Parents' Guide to

Ordinary Angels

By Monique Jones, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 11+

Sentimental drama about alcoholism promotes perseverance.

Movie PG 2024 118 minutes
Ordinary Angels Movie Poster: Hilary Swank smiles while standing amid snowflakes; other characters pictured smaller

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

  • Ordinary Angels Movie: Hilary Swank stands in the snow
  • Ordinary Angels Movie: Alan Ritchson stands in the snow
  • Ordinary Angels Movie: Hilary Swank and Tamala Jones sit together, with Jones touching Swank in a comforting way

Community Reviews

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age 9+

Based on 7 parent reviews

AngelaP
AngelaP Adult
May 4, 2024
age 6+

Moving & Inspiring

This is the best movie I have seen in a very long time! Powerful positive messages. There is one bar scene at the beginning of the movie, which sets the tone for Sharon's struggle's with alcohol. In a later scene, a young girl coughs up blood and the adults clothing is stained. This is a tearjerker. Seeing how simple yet extravagant giving can impact lives is so beautiful, would highly recommend!
Kaitis1Mom
Kaitis1Mom Parent of 15-year-old
March 1, 2024
age 11+

Wanna go on an adventure?

This movie is based on a true story. Absolutely superb acting! You feel for the main characters:”Aunt” Sharon & Ed, all the way through. Absolutely nothing offensive-no foul language, no sex. It’s a great family movie. It’s intense and a bit of peril. The movie does have bar scenes and one of the main characters is an alcoholic, but she tries to overcome the addiction, and you see some of her struggles. Absolutely wonderful!! I’m looking forward to seeing it again! One more thing, bring tissues. You’ll need them.
See all 7 parent reviews

What's the Story?

ORDINARY ANGELS follows Sharon Stevens (Hilary Swank), a hairstylist who struggles with her dependence on alcohol and has a broken relationship with her son. Her life changes when she sees an obituary in the newspaper about the wife of Ed Schmitt (Alan Ritchson). The piece mentions Ed's youngest daughter, Michelle (Emily Mitchell), who needs a liver transplant. Sharon takes it upon herself to help the family and make their lives better, in the hopes of improving her own as well.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (7 ):
Kids say (3 ):

This drama with Christian undertones is engaging enough if you're in the mood for a bit of sentimentality and a happy ending. Put another way, if you're a fan of the Chicken Soup for the Soul films and programming, Ordinary Angels will likely be just your cup of tea. Swank gets to chew the scenery as Sharon—though her characterization may remind viewers of another Southern "won't take no for an answer" character, Sandra Bullock's Leigh Anne from The Blind Side. Young Mitchell is compelling as Michelle, and thankfully, both Mitchell and Skywalker Hughes (who plays Michelle's older sister, Ashley) play characters who are written to sound, for the most part, like real children. But Tamala Jones, who plays Sharon's friend/employer, Rose, is underwritten, fitting squarely into the regressive "Black best friend" cliché by largely serving as Sharon's conscience and emotional guardian. It's one of the downsides to an otherwise inoffensive and, indeed, heartwarming movie.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how the characters in Ordinary Angels demonstrate perseverance, empathy, and compassion. Why are those important character strengths?

  • Why does Sharon feel drawn to help the Schmitt family? How does she correct her prior mistakes?

  • How does the movie portray alcoholism/addiction? What role does Sharon's past play in her dependence?

  • How does the film represent Black characters? Why are positive diverse representations important in the media?

Movie Details

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