The purpose of a movie trailer is to get an audience intrigued in seeing the movie, however, when the trailer paints the movie as something it absolutely is not, it does a disservice to the movie itself and sets up the audience for disappointment. Ordinary Angels is advertised as “from the creators of Jesus Revolution and I Can Only Imagine,” which immediately makes the movie feel like its going to be one of those preachy religious movies. Even though Jesus Revolution didn’t lay it on too thick, the mindset is still present. However, the fact of the matter is Ordinary Angels is not a heavily religious film, no more than a Nicholas Sparks adaptation (The Notebook), while possessing that level of cheesiness and heart-string palpability. Ordinary Angels boasts a strong leading cast with a highly emotional story trajectory that will surely leave the audience inconsolable as the credits roll, as long as they’re expecting the heartfelt story and not something else.
L-R: Hilary Swank as Sharon Stevens and Alan Ritchson as Ed Schmitt in the drama ORDINARY ANGELS, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
The film focuses on Ed Schmitt (Alan Ritchson), who continues to get dealt arguably the worst hand one could be handed. He lost his wife and has been left to raise his two daughters on his own, and five years after his wife dies, his youngest daughter, Michelle (Emily Mitchell), needs a liver transplant or she will die. Ed is a roofer; he simply does not make enough money to save his daughter’s life due to the lack of health insurance, and a newspaper article is written about Ed and Michelle and their hardships. On the other end of this story is Sharon Stevens (Hilary Swank), who’s a hairdresser in denial about her alcoholism. She sees the story in the paper and comes to an epiphany of sorts that she is meant to help the Schmitts and ensure that Michelle gets the transplant she needs to save her life.
T-B: Emily Mitchell as Michelle Schmitt and Alan Ritchson as Ed Schmitt in the drama ORDINARY ANGELS, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
The movie comes to fruition when Sharon randomly shows up to Ed’s house, where his mother Barbara (Nancy Travis) lives with them, as well, and tells him that she wants to help, handing over an envelope of literally thousands of dollars. Barbara invites Sharon in for dinner, against Ed’s wishes, and continues to be the driving force behind Sharon’s help as Ed is against the idea of her helping, despite the great efforts she goes to, and never changes his mind. For someone who wants to, practically at any cost shy of selling his family home, save his daughter, Ed certainly doesn’t intend on making life any easier for himself.
L-R: Hilary Swank as Sharon Stevens and Tamala Jones as Rose in the drama ORDINARY ANGELS, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
Ordinary Angels, which is penned by first-time feature writer Meg Tilly and Kelly Fremon Craig (yes, that Kelly Fremon Craig behind Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret? And The Edge of Seventeen), takes this true story and makes it something more engaging and heartfelt than an episode of 20/20, and gives it a place to belong. However, as engaging and genuine as the script feels, it would all be incredibly worthless if the cast were unable to bring it all together. Swank (The Hunt) and Ritchson (Reacher) are undeniably fantastic, with the former delivering an undeniable powerhouse of a performance that is met with determination and preservice just lacking cause. Thankfully, this was probably where the overzealous religious undertones would’ve been incredibly over the top and explain her reasoning, but its removal only helps the film and, ultimately, her performance. Just doing the right thing because it’s the right thing and using her perseverance and refusal-to-take-no-for-an-answer attitude meets Swank’s ability to create powerful performances and develop characters. Ritchson, on the other hand, playing the “tough” guy who’s absolutely gutted at the reality of losing his wife and most likely losing one of his daughters, has him just completely emotionless and broken. This is not in any way to suggest or imply that his performance was hollow or missing depth, because it’s the opposite. Ritchson’s broken mindset and not wanting to get caught in anything he doesn’t entirely trust is as close to what feels like a truthful performance of a father who can’t stop fighting but just doesn’t have the mental energy to deal with anymore heartbreak.
Alan Ritchson as Ed Schmitt in the drama ORDINARY ANGELS, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
Ordinary Angels takes this true story and creates a world for the audience to entirely get lost in that is undeniably moving and provoking. While Jon Gunn (The Unbreakable Boy) directs the film without redefining direction, and Fremon Craig and Tilly bring a script to the forefront that, without their nuance, would feel like a Lifetime-of-the-week feature, it is the performances that bring Ordinary Angels into a wider conversation. While the movie certainly is targeted at a specific audience (one who the advertisements lean heavily into, but is not the actual audience), the end product is one that anyone can get behind and it creates a powerful story of determination and love that truly is undeniable.
In theaters February 23rd, 2024.
For more information, head to the official Ordinary Angels website.
Final Score: 3.5 out of 5.
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Categories: In Theaters, Reviews
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