The author of that post is quite devoid of any spiritual insight. Anyone with any Bible knowledge at all can appreciate this movie, even though fictional. The plot does bring everything together in the end. Those who obviously have an axe to grind on spiritual issues should just keep their opinion to themselves unless they are willing to openly state their position. The author calls the plot warped without any insight that God has frequently utilized difficult situations for the ultimate good of those involved, or for those descended from them. Those who presume to judge how God works will ultimately face their error.
6 Reviews
Let's Talk About an Excellent Film, Not Argue Religion
mfreburg-946-1375412 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
I was really put off by the other reviews who wanted to argue faith rather than review this film. Were their issues of faith involved? Sure--the Film's title, "An Unlikely Angel" suggests there is. But a movie review is not the place to debate Christianity. This is a movie review. So let's talk about the film instead.
Jillian Murray is a fabulous actress. I've seen many of her films and she doesn't ever disappoint. Her character here, Janie Caswell, is placed in what may not be the most realistic plot situation here (remember, this is a movie), but she made me want to believe what was happening. All the other supporting actors were more than adequate, with Robert Amaya standing out as a cut above. Other reviewers criticized what things he did as the angel, but I don't think any of the reviewers here are actually angels, and thus not in a position to JUDGE him. And, I repeat, this is a movie--a story.
If I have a small criticism of the film it is that during Janie's (Murray) life experience, post-coma, where it was increasingly clear that her marriage was in trouble, that her husband was emotionally distant and cheating, even if not physically, I as a viewer grew increasingly upset...yet was relieved when Janie turned to God rather than confronting the people around her who were hurting her. And while I found myself feeling terrible for her at this point, I was also rooting for her. (Did I mention that Jillian Murray is a great actress? You can see that I bought into Janie's plight, regardless of how she got there.)
Ultimately, the film's end was satisfying--and a surprise! But what romance movie is not satisfying. Even faith-based films must be that way because at the end of the day they are entertainment, not a Bible study--but entertainment. This is a very different, yet very entertaining film.
Jillian Murray is a fabulous actress. I've seen many of her films and she doesn't ever disappoint. Her character here, Janie Caswell, is placed in what may not be the most realistic plot situation here (remember, this is a movie), but she made me want to believe what was happening. All the other supporting actors were more than adequate, with Robert Amaya standing out as a cut above. Other reviewers criticized what things he did as the angel, but I don't think any of the reviewers here are actually angels, and thus not in a position to JUDGE him. And, I repeat, this is a movie--a story.
If I have a small criticism of the film it is that during Janie's (Murray) life experience, post-coma, where it was increasingly clear that her marriage was in trouble, that her husband was emotionally distant and cheating, even if not physically, I as a viewer grew increasingly upset...yet was relieved when Janie turned to God rather than confronting the people around her who were hurting her. And while I found myself feeling terrible for her at this point, I was also rooting for her. (Did I mention that Jillian Murray is a great actress? You can see that I bought into Janie's plight, regardless of how she got there.)
Ultimately, the film's end was satisfying--and a surprise! But what romance movie is not satisfying. Even faith-based films must be that way because at the end of the day they are entertainment, not a Bible study--but entertainment. This is a very different, yet very entertaining film.
It's A Wonderful Life Copycat
Leemelod13 August 2023
Warning: Spoilers
So many movies are made knocking off the premise of It's A Wonderful Life. My opinion will not be popular, but I hate these movies. I get the premise in a secular realm, but not in a so called Christian movie. There is no reality to this. God is not going to show you the future and give you a second chance in the way it was done in the movie. If you read scripture, it's expressly forbidden. You live your life and whatever good or bad you do, you reap the consequences. He will intervene by changing your life through redemption, but whatever you did in the past is still your past and he then works it out for your good. There is no time travel and what's done is done. It would have been better if she would have just gone back home from the meeting and lived the rest of her life learning from her mistakes and being the best mom she could be. Her waking up all of the sudden back in time with none of the consequences and getting to live the life she could have lived has she made a different choice is not reality. It's not Biblical. Also, on a another note, the husband said nothing was going on with that other woman and maybe nothing physical was, but he definitely was emotional cheating with that woman. With that said I gave the movie three stars, because I thought the actors did a decent job.
