Ordinary Angels (2024)

​“Ordinary Angels” stars Hilary Swank, Alan Ritchson, Nancy Travis, and Tamala Jones. Released on February 23, 2024, the film has a hairdresser helping a widowed father save his ill daughter.

The film was directed by Jon Gunn, who also directed films such as “Mercy Streets”, “Like Dandelion Dust”, “Do You Believe?”, and “The Case for Christ”. Sometimes, the greatest miracles in life are the ones we stumble upon unexpectedly. They remind us of the goodness that exists in the world and the power of kindness. One of those cases happened 30 years ago when the folks of Louisville united against Mother Nature to assist a young girl in need. If you want another reason today’s society needs to change itself, look no further than the latest inspirational drama reminding us how a single act of kindness can change everyone’s lives. You know, before the world went to pieces regarding politics, violence, and “woke agendas”. With nothing else to do this week, I finally decided to look at this movie before we get to the potentially good ones like “Kung Fu Panda 4” and “Ghostbusters”. Was the movie able to make a believer out of me? Let’s find out. 

The story, set in 1994, centers on Sharon Stevens (Swank), a fierce but struggling hairdresser in Louisville with a troubling history. As she seeks a new sense of purpose in her life, Sharon eventually encounters Ed Schmitt (Ritchson), a hard-working widower providing for his two daughters after his wife's death. One of the daughters, Michelle Schmitt (Emily Mitchell), is affected by an incurable disease, and Ed is eagerly waiting for a liver transplant that could save her life. As a result, Sharon decides to help by bringing the community’s attention to Ed and his daughters. When a major snowstorm hits Louisville due to a cold wave, Sharon and the community must come together to assist Ed in saving Michelle’s life. 

I don’t usually watch faith-based content during my spare time, but “Ordinary Angels” has something that immediately caught my attention besides the cast. What really intrigued me was the story it represented. The events in “Ordinary Angels” were set in 1994, when the North American cold wave occurred. It’s also the year I was born. Fortunately, my parents survived long enough to bring me into this world and lived to tell the tale. So, you can say that two miracles happened in that same year, with me only finding out about the father’s story from the marketing. Although that tale is more attention-grabbing than my birth, I was actually more impressed than jealous regarding the effort people took to help one another in a time of need. With the world still being trash, this movie couldn’t have come at a better time to remind us of the goodness we can bring to people and receive it in return. But the real question is whether its quality is as good as its thought-provoking themes.  

Based on what I’ve seen, most films involving faith or religion focus on pushing an agenda rather than telling great stories surrounding their concepts. That is one of the reasons I haven’t reviewed as many of those movies as often as others. “Ordinary Angels” may seem to be one of those examples based on the trailers, which got me a bit hesitant at first. So, I dragged my mother along to help me since she enjoys watching feel-good movies, especially ones based on actual events. As we were watching the film, I suddenly felt a warm feeling inside my body that made me think, “Oh my god. It’s actually trying to tell a good story about faith.” That feeling stayed with me until the credits rolled, and what I got in return was satisfaction, hope, and plenty of happy tears. "Ordinary Angels" effectively emphasizes the significance of demonstrating compassion and generosity when providing or receiving assistance. It also sets an example of how a faith-based movie can be made exceptional with the appropriate level of effort and dedication.

“Ordinary Angels” is a straightforward, by-the-book, fact-based film that doesn’t strive to provide anything unique or groundbreaking to its formula. However, that doesn’t make its basic plot less enjoyable than the award-worthy biopics we got in recent years. This is due to the film’s screenplay, which is co-written by Kelly Fremon Craig, who brought us “The Edge of Seventeen”. It's no wonder my heart felt so warm and fuzzy while watching this film. The script features dialogues that strike a healthy balance between humor and heart while presenting characters that are portrayed with humane and charismatic qualities as embodied by the actors. The movie focuses on two different characters: Sharon, an alcoholic struggling to get the help she needs, and Ed, a grieving father attempting to raise his two daughters but refusing to accept outside help. The film's central characters serve as influential symbols of redemption, hope, faith, and resilience, each representing a different facet of these themes. Sharon, in particular, stands out for her unwavering determination to aid Ed and Michelle, serving as a beacon of strength and compassion in their time of need. Through their struggles and triumphs, the protagonists inspire audiences to persevere in the face of adversity and to never lose sight of the transformative power of faith and hope. While it’s far from spectacular, the screenplay had plenty of material needed to provide a sense of wholesomeness that’s as graceful as frolicking through a field of flowers.

The film also has a surprising amount of emotional beats that would make even a cold-hearted person shed a tear, mainly due to Jon Gunn’s direction. Gunn achieved a delicate blend of comedy and drama while maintaining a grounded and compelling style that tugs at the heartstrings without being overly forceful. He allowed ample time for the characters to develop and showcased their personalities and dilemmas with wholesome charisma. This was actually the first movie I’ve watched from Jon Gunn, who’s been having a hit-and-miss track record regarding his filmography, especially the two Christian dramas he helmed. Based on what I saw, I believe this is his best work so far. My only gripe is that the movie does get a bit slow during a few scenes before picking itself up afterward. Besides that, Jon Gunn has a suitable knack for providing heartfelt drama amid its faith-based themes.

But, of course, it’s not just the direction and storytelling that lifted the film’s spirits. It’s also the cast that puts in as much effort as the community helping a sick child. The main highlights are Hilary Swank and Alan Ritchson as Sharon and Ed, respectively. If you’ve seen Swank in her previous movies, you’ll know how good she is at providing engaging and heartwarming characters. Unsurprisingly, her performance as Sharon is no exception. Swank skillfully captured the essence of a tenacious hairdresser who refused to take "no" for an answer. However, despite her unwavering determination, Sharon's past had left her emotionally vulnerable, causing her to believe that declining opportunities wasn't always the best option. Swank's portrayal was a testament to the complexity of the human psyche and how our past experiences shape our present actions. Alan Ritchson, who received popularity from the “Reacher” series, takes his acting skills to dramatic heights after starring in plenty of hard-hitting, action-packed content. The result is a surprisingly stellar change of pace for the actor. Regarding his enthralling portrayal of Ed, Ritchson shows that he can flex his dramatic muscles as much as his action ones. If that isn’t enough for me to check out “Reacher”, I don’t know what will. Nancy Travis and Tamala Jones were also great as Barbara and Rose, respectively, packing in enough moments to coincide with the main leads’ chemistry.

Overall, “Ordinary Angels” spreads its wings far and wide to deliver a heartfelt and uplifting tale of redemption and unification. Despite some slow scenes and similar fact-based narrative beats, the film showcases the potential of good storytelling and authentic passion to elevate its faith-based elements. Thanks to its main leads, Jon Gunn’s solid direction, and a screenplay that takes advantage of its emotional beats and formula, it’s another filmmaking miracle that satisfies on both fronts. It succeeds as a watchable faith-based film and a traditional feel-good drama for people of all ages. More importantly, it's another reminder that a simple act of kindness, whether directed towards a loved one or a stranger, can create a tremendous impact on everyone involved. It can bring joy to the recipient and fill the heart of the person performing the good deed with a sense of fulfillment and purpose. It is worth checking out if you enjoy these movies, but bring plenty of tissues beforehand.

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