Ordinary Angels opens February 22, 2024

Kelly Fremon Craig is among my favorite filmmakers when it comes to coming-of-age stories. Both The Edge of Seventeen and Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. have marked the genre in such a way that any work coming from her immediately captures my attention. Although only contributing to the screenplay co-written with Meg Tilly – better known as an actress in Agnes of God or Psycho II – it’s enough to give Ordinary Angels two hours of my time.

Directed by Jon Gunn (The Case for Christ) – no, the filmmaker shares no affinity with James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy, The Suicide Squad) – and starring Hilary Swank (Million Dollar Baby) and Alan Ritchson (Reacher), the film is inspired by a true story from 1994 in Louisville, Kentucky, where Michelle Schmitt, a sick child whose only chance of survival was a liver transplant, becomes dependent on the miraculous help of her community to overcome this unfair obstacle in her life.

Ordinary Angels Critique

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Ordinary Angels is a compelling story of pure altruism by a community completely devoid of selfish interests when human life, even more so of an innocent child, is at stake. Fremon Craig and Tilly’s script may follow the usual formulas and cliches of this type of narrative, but the dialogue authenticity overcomes any minor issues regarding originality or creativity. Swank and Ritchson are vital elements to the cathartic sensation predominant throughout the movie, presenting a subtlety to be praised for most of the runtime, choosing only the right moments to release all the accumulated emotions.

As I was unaware of the real story or even that Ordinary Angels was based on it, I was genuinely shocked by the quick research after watching the film, as the third act involves numerous altruistic actions by so many people that it was hard to believe everything happened exactly as the movie portrays. Obviously, some developments related to solving huge problems will surely be minimally adjusted to maintain the extremely optimistic, hopeful atmosphere – we’re talking about situations that haunt thousands of families around the world that don’t just get fixed because someone asked nicely – but everything involving the community itself is, in fact, entirely true and shows that there really is kindness spread throughout humanity, with Sharon Stevens (Swank) being the highlight.

A simple hairdresser who decided to help an unknown family by raising money through charity events in her salon and beyond. The main motivation was just to do something good for someone and contribute to saving a child’s life, but also to ‘heal’ herself. Alcoholism issues led to a gradual estrangement with her son, a secondary storyline in Ordinary Angels that, despite not being fully explored and resolved quickly, transmits another positive message that sometimes, it’s by helping others that we help ourselves.

Regardless of being a story already seen before and even executed better, Ordinary Angels is an inspirational story that deserves to be seen on the big screen, if possible. The score by Pancho Burgos-Goizueta contributes significantly to the teary eyes with which most viewers will watch the narrative unfold. Above all, may it serve as an inspiration and a lesson to the audience that, no matter how small the action, kindness towards others doesn’t have to be a sacrifice, but rather something that is part of our fundamental human nature.

In Conclusion

Ordinary Angels resonates as a powerful reminder of the human capacity for compassion and collective effort in the face of adversity. The sensitive screenplay by Kelly Fremon Craig and Meg Tilly, along with the stirring performances by Hilary Swank and Alan Ritchson, elevate this true story above the ordinary, offering an inspirational viewing experience that is both a celebration of the human spirit and a call to our inherent goodness. Despite relying on genre conventions, it stands out for its authenticity and the hopeful message it conveys. It’s, without a doubt, a movie that not only warms the heart of everyone who sees it but also prompts reflection on the transformative impact of generosity, altruism, and mutual care in building a better world.

7/10

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