Sick and not in a good way.
pamelabills27 November 2022
In this film Janie has just had a baby girl & is leaving hospital in a cab which unbeknownst to her is being driven by an angel. The angel, with a smile, states there is some "divine intervention" going on in her situation. Suddenly she yells for him to turn, he does and a truck t-bones them on her side of the car. It seems that the message is that God would happily cause an accident & injury as part of divine intervention. The angel seems to be knowingly causing this accident & seems totally fine with that. Seems pretty warped to me. Angel seems to have no regret/sadness over what is about to occur.
There are a lot of things that will lead people astray.
aribeatriz-5065923 May 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Why is the husband entertaining another woman while he is still married. I just kept thinking how this movie was condoning adultery because his wife was in a coma. The husband saw nothing wrong with him pretty much being in another relationship right in front of his wife. I also didn't think she would just miss 6 years of her life due to the coma she was out in because of this random accident. Could've been way better, the story line in the last like 10 minutes was better than the whole movie like how ridiculous. Barely anything happened the whole movie that was even worth watching it. I thought it would show more about how God spoke to her about her life choices but the way they went about it was just wrong.
A human outlook on God causes all things to work together for good.
Jackbv12320 August 2023
I agree in part with "Sick" and I have studied the Bible and been active in my church for several decades. My problem here is not that the plot involves suffering to change Janie's life. That has been a timeless pattern for Christians. My problem is that human writers had the audacity to think they could be as wise as God.
Janie wakes up from a one in a million if not billion situation and no one is prepared. "Let's pray." "Let's depend on God." Everything that develops occurs with no one being prepared. The husband has no idea how to tell her what happened. Where are the counselors? Where is the pastor? A totally unacceptable situation exists with the next door neighbor Kelly and no one except Janie can see it. Again, where is the pastor? These 6 people are living on a spiritual island and that goes against Biblical teaching. As a result, a sinful situation has developed and no one is there to warn the husband. But let's talk about prayer and about trusting God. (Yes, I know they didn't sleep together, but that is not where sin starts in relationships outside your marriage. Again where is a male pastor and some deacons or elders, not a beautiful young woman. Huge red flags and warning sirens even.)
Yes the movie makes everything right, sort of, at the end. But what are we left with? Pray and trust God. Maybe read your Bible a little. But for one thing the road there was not just one of suffering. It was sinful and it was a slap in Janie's face. Somehow she wasn't scarred by the way her husband treated her even though he thought he had good intentions. For another, the Christian life is so much more and that includes community. It is like 6 people on an island vs dozens or hundreds of people working and loving in community.
I wasn't impressed by the acting or the production values. The dialogue was ok but not great. And from the beginning I expected the resolution.
This movie isn't just bad. It is borderline false teaching.
Janie wakes up from a one in a million if not billion situation and no one is prepared. "Let's pray." "Let's depend on God." Everything that develops occurs with no one being prepared. The husband has no idea how to tell her what happened. Where are the counselors? Where is the pastor? A totally unacceptable situation exists with the next door neighbor Kelly and no one except Janie can see it. Again, where is the pastor? These 6 people are living on a spiritual island and that goes against Biblical teaching. As a result, a sinful situation has developed and no one is there to warn the husband. But let's talk about prayer and about trusting God. (Yes, I know they didn't sleep together, but that is not where sin starts in relationships outside your marriage. Again where is a male pastor and some deacons or elders, not a beautiful young woman. Huge red flags and warning sirens even.)
Yes the movie makes everything right, sort of, at the end. But what are we left with? Pray and trust God. Maybe read your Bible a little. But for one thing the road there was not just one of suffering. It was sinful and it was a slap in Janie's face. Somehow she wasn't scarred by the way her husband treated her even though he thought he had good intentions. For another, the Christian life is so much more and that includes community. It is like 6 people on an island vs dozens or hundreds of people working and loving in community.
I wasn't impressed by the acting or the production values. The dialogue was ok but not great. And from the beginning I expected the resolution.
This movie isn't just bad. It is borderline false teaching.
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