Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.0

Ordinary Angels Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman May 11, 2024

Ordinary Angels tells a heartwarming tale of people helping people, even when their own lives may be in considerable disarray. It's an almost deliberately manipulative film that will almost certainly tug at heartstrings and/or produce lumps in the throat, and it's yet another "based on a true story" enterprise that supposedly gives it the imprimatur of authenticity, but it's still a familiar story that may unintentionally provide evidence that when "bad things happen to good people", it's not some Divine Presence that "fixes" things, but everyday human beings. That might seem to be counterintuitive for a so-called "faith based film", but it may be a prime example of "God helps those who help themselves (or others, as the case may be)".

Ed (Alan Ritchson, whose own life story may become fodder for one of these "feel good" efforts one of these days) is the very model of a modern stand up guy, suddenly beset with a Job-like aggregation of tribulations, including the death of his wife and the potentially fatal illness of one of his two daughters. Sharon (Hilary Swank) is a hard partying alcoholic hairdresser who spies a newspaper article about Ed's daughter and rather uncharacteristically seems to be "called" to action. The rest of the film depicts the rather "Lifetime"-esque relationship between this very odd couple, who aren't necessarily drawn together due to any immediate romantic sparking, but more due to a somewhat shared history with trauma and desires to save little Michelle (Emily Mitchell).

It's frankly a foregone conclusion how this thing is going to end (let's just say the "faith based films" tend to want to get to that promised happily ever after), and so the overall plot movement isn't especially surprising, but there are some intermittent moments of character development that allow all of the featured players to shine. Swank brings a certain steeliness and perhaps slightly unexpected vulnerability to the obviously very troubled Sharon, and in fact her "journey" is probably as moving as anything involving Ed and Michelle.

If Swank is the marquee attraction here, there's some "trivial pursuit" action available in the screenwriting credits. The film was co-authored by Kelly Fremon Craig, who wrote the (to my mind) vastly superior Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. Fremon's collaborator was none other than Meg Tilly, whose filmography only includes one previous writing credit, but whose on screen appearances have offered a surprisingly wide array of characters.

Ordinary Angels Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Ordinary Angels is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Lionsgate Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.39:1. As of the writing of this review, the IMDb has virtually no information on the shoot, and I haven't been able to track down any other authoritative online information. Unfortunately, while the making of supplement has a ton of quick shots of the digital cameras utilized, I wasn't able to, well, capture any brand or model number. The capture has been pretty aggressively tweaked in what I'm assuming is the digital grain department to try to get to that "real film" look, but I have to say in some cases I found this approach to be a bit distracting, especially since some scenes have more of the traditionally glossy and sleek appearance of digital capture. That one niggling qualm aside, this is an appealingly detailed presentation that offers some nice renderings of fine detail even in less than fulsome lighting conditions. Once again, the Lionsgate masthead is rife with banding, but I noticed no major compression artifacts in the actual feature. My score is 4.25.

Ordinary Angels Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Ordinary Angels features a perhaps unexpected Dolby Atmos track that frankly is probably going to strike some audiophiles as needless, since the Atmos speakers only provide intermittent verticality. Otherwise, though, the track is consistently immersive, both in terms of ambient environmental effects, but also a soundtrack featuring a number of source cues (including "Angels We Have Heard on High", which may strike some as a bit too "on the nose" and/or "head of a pin", as the case may be). Outdoor material in particular, including the calamitous climactic blizzard, offers some well done surround activity. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English, French and Spanish subtitles are available.

Ordinary Angels Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Audio Commentary with Director Joe Gunn and Producers Kevin Downes and Jon Berg


• Making Ordinary Angels (HD: 11:28) is a decent EPK with some good interviews and behind the scenes footage.


• Inspiring the Ordinary (HD; 5:16) focuses on what faith can achieve.


• Finding Your Purpose (HD: 6:08) looks at Sharon's struggles.


• You Are Not Alone (HD; 6:02) emphasizes how community can help heal.


• Deleted Scenes (HD; 7:19)

DVD and digital copies are also included. Additionally packaging features a slipcover.

Ordinary Angels Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I've only semi-jokingly stated that in these past few years of "challenges" that have confronted many of us, most likely unwillingly, I've often turned to Rick and Morty for generous supplies of scabrous humor to take my mind off of "real life". On the "flip side" of that equation, though, I also unapologetically often turn to HGTV for solace, simply because it often features, well, people helping people. In that regard, it may be slightly hilarious that Ed works as a roofer, helping to rehabilitate people's damaged homes. Rehabilitation of lives is a potent subtext of this film, and I'm sure those with an appreciation for "three hankie weepers" who also enjoy so-called "faith based entertainment" will find a lot to like in this film. Others may feel like they're being manipulated to an intense degree, but one way or the other, there is some potent emotional content here, albeit in a very tired and well worn context. Technical merits are solid and the supplements very enjoyable, for anyone who may be considering making a purchase.