The Resurrection of Gavin Stone

Brett Dalton (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) plays Gavin with enough roguish charm to make his deception entertaining rather than repulsive. The premise — a Hollywood has-been conning a church — is a comedy setup, but the film has enough self-awareness to develop it into something more. Anjelah Johnson-Reyes is likable as the pastor's daughter who sees through Gavin's act. D.B. Sweeney as the pastor plays the role straight, which grounds the comedy in real relationships. The film's smartest move is depicting the church members as three-dimensional people who are genuinely kind rather than easy marks. When Gavin starts to feel guilty about his deception, it's because these are good people, not because of some dramatic revelation. The Easter play rehearsal scenes are the comedic highlight — watching a vain actor try to play Jesus with humility he doesn't have is inherently funny. The resolution is predictable but earned. At 92 minutes, it doesn't overstay its welcome. A pleasant surprise for a genre that too rarely attempts comedy.