Rob Peace leads me to feelings of anger and frustration. Generally not towards the movie, which I think is excellent. No. Instead…why was this great story about an interesting man just dumped into theaters unmarketed in August? Any why haven’t we heard Rob’s story until now? I guess for one of the great stories about unfulfilled promise, it makes sense that the movie has to take a similar route into the world. Still, here’s hoping the power of Peace’s tale can continue to overcome all the obstacles in its way…in its due time.
Rob Peace (Jay Will) came of age in the late 1980s early 1990s in East Orange New Jersey. He grew up in a family torn apart by the justice system: his dad Skeet Douglas (Chiwetel Ejiofor) was sent to prison under shady circumstances for life, after two women were murdered in a complex he was staying at, forcing Rob’s mom Jackie (Mary J. Blige) to work multiple jobs to put her son into a private Catholic school to get the best education possible. In spite of everything, Rob shines, going to Yale to study molecular biophysics and biochemistry…but, that level of brilliance from a rare place like Orange means other things might demand his time, like say, his father’s case appeal.
The wealth of themes and ideas in Rob Peace will keep your head spinning, in a good way. Rob is a man of two worlds: a black man born in a poorer community in New Jersey that’s also a Yale biochemistry major. In Rob’s short life, he was forced to deal with things relating to: leaving a toxic place vs. caring for your people, continuing vs. breaking the crime cycle, living your life vs. helping save another’s life, what to use your gifts for, in addition to all the other coming of age lessons of life: learning to love, how to balance your time, how to make money, etc. Each new scene Ejiofor crafts comes with a new idea he can explore through Peace’s story. At times the dialogue can get a little to the point too quickly, but overall, the thematic richness and variation overcomes any small script related grounding deficiencies.
While Ejiofor is the Oscar nominee, his underutilized sneaky great cast turns him into the movie’s weak link. The three singers in particular rivet when they’re onscreen. Mary J. Blige has turned into quite the character actress, and leaves us wanting more with an underwritten but crucial part as Rob’s mother. Jay Will is the acting unknown here, but in a movie built around him, he’s really good at code switching between the two lives he leads, an insanely impressive debut. The big shocker: I didn’t know Camila Cabello had something like this in her. After being an ok leading lady, she shows she can play a great supporting part when she wants, really selling the verbal battle she and Jay Will have as Rob’s life threatens to come apart at the seams. I also have a soft spot for Benjamin Papac’s turn as Peace’s best friend from Yale, Jeff Hobbs. I’m glad all the talent eventually gets a chance to cook in at least once scene over Rob Peace’s runtime, but I wonder what would have happened if Ejiofor had excised his own side story, and elevated his cast to a more faithful book adaptation, if the movie might have been even better.
But as is, Rob Peace is still bound to leave some mark for anyone with an open heart for a great story. Yes, even though it was cut short, Rob Peace led a great life, one worthy of a book and movie adaptation so more people can learn about him. And, more importantly, cast Mary J. Blige in more things: I get legit excited when she pops up in a film now. That’s real love from me.