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Hardworking Rev. Henry Biggs (Courtney B. Vance) has emptied himself for his urban congregation. His burnout is affecting his relationship with his wife Julia (Whitney Houston) and child Jeremiah (Justin Pierre Edmund). Biggs's inner-city youth work has stalled when a young man he befriends is falsely accused of armed robbery and Biggs is too beat to stand up for him. A local developer (Gregory Hines) is pressuring Biggs to accept the pastorate of a new church so the land on which the present church stands can be redeveloped. The offer is tempting, but Biggs knows the present church provides the glue holding the community together. If the church goes, the community dies.
Sensing his faith failing, Biggs prays to God for help. God responds in an unexpected way--Dudley (Denzel Washington) arrives as an angel to help get Biggs's priorities back on track. As Christmas arrives, the pace of Dudley's help accelerates. Christmas becomes a time of conflict resolution and new beginnings.
Don't expect this film to increase your understanding of angels; Dudley is entirely a screenwriter's creation. He can even act somewhat un-angelic at times.
On the other hand, for Hollywood to acknowledge the centrality of a church in creating a sense of community is downright refreshing. Rev. Biggs is portrayed as a deeply caring, godly individual who carries a sense of divine responsibility for the flock he pastors. His faith is intensely practical, leading him to reach out to the unfortunate members of the community in love and compassion. When he is at his best, he impacts people's lives for good and takes inspired stands against evil. The community depends on his wise and impassioned leadership. His greatest character flaw is that he works too hard and expects too much of himself, thus shortchanging both his flock and his family.
This film should open many opportunities to discuss faith values with children and youth. Whether they will want to watch it is another matter. In an era of fast action and high tension, this gentle film may be too tame for even most children. The fact that the story is told through the eyes of young Jeremiah helps.
For anyone enjoying black gospel music, Whitney Houston alone is worth the price of admission. Besides being the preacher's wife, she is the church choir's lead soloist.
The film's director, Penny Marshall, (you will probably remember her as Laverne in the television sitcom, Laverne and Shirley) is one of the few Hollywood women directors. Her other directing credits include League Of Their Own and Jumpin' Jack Flash. In an interview, Marshall acknowledged that she saw the film as expressing the value of faith. Clearly, the script could have been directed in such a way as to make faith look silly or naive. Marshall chose the more difficult, yet more rewarding, approach. I hope in future she has a chance to direct films that examine faith in more depth than this one did.
BURTON BULLER IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MB COMMUNICATIONS.
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