The Heavenly Kid

The Heavenly Kid
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Cary Medoway
Written by	Cary Medoway Martin Copeland
Produced by	Mort Engelberg
Starring	Lewis Smith Jane Kaczmarek Jason Gedrick Richard Mulligan
Cinematography	Steven Poster
Edited by	Christopher Greenbury
Music by	Kennard Ramsey Roxanne Seeman
Distributed by	Orion Pictures Corporation
Release date	July 26, 1985 (1985-07-26)
Running time	90 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$3,852,271

The Heavenly Kid is a 1985 American romantic comedy fantasy film directed by Cary Medoway and starring Lewis Smith, Jason Gedrick, Jane Kaczmarek and Richard Mulligan.

Plot

In the early 1960s, Bobby Fontana (Lewis Smith), a young greaser-type rebel, challenges Joe Barnes (Mark Metcalf) to a game of chicken for making a pass at his girlfriend Emily (Jane Kaczmarek). Bobby wins the race easily when Joe dives out of his car, but Bobby is unable to get out of the car in time due to his bracelet getting caught on the gearshift. He dies as his car plummets over the cliff into a fiery wreck.

Bobby awakens to find himself aboard a speeding train, which stops at a station housing a huge escalator going up into a bright white light, which one of the attendants refers to as "Uptown". Bobby is denied entry, and Rafferty (Richard Mulligan) appears and explains that he isn't considered ready yet and needs to carry out an assignment in order to earn his ticket Uptown. After many years in limbo, Bobby is finally given his assignment: he is to return to Earth and act as a guardian angel and friend for Lenny Barnes (Jason Gedrick), a promising high school student who is constantly picked on in school, particularly by school bullies Fred Gallo (Stephen Gregory) and Bill McIntyre (Beau Dremann). However, Bobby is instructed that he is only allowed to reveal himself to Lenny and nobody else.

Bobby helps Lenny by giving him a makeover, assisting him in dealing with Fred and Bill, and helping him win the affection of the hottest girl in school, Sharon (Anne Sawyer). However, Bobby eventually realizes that the new lifestyle Lenny is leading is not noble, as it causes him to rebel against everyone, including his parents. Bobby soon realizes that Lenny's mother is Emily, his former girlfriend, and is married to Joe, the man he was racing against when he died. Bobby breaks the Uptown rules and reveals himself to Emily to confess his love for her, and Emily informs him that he is actually Lenny's father.

In a scene reminiscent of the opening sequence, Lenny is challenged to a chicken race at the local quarry by Fred, Sharon's former boyfriend. Having been told by Rafferty that Lenny will die just as Bobby did earlier, Bobby offers to trade his own chance to move Uptown (essentially, his own immortal soul) to save Lenny's life. Much like Bobby's car race, the race ends with Lenny and Bobby flying over the edge of a cliff, and the car exploding in a fiery wreck. However, Bobby prevents Lenny from dying, and they climb up the cliff together. Bobby helps Lenny see the error of his ways as Lenny reunites with his long-time friend Melissa (Nancy Valen), who was in love with him and by his side even during his "nerdy years".

After bidding an emotional goodbye to Lenny, during which he tells him that they will always be best friends, Bobby offers himself to Rafferty to fulfill his end of the bargain by accepting a ride "Downtown" (essentially, to Hell). However, Rafferty explains that this will not be happening. Bobby incredulously asks why, since he had made a deal to trade his own soul for Lenny's second chance at life. Rafferty explains to Bobby that he had learned to love and value someone more than himself, and that is how one earned a ticket Uptown. Lenny and his girlfriend then watch Bobby and Rafferty fly into the sky on a motorbike, while the movie ends with Bobby going on the escalator to Uptown.

Cast

• Lewis Smith as Bobby Fontana
• Jason Gedrick as Lenny Barnes
• Jane Kaczmarek as Emily
• Richard Mulligan as Rafferty
• Mark Metcalf as Joe Barnes
• Beau Dremann as McIntyre
• Stephen Gregory as Gallo
• Anne Sawyer as Sharon
• Nancy Valen as Melissa
• Chad Wiggins-Grady as Jerry
• Scott Stone as Frank
• Rooney Kerwin as Suburbanite
• Will Knickerbocker as Max
• Harold Bergman as Mr. Finley
• Donna Rosae as Boulevard Girl
• Barney Johnston as Platform Official
• Lit Gonnah as Bag Lady
• Bill Ash as Older Official
• Willie Woods as Vendor
• Jody Sharlow as Surfer
• David Stidham as Slick Salesman
• Kevin L. Clarit as Grease Jockey
• T.R. Durphy as Drug Dealer
• Debra Gallagher as Plain Girl
• Lynne Griffin as Waitress
• Stacy Koolick as Student
• Christopher Greenbury as Man Eating Hot Dog

Soundtrack

The soundtrack consists of ten songs featured in the movie. The soundtrack was released on vinyl, cassette and as of 2013 it was available digitally through iTunes and Amazon MP3. The vinyl album was taken out of print almost as quickly as it became available due to manufacturing defects on the LP: during the tracks "Animal Attraction" and "Crusin' Tonight" there are several misaligned grooves that transferred to all copies of the LP which caused major skips.

Track listing

1. Joe Lynn Turner - "Heartless"
2. Jon Fiore - "The Heavenly Kid (Out on the Edge)"
3. Jamie Bond - "Heart of Love"
4. Howard Hewett - "Obsession"
5. Debra Laws - "Cruisin' Tonight"
6. Jamie Bond - "Animal Attraction"
7. Mickey Thomas - "Two Minute Love"
8. The George Duke Band - "So Mean to Me"
9. George Duke - "Hamburgers"
10. Neko-Meka - "When the Children Make the Mighty Fall"
11. Shandi Sinnamon - "So Far Away"*
12. Chris Farren - "Dream Machine"*
13. Stuffy Shmitt - "I Need The Touch"*
14. Jerry Lee Lewis - "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On"*

* Song is featured in the movie but not on the soundtrack album.

Notes and references

• "Seventh Annual Youth in Film Awards" by Young Artist Foundation, http://www.youngartistawards.org/, July 7, 2006, retrieved July 7, 2006

External links

• The Heavenly Kid at IMDb
• The Heavenly Kid at AllMovie
• The Heavenly Kid at Rotten Tomatoes