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In Theaters Now
- 2024
- PG
- Lionsgate Films
- 1 h 58 m
- 2024
- PG
- Lionsgate Films
- 1 h 58 m
Summary Sharon Steves (Hilary Swank), a fierce but struggling hairdresser in small-town Kentucky, discovers a renewed sense of purpose when she meets Ed Schmitt (Alan Ritchson), a widower working hard to make ends meet for his two daughters. With his youngest daughter waiting for a liver transplant, Sharon sets her mind to helping the family and...
Directed By: Jon Gunn
Written By: Meg Tilly, Kelly Fremon Craig
In Theaters Now
- 2024
- PG
- Lionsgate Films
- 1 h 58 m
- 2024
- PG
- Lionsgate Films
- 1 h 58 m
Ordinary Angels
57
7.7
Where to Watch
Summary Sharon Steves (Hilary Swank), a fierce but struggling hairdresser in small-town Kentucky, discovers a renewed sense of purpose when she meets Ed Schmitt (Alan Ritchson), a widower working hard to make ends meet for his two daughters. With his youngest daughter waiting for a liver transplant, Sharon sets her mind to helping the family and...
Directed By: Jon Gunn
Written By: Meg Tilly, Kelly Fremon Craig
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 16 Critic Reviews
57
56% Positive
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
38% Mixed
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
6% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 16 Critic Reviews
57
56% Positive
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
38% Mixed
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
6% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Directed by Jon Gunn with no frills but a lot of suspense that comes out of the story naturally, without the need for any manufactured Hollywood thrills, and co-written by actor Meg Tilly and Kelly Fremon Craig, this is one of those rare emotional sagas “based on a true story” that begs to make it to the screen but seems preposterous when it gets there.
Even if you don’t know the true story behind the heartwarming and uplifting “Ordinary Angels,” I can’t think of a single plot development that will surprise you and sometimes that’s OK. Sometimes it’s enough to sit back and settle in for a Comfort Viewing Movie that reminds us that even in these dark and stressful times, there are a lot of true and decent people out there who are capable of doing miraculous things.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 11 User Ratings
7.7
82% Positive
9 Ratings
9 Ratings
9% Mixed
1 Rating
1 Rating
9% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 11 User Ratings
7.7
82% Positive
9 Ratings
9 Ratings
9% Mixed
1 Rating
1 Rating
9% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
IN A NUTSHELL:
The true story is about a hairdresser who single-handedly rallies an entire community to help a widowed father save the life of his critically-ill, young daughter.
The lovely film was directed by Jon Gunn who also served as Executive Producer. Writing credits go to Kelly Fremon Craig and Meg Tilly.
THINGS I LIKED:
Who doesn’t adore Academy Award winner (twice) Hilary Swank? Nobody. That’s who. She elevates the film and gives the story the attention it deserves.
Alan Ritchson first flew onto my radar when I saw him in the role of the TV show “Reacher” based on the popular movie character played by Tom Cruise. He’s a beast in that show! Did you know he was a U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sergeant? He’s also a Christian, so I imagine he enjoyed telling this story about faith. At an event with the cast of the film, he encouraged Christian movies when he said, “If that’s where the pulpit is for people who wouldn’t normally step foot in a church, then that’s still a great way to have that conversation. It matters that these films get supported.”
The darling little girls in the movie are played by Emily Mitchell and Skywalker Hughes. Their grandmother is played by Nancy Travis.
I love the title. We all wish angels would rescue us from our troubles, yet we forget that WE can be angels in each other’s lives. Spencer W. Kimball once said, “God does notice us, and He watches over us. But it is usually through another person that He meets our needs. Therefore, it is vital that we serve one another.” I’ve never forgotten that quote since the first time I heard it.
The film takes place in Louisville, Kentucky with plenty of Southern accents and feel-good vibes. My nephew just moved to Kentucky, so I’m planning on making my first trip out there soon! I’ve never been there!
One of the daughters reads the inspirational story about the man who tossed stranded starfish back into the ocean. Someone mocked him for doing so, saying he wasn’t going to make a difference when there were so many starfish needing to be saved. He wisely said, “I made a difference to this one.” I’ve always loved that story.
It’s so heartwarming to see the community all work together to save a little girl’s life.
Even after so many miracles were seen, there were people who said “It couldn’t be done” or they asked “How?” This movie is a reminder that we need to have faith and to simply do our part.
Keep watching during the rolling credits to see photos and video clips of the real people involved in all of the events pictured in the movie.
On the screen, we read “Every year, thousands of lives are saved by organ donations. Learn how to become an organ donor at ****
THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:
The movie definitely pulls at your heartstrings in predictable, manipulative ways, but I didn’t mind it one bit. What’s amazing about this story is that it depicts true events that really happened!
TIPS FOR PARENTS:
Kids may be bored watching all of the adult problems
Smoking
Alcohol and drunkenness
A mother dies
A woman struggles with alcoholism
Report
Enjoyed this. Felt quite emotional at times. Hilary Swank did well in her role.
Report
It’s feel-good at its best, and in this day and age, is anything more even necessary?
Ordinary Angels, an uplifting drama inspired by the effort to get a sick girl to a transplant hospital amid a massive 1994 Kentucky snowstorm, poses a challenge to cynics: Even if you could resist another spunky, heartstring-tugging Hilary Swank performance in this overstuffed true tale, who among us can deny the sublime beauty of Jack Reacher’s tears?
Gunn adeptly exercises a necessary modicum of visual dexterity to emphasize character drive.
Maybe Ordinary Angels is so accessible to godless critics and church-going civilians alike because it focuses on a circle of hell that everyone in this country has to enter at some point, no matter what they might believe in: the American healthcare system.
The film refuses to linger in these quieter, well-acted Ritchson scenes, often in favor of a scene with Sharon. Swank is not necessarily bad in the role, but the film works too hard, and to minimal avail, to manipulate us into sympathy for her overbearing personality.
As far as feel-good movies are concerned, this one was pretty good. The critics are miserable slugs with few redeeming qualities. The acting was good, the story was good, the pace was good, the tears were good, and the ending was lovely. We're rate this: "make some popcorn and get some tissues because you'll see a good movie."
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Production Company
Kingdom Story Company,
Green Hummingbird Entertainment,
Stampede Ventures,
Stolen Sky Productions,
Vertigo Entertainment
Release Date Feb 23, 2024
Duration 1 h 58 m
Rating PG
Genres
Website
https://ordinaryangels.movie/
