finley
Donna Rosea	...	Boulevard Girl

Also Known As:

Heavenly Kid (UK) (video box title)
Teen Angel (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:M | Finland:K-12 | Norway:12 (original rating) | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 | Egypt:(Banned)

Filming Locations:

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Company:

Engelberg-Sumner-Cheikes

Trivia:

The high school scenes briefly depicted in the film is North Miami Senior High School, in North Miami, Florida.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Lenny should be much older (probably in his twenties) since he is Bobby's son and we know that Bobby died in the early 1960s. Instead the movie portrays Lenny as a high school student/teenager in 1985.

Quotes:

Bobby: Hey, Good Looking.
Emily Barnes: Bobby?
[faints]

Movie Connections:

References A Guy Named Joe (1943)

Soundtrack:

Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On

Heartfelt, sentimental, 80s teen comedy

There were a lot of great flicks that came out in the mid to late 80s. Many of them (most directed by John Hughes) went down as classics. Others were overlooked and underrated. Some became sleeper hits (John Cusack flicks) and still get heavy play in my VCR, especially during the Summer. "Heavenly Kid", however, is one of my faves that not too many people have heard of.

It's a pretty straight forward story that could have been lifeless, but struck an emotional chord with me due to the acting and the sentimental value of the whole thing. It's also a great father-son story done from a different and original take.

Bobby is your typical badass, black leather jacket wearing, cigarette smoking, drag racing, babe magnet who is killed in a game of chicken. This happens within the first five minutes of the movie and the next thing you know, Bobby is on the train to heaven. Upon getting there, he's presented with a small problem. They won't let him in unless he plays guardian angel and gets his wings. So it's back to earth for Bobby.

He's sent back approximately seventeen years later to help a young geek get his life straight and to give the kid a little self-esteem.

This is a wholly enjoyable film that anyone can enjoy. Although, some may complain that the ending is predicatable, they would be disappointed if it ended any other way.