Jessie and the Elf Boy is an enchanting fairy tale production, whereby a young girl befriends an elf boy, Ghillie (Huck Whittle), in the woods outside her home. We have no backstory for either character, nor are we given a name for the girl, we are just asked to follow them, as they joyfully galavant throughout this girl’s childhood years, playing with a horse they have stumbled upon, and having adventures near Ghillie’s woodsey fairylike cabin he lives in, until one day the girl surprisingly moves away, against her will; Ghillie is distraught and begins to search for her.
We immediately fast forward to, presumably, the same girl, Jessie (Julia Brown), now in her young adult years — a hair stylist, looking for a job. She lands employment in one of a series of salons owned by her well-known, yet distant mother, Valerie (Gail Watson), who treats Jessie more like a slave than a daughter. Through bits of conversations and facial gestures, we quickly understand that the mother has been rejecting her daughter for years; disappointingly, we never learn why this is. Jessie is also rejected by her boss, who resents her for being the daughter of the owner and so makes her life miserable; as a result, Jessie struggles to succeed as a hair stylist on her own, and to be happy, until Ghillie finally appears, and tries to help, instead creating mischief that turns Jessie’s life upside down. There are many Cinderella-like qualities to Jessie’s character, who does not remember Ghillie from youth.
Regardless of some narrative holes, loose ends that never tie up, and production elements that are clearly due to a lean budget, such as sets and costumes, Jessie and the Elf Boy is a fun film for children. Ghillie creates a good deal of mischief and suspense, as he attempts to help Jessie be a success, and seeks to protect her from those who wish her harm, and since no one can see him, unless wearing a necklace that only Jessie possesses, it appears as though magic is happening throughout. Although much of the escapades are fairly corny from an adult standpoint, I can imagine several laugh-out-loud moments for young children, especially with the comical hairstyles that Ghillie comes up with and that Jessie takes credit for.
Where this film really shines for all ages, however, is in the end. Aside from the comical stunts, Jessie and her roommate have been helping Ghillie acclimate to the modern world, and circumstances occur that drive the mother-daughter narrative forward, so when a major twist happens in the end of the film, the viewer is in absolute shock! I sat bolt upright in my seat, simply amazed by a sudden realization, which was emotional and deeply significant for several characters, and the acting was so powerful in that moment that it made me cry. The acting is, indeed, solid by all main characters in this film, and the direction is on point as well. With the surprise ending intact, Jessie and the Elf Boy is an adventurous and heartfelt ride for all who believe in modern fairy tales.
The Dove Take
Jessie and the Elf Boy is an adventurous escape into the life of a girl, who is friends with a fairy creature, that brings both chaos and reconciliation into her life. This is Dove-approved for All Ages.
