Ordinary Angels: A Misguided yet Inspiring True Story
Ordinary Angels, directed by Jon Gunn, is a film inspired by the incredible true story of a hairdresser who single-handedly rallies an entire community to help a widowed father save the life of his critically ill young daughter. The film, set in 1994 in Louisville, tells the story of Sharon Stevens, an alcoholic hairdresser played by Hilary Swank, who dedicates her life to ensuring that exhausted, financially struggling, blue-collar widower Ed Schmitt (Alan Ritchson) wipes away his debt and secures airborne transportation for his terminally ill five-year-old daughter Michelle (Emily Mitchell) to a specialty children’s hospital for a liver transplant.
A still from Ordinary Angels
Sharon’s refusal to take no for an answer is portrayed as a superpower, but it’s a double-edged sword. On one hand, her determination is inspiring, but on the other hand, her methods are often emotionally manipulative and awkward. The film fails to interrogate her methods, instead painting her as a miracle worker.
A still from Ordinary Angels
The film’s focus on Sharon’s character overshadows the story of the family, which is a severe miscalculation. The last 30 minutes of the film are spent watching Ed navigate a blizzard to get his daughter to an airport, which feels like an overblown race against time. This direction is disrespectful to everyone involved, lacking nuance in its characters and storytelling.
A still from Ordinary Angels
There are intriguing themes to explore, such as addictive personalities and the juxtaposition of saving a liver versus killing a liver, but these are mostly dropped for melodrama. Ordinary Angels tries so hard to be extraordinary that it loses what makes this story powerful and earnestly inspiring.
“I don’t take no for an answer.” - Sharon Stevens
Ordinary Angels is a misguided yet inspiring true story that fails to live up to its potential. Despite its flaws, the film’s message about the power of community and determination is still worth watching.
A still from Ordinary Angels
