Ordinary Angels

The drama is pretty pedestrian; the storytelling is wantonly manipulative, and I have to say that I was manipulated against my better judgment.

The film’s more overtly Christian elements, including calls for divine intervention, dovetail neatly with Sharon’s yearning to be held, supported and, ultimately, forgiven.

The performances are solid and the story is touching — and perhaps that will carry this to its chosen audience. But it's a little flat for true drama.

Taken on its own terms as an old-fashioned character drama and showcase for Ritchson as a dramatic actor (he’s genuinely really good), it does the job it set out to do.

On the other hand, although the approach to things may be too simplistic, the double Oscar winner Hilary Swank holds the entire scaffolding with her excellent performance. [Full review in Spanish]

If you want a better made version of a faith-based film, this could serve as that.

An overly sentimental faith-based drama about ordinary people who do extraordinary things to help others. Considering the genre and its audience, it's a little more than just passable.

An inspiring true story about a woman who practices two kinds of charity.

Ordinary Angels is a nice, tearjerky cornball drama that mostly feels like a reasonable, if slightly heightened, depiction of real life.

In many ways, Ordinary Angels is the kind of faith-based film that should be seen as a how-to guide on promoting good Christian values without alienating or demonising non-religious audiences.