Unlikely Angel

1996
6.3| 1h35m| en| More Info
Released: 17 December 1996 Released
Producted By: The Kushner-Locke Company
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Synopsis

A country singer dies prematurely, but cannot enter heaven until she performs a good deed back on earth.

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The Kushner-Locke Company

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Reviews

Hellen I like the storyline of this show,it attract me so much
Taraparain Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.
Voxitype Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.
Billy Ollie Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable
Stephen Abell This is a highly enjoyable tale of a family who has distanced themselves from one another after the death of their mother and wife. Dolly Parton does an excellent job of country singer Ruby Diamond who dies in a car accident while trying not to run over a young deer. This act of selflessness gives her the chance to progress into Heaven rather than Hell, as long as she can complete one task by midnight of Christmas Eve... to bring the broken and grieving family back together.In the true nature of this type of Christmas tale trials and tribulations are thrown in her way. What sets this above most of this ilk is the quality of the story, which isn't overly melodramatic but humorous and witty. And the cast, which works well together, is superb with the comedic elements of the script, especially Roddy McDowell as Saint Peter.As Christmas flicks go this is one of the best and well worth a watch - it should easily put a smile on your face.It's also a bonus that Dolly Parton's wardrobe is stitched together to show off every one of her other obvious assets... This is a film that I would recommend to Crimbo lovers and romantics alike - also if you have an interest in anything paranormal or slightly religious or like a good laugh then this could be for you. At least it's a good way to waste an hour and a half.
mark.waltz Dolly takes on all three of Julie Andrews' nanny roles as a dead country and western singer who must reunite a family to get her angel wings. After St. Peter (Roddy McDowall) sends her crashing back down to earth in Maria Von Trapp Alps courtier, Dolly takes on the role of nanny for widower Brian Kerwin's two unruly children. Kerwin knows from the start that this nanny is totally different, much like Charles Shaugnessy did with Fran Drescher on the TV series "The Nanny". Like Mr. Sheffield and Miss Fine, there are romantic innuendos, which threatens Parton's Ruby Diamond risking losing her wings. It's all overly sentimental, but with Dolly in the lead, it's not boring. She gets to sing, too, which would make the most maudlin TV movie entertaining. There's some fun moments that engage the viewer in laughter, which makes the film most watchable in spite of the fact that the story has been told many time over before.Kerwin and the actors playing the kids do admirable jobs, but it's Dolly's show all the way. She doesn't overkill the niceness. Roddy McDowall is amusing in a dual role. Some of the how to get to heaven theories might upset some people of set beliefs, but like "Heaven Can Wait", "Defending Your Life" and "What Dreams May Come", it's simply a message of hope.
Seltzer There is one bit in this film that made it worthwhile seeing. Dolly guilts the father into bringing the kids to chop down a Christmas tree. The situation devolves into a family squabble. Dolly is left standing alone near the tree. The tree guy comes over and says, Where do you want this, lady? And Dolly gestures over to the squabbling family, and says, Over there with the Waltons.Other than that line, Unlikely Angel isn't much of a film. Roddy McDowall is always worth seeing. He was always such a professional, even when in a clinker such as this. Unfortunately, McDowall isn't the star of this show--I believe that role is reserved for Dolly's over-sized chest, which is barely contained by some of the tackiest outfits seen this side of professional wrestling. I think this film falls into the category I think of as: Harmless Christmas Stuff.
Paul Wakefield Although this film is unfortunatley not available in England for some reason, I did see it a couple of years back when it was shown on TV. Whilst focusing on certain happenings around Christmas, the message that Dolly Parton gets of that she should not be selfish and always think of ourselves should extend to anyday. My wife and myself found this to be a charming film with a sincere message. Being given the chance to bring a family back together at Christmas is what Dolly Parton gets and with help from Roddy MacDowell, who plays an unusual portrail of St Peter,and giving enough humour not to make the film to serious is one I would like to add to my collection of films to watch over again.