Ordinary Angels – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Ordinary Angels

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2024Biography, Drama

68%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

True-story tearjerker about a hairdresser battling her own demons while saving a dying kid—tissues required, cynicism optional.

7.4/10

84%

99%

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Ordinary Angels

movie

PG, 2024, Biography, Drama

68%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

True-story tearjerker about a hairdresser battling her own demons while saving a dying kid—tissues required, cynicism optional.

7.4

84%

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7.4/10

84%

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Screenwise Verdict

This is a solid, if formulaic, inspirational drama that does exactly what it sets out to do: make you cry and restore your faith in humanity. The 99% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes tells you everything—people love a good true-story tearjerker, and this delivers.

What sets it apart from pure Hallmark territory is its willingness to tackle alcoholism without kid gloves. Sharon's struggle is real, messy, and central to the plot. It's a redemption story that earns its emotional beats.

That said, it's not breaking new ground. If you've seen one inspirational community-rallies-around-sick-kid movie, you know the rhythm. But for families who enjoy faith-adjacent dramas with strong moral messaging, this hits the mark. Just know it's heavy—childhood illness is front and center, and younger kids might struggle with the weight of it all.

Perfect for a family movie night where everyone's okay with crying together.

Age Fit

Best for ages 11+ who can handle emotional weight and understand addiction as a disease. The medical crisis and alcoholism themes require some maturity, but it's ultimately uplifting. Younger kids might find it too sad or slow.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Faith-based true story centering community support, perseverance, and selflessness. Models genuine kindness and rallying around a family in crisis. Tackles alcoholism head-on without glossing over it, showing realistic redemption arc. No profanity, sexual content, or mean-spirited behavior. The emotional weight is real but handled with warmth.

Imaginative

Based on a true story from the 1990s, told straightforwardly without much creative flair. It's a heartwarming drama but follows familiar inspirational-movie beats. Doesn't invite creative thinking or exploration—more of a 'feel good and cry' experience than one that sparks imagination or curiosity about the world.

Safe

Rated PG for thematic content, brief bloody images (medical context), and smoking. Depicts alcoholism and a child's critical illness, which are heavy but handled sensitively. No violence, gore, sexual content, or profanity. The 'brief bloody images' are medical in nature (likely related to the daughter's liver condition). Emotionally intense but predictable—no shock content.

Enriching

Strong themes of community action, perseverance through adversity, and overcoming personal demons (alcoholism). Shows how one person's determination can mobilize an entire town. Offers discussion points about addiction, faith, helping others, and medical challenges. However, it's sentimental and straightforward—not particularly deep or challenging. Entertaining for families who like inspirational dramas.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Based on a genuinely inspiring true story of community mobilization and perseverance
Tackles alcoholism honestly without sugarcoating, showing realistic recovery struggles
Models how ordinary people can do extraordinary things when they show up for each other
Faith elements are present but not preachy—more about human goodness than doctrine
Strong performances and emotional payoff for families who like a good cry

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What to Watch For

Heavy themes: childhood critical illness, alcoholism, and grief over a deceased parent
Brief medical imagery that might be unsettling for younger or sensitive kids
Emotionally manipulative in the way inspirational dramas tend to be—bring tissues
Smoking and drinking depicted (in context of addiction storyline)

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think Sharon wanted to help this family even though she didn't know them?"
"What does it mean when someone is struggling with addiction? How can people support them?"
"Have you ever seen a community come together to help someone? What did that look like?"
"The movie shows that 'ordinary' people can do amazing things. When have you helped someone in a big way?"

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