ORDINARY ANGELS (2024) - Movie Review

Director: Jon Gunn
Starring: Hilary Swank, Alan Ritchson, Nancy Travis, Emily Mitchell, Skywalker Hughes, Tamala Jones
Genre: Drama
Writer: Meg Tilly, Kelly Fremon Craig
Runtime: 118 min
Rated: PG for thematic content, brief bloody images and smoking
Buy This Movie: Blu-ray (Amazon), DVD (Amazon), Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV

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Synopsis:

Based on a remarkable true story, ORDINARY ANGELS centers on Sharon Steves (Hilary Swank), a fierce but struggling hairdresser in small-town Kentucky who 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 will move mountains to do it. What unfolds is the inspiring tale of faith, everyday miracles, and ordinary angels.

Review:

Faith-based movies usually get a bad wrap, mostly because of manipulative storytelling hitting you over the head with the holy MESSAGE, cloying sentimentality, bad acting or amateurish filmmaking. These movies usually earn decent amounts of money with little investment, but are so forgettable and bland that they hardly make a dent in the landscape of modern cinema.

"Ordinary Angels" doesn't innovate the biographical drama genre, but it does offer a comfortable and perfectly watchable story that efficiently mixes heavy drama with moments of lightheartedness and joy. Don't forget you tissues, because this movie is all about wringing out tears, and honestly you'd have to be the most cold-hearted cynic in the galaxy to walk away untouched by this story. Sure, it's manipulative, not very original, and tries a little too hard to achieve that "inspirational" status, but in the end, it's much more balanced than other movies of its kind.

Hilary Swank brings some of that Oscar-winning grit and charm, like a faith-based Erin Brockovich, full of fiery determination as the story's unlikely everyday hero. However, the movie doesn't smooth out the character's vulnerability and imperfections, which Swank ably integrates into her layered performance.

I must say I was most impressed by Alan Ritchson's performance. Mostly known for playing tough muscle-bound dudes in the "Reacher" show and Guy Ritchie's "The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare", he delivers a quiet, restrained role as a hard-working loving dad pushed to the limits by his family's desperate situation. He's reluctant to rely on other people for help, including his own mother, and deeply distressed by his inability to protect his loved ones. Ritchson shows some serious dramatic chops here.

"Ordinary Angels" can function perfectly as a heartbreaking rendition of a true story without using complicated narrative structures or gimmicky cinematic tricks. It's straightforward and engrossing, with a good balance between grief and lighter moments. It's well acted and has a nice, heartwarming positive message. It's an old-fashioned drama in the best sense of the phrase, that will make you feel good. What more could you ask for ?

SCORE: 8/10