Michael (1996)

Two tabloid reporters checking out a report of the Archangel Michael living with an old woman find that it's true. But that's not the only surprise.

Director:

Nora Ephron

Writers:

Peter Dexter (story) (as Pete Dexter), Jim Quinlan (story)

Stars:

John Travolta, Andie MacDowell, William Hurt

1 nomination.

Cast

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
Donald J. Lee Jr.	...	Court Bailiff

Storyline

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.

---

Plot Keywords:

reporter | archangel michael | angel | road trip | dog | 

---

Taglines:

He's an angel... Not a saint.

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for a mild barroom brawl, some language and sensuality

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Portuguese

Release Date:

25 December 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

L'archange

Filming Locations:

Gruene Hall - 1281 Gruene Road, New Braunfels, Comal County, Texas, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$27,629,196, 29 December 1996, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$95,318,203

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$119,718,203

Company Credits

Production Co:

Turner Pictures (I),Alphaville Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

None of the egg orders cooked by Pansy are correct.

---

Goofs

When all of them are driving to downtown Chicago to see the Sears Tower, there's a shot of the car driving down the highway. Then in the next scene you see them driving down another highway with the lake on the left, and the John Hancock Tower in front of them. This is impossible because the first highway is I-90 and the other highway is Lake Shore Drive (U.S. Route 41). There is no direct way to go from I-90 to U.S. 41. Actually, I-90 and U.S. 41 meet in Northern Indiana, but this would be a circuitous route and if 41 was taken from Indiana, Lake Michigan would be on the right, going to the Sear's Tower.

---

Quotes

Huey Driscoll: Can I just pull on your wings to see how they're attached?
Michael: Why don't you pull on your pecker to see how it's attached?
Pansy Milbank: Hey. Language.
Frank Quinlan: An angel that says "pecker."
Pansy Milbank: Language.

---

Connections

Referenced in Angel-A (2005)

---

Soundtracks

Bright Side of the Road
(1979)
Written by Van Morrison
Published by Essential Music
administered by Songs of Polygram International, Inc. (BMI)
Performed by Van Morrison
Courtesy of Exile Productions Limited/Polydor Records Ltd.
By Arrangement with Polygram Records Film & TV Licensing

User Reviews

Easily enjoyable

Wow, I think the overall average rating of this film on this site is incredibly low. There's really no reason to dislike this film. "Michael" is a simple, but fairly original, and easily enjoyable romantic comedy. The plot involves a group of reporters/experts going to examine the mysterious appearance of an angel (John Travolta) in the midwest. The angel proves to be less saintly and more worldly than we would expect, and that's what makes it entertaining. His interest in women and the Beatles takes a new spin on the angel thing. The romantic side of this film involves Michael the angel trying to get Andie MacDowell and William Hurt together. The two of them may not have the all-time greatest on-screen chemistry, but they certainly have enough to make it work well. Everyone who has rated this film so low (a 5.4??), come on! The film is not that bad. In fact, I found it quite funny and memorable. Sure, it's not the best thing you'll ever see, but it's still good. This is a film I feel has been remarkably underrated. It's fun, romantic, and recommended by me.

*** out of ****