Sweet.

That’s my one-word movie review of “Killian & the Comeback Kids.”

Wait. There’s more to praise. Lots more.

The coming-of-age romantic comedy was written, directed and produced in Easton and Bethlehem by Taylor A. Purdee, a graduate of the Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts, Fordham University and an Easton native.

In “Killian & the Comeback Kids,” Killian Raison (Taylor A. Purdee) gathers young actor-musicians to form a folk-rock band. Killian, a recent college graduate, has returned to his hometown, busking the center square to meager financial reward (An unopened stick of gum is one of his tips). Killian moved back into the home of his parents (Nathan Purdee and Kassie Wesley DePaiva) and younger sister Rowan (Genesis McCaulley) for the summer.

Killian learns that a small-clubs tour planned with Ben (Liam Higgins), his songwriting and performing partner, is canceled when Ben takes an office job with a record company.

Killian hangs out with a former high school friend, Sam (John Donchak). They recruit area friends and acquaintances for the band, including Tristan (Shane Andries), Melanie (Emily Mest), Therese (Yael Elisheva), Josh (Andrew O’Shanick) and Rose (Shannon O’Boyle).

The goal of Killian and Sam is to get the group booked at the big area summer music festival. A subplot has to do with the relationship of Killian and his father. Another storyline has to do with Killian and his friendship with Tristan, the band’s drummer. The romance between Sam and Rose also plays a part.

The feature film has the naive charm of an indie (independent) film. It’s at once disarming, compelling and emotionally-moving.

The screenplay by Taylor Purdee is authentic in dialogue. The direction by Taylor Purdee is casual and effective. The cinematography (Director of Photography Ian Mosley-Duffy) is inventive and awash in golden hues, representing well Lehigh Valley landscapes, main streets (mainly Easton) and a few snippets of SteelStacks, Bethlehem.

The screenplay references the former Bethlehem Steel Corp. South Side Bethlehem plant, Musikfest (called “Fest”) and the college experiences, aspirations and job prospects for the millennial generation, represented by the members of the Comeback Kids.

The plot to “Killian & the Comeback Kids” is a trope as old as the Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland “Let’s put on a show” musicals of the 1930s. That’s OK. God is in the details. Taylor Purdee and company pull it off with a minimum of fuss and a maximum of entertainment.

“Killian & the Comeback Kids” has the exuberance of the Irish film about a fledgling rock band, “The Commitments” (1991), the gentle romance at the heart of the 2007 film and 2011 musical, “Once,” also set in Dublin, and the tweeness of the early films of actor-screenwriter-director Greta Gerwig (“Hannah Takes the Stairs,” 2007; “Baghead,” 2008, “Nights and Weekends,” 2008).

“Killian & the Comeback Kids” rises or falls on the acting, singing and musicianship of Taylor Purdee. Fortunately, Taylor Purdee is believable, enticing and humorous.

The gentle comedy is enhanced by Taylor Purdee’s songwriting, in collaboration with Liam Higgins. The songs are uplifting, insightful and lovely, delivered with earnest musicianship by Taylor Purdee and his band, and heartfelt singing by Taylor Purdee. The Cumberland Kids, a folk-rock band of Taylor Purdee and Higgins, wrote and perform the songs and the music on the soundtrack.

In supporting roles, Nathan Purdee (TV’s “One Life To Live,” 1995-2009) is solid as the father, Kassie Wesley DePaiva (TVs “Days of Our Lives” 2014-2020) is nuanced as the mother, Donchak is whimsical as Sam, Andries (Blue Man Group) makes an impression as Tristan, Maddi Jane is memorable as Rachel, and O’Boyle (TV’s “Uncle Oscar,” 2017) registers in a break-out role as Rose. Godfrey Daniels co-founder Dave Fry sings and plays mandolin in a campfire scene.

The test of a film is whether or not the story, plot and characters linger in your heart and mind after you’ve left the screening. “Killian & the Comeback Kids” lingers long after you’ve left the movie theater. Don’t miss it.

“Killian & Comeback Kids,”

No MPAA rating. Genre: Romance, Comedy, Musical; Run Time:. Distributed by Hope Runs High Films.

Credit Readers Anonymous:

Lee Grant provides the voice for a phone call received by Killian. “Killian & the Comeback Kids” was released Sept.18, one of the few independent films released theatrically during the coronavirus (COVOD-19) pandemic. Taylor Purdee is a son of actor Nathan Purdee and producer-documentary film-maker Roberta Morris Purdee.

“Killian & Comeback Kids,”

No MPAA rating. Genre: Romance, Comedy, Musical; Run Time:. Distributed by Hope Runs High Films.

At the Movies:

“Killian and the Comeback Kids” was seen at the Movie Tavern, Trexlertown, which requires face masks, social distancing and even has seats taped off. The movie-goer removes the tape at the seat where he or she sits. The movie-going experience was great at the Movie Tavern, which is screening several new releases. I look forward to returning there.

Movie Box Office,

Oct. 2-4: “Tenet” continued at No. 1 five weeks in a row, $2.7 million, 2,722 screens, $45.1 million, five weeks. 2. “Hocus Pocus,” $1.9 million, 2,570 screens, re-release, one week. 3. “The New Mutants” dropped one place, $1 million, 2,154 screens, $20.9 million, six weeks. 4. “Unhinged” dropped one place, $870,000 million, 2,023 screens, $18.4 million, eight weeks. 5. “Infidel” stayed in place, $455,000, 1,792 screens, $3.4 million, three weeks. 6. “Star Wars Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back” dropped two places, $335,000, 1,675 screens, $2.2 million, re-release, 13 weeks. 7. “Possessor Uncut,” $227,500, 655 screens, opening. 8. “Shortcut,” $210,000, 655 screens, $652.975. two weeks. 9. “Save Yourselves!,’ $141,631, 388 screens, opening. 10. “The Call,” $!40,567, 195 screens, opening.

Unreel,

Oct. 9:

“The War with Grandpa,”

PG: Tim Hill directs Robert De Niro, Uma Thurman, Rob Riggle and Allentown’s Oakes Fegley in the Comedy Drama. Peter (Fegley) doesn’t want to share his room with his grandfather. The battle ensues and all hilarity breaks out.

“Honest Thief,”

PG-13: Mark Williams directs Liam Neeson, Kate Walsh, Jai Courtney and Jeffrey Donovan in the Crime Drama Thriller. A bank robber is double-crossed after he turns himself in.

“The Doorman,”

R: Ryûhei Kitamura directs Ruby Rose, Jean Reno, Aksel Hennie and Rupert Evans in the Action Thriller. A woman protects a family from thieves who want to steal their valuables.

“A Rainy Day in New York,”

PG-13: Woody Allen directs Timothée Chalamet, Elle Fanning, Liev Schreiber and Suzanne Smith in the Romance Comedy. A young couple’s weekend in New York City goes awry.

“Time,”

PG-13: Garrett Bradley directs Paolo Ikonomi and Fox Rich in the Documentary about a woman trying to get her husband released from a 60-year prison sentence.

Three Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes