Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
John Travolta | ... | Michael | |
Andie MacDowell | ... | Dorothy Winters | |
William Hurt | ... | Frank Quinlan | |
Bob Hoskins | ... | Vartan Malt | |
Robert Pastorelli | ... | Huey Driscoll | |
Jean Stapleton | ... | Pansy Milbank | |
Teri Garr | ... | Judge Esther Newberg | |
Wallace Langham | ... | Bruce Craddock | |
Joey Lauren Adams | ... | Anita | |
Carla Gugino | ... | Bride | |
Tom Hodges | ... | Groom | |
Catherine Lloyd Burns | ... | Evie | |
Richard Schiff | ... | Italian Waiter | |
Calvin Trillin | ... | Sheriff | |
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Donald J. Lee Jr. | ... | Court Bailiff |
Frank Quinlan and Huey Driscoll, two reporters from a Chicago-based tabloid, along with Dorothy Winters, an 'angel expert', are asked to travel to rural Iowa to investigate a claim from an old woman that she shares her house with a real, live archangel named Michael. Upon arrival, they see that her claims are true - but Michael is not what they expected: he smokes, drinks beer, has a very active libido and has a rather colourful vocabulary. In fact, they would never believe it were it not for the two feathery wings protruding from his back. Michael agrees to travel to Chicago with the threesome, but what they don't realise is that the journey they are about to undertake will change their lives forever. Written by Jonathan Broxton <j.w.broxton@sheffield.ac.uk>
Angels are a bit of an American obsession, but are often rather boring. They are the messengers of God, and also the arc angels are great warriors (Lucifer being the toughest and best looking until he was kicked out of heaven).
So what happens if you don't believe in anything, let alone angels and you are sent to investigate an angel story, only to meet one with wings and less than angelic attitude.
Maybe that is what America needs, being a puritan is different from being good. Michael is a rude, obnoxious, womanizing messenger of heaven who will fulfill your wishes, and make you care enough about the world that you will be touched.
Funny, but not greatly so, touching but not overly sentimental, intelligent without being clever...it is just a good simple, small comedy. Watch on a lazy Sunday afternoon.