User reviews

There was a time when I suffered from insomnia and would often stay up late watching television (this is pre Internet days). And this movie would often pop up on one of the cable channels and so I ended up watching it several times and (hanging head shamefully), I like it. I know it's not good. The performances are all over the top, the premise is ridiculous (if you have any kind of Christian religious belief, it's almost insulting), and the ending of the movie is a total cop-out. Phoebe Cates does look lovely but is not served well by the film. Emmanuelle Beart is absolutely gorgeous and makes for a delightfully goofy angel. They both make the film somewhat palatable. It also introduced me to Steve Winwood's great song "The Finer Things." But a good film it is not. Oddly enough, "Date with an Angel" did help me get through some challenging nights and I have a soft spot in my heart for it.

P. S. The one funny line in the film comes from Charles Lane's befuddled Catholic priest when asked by our hero what he should do with the angel. His reply? "Try the Baptists!"

I'm under no illusions. I realize this is not a good movie but I kinda love it. In wild retro 80s goodness an angel falls to earth and an unhappily engaged man decides to help her and ends up falling for her to the detriment of his crazy fiance played by an amazing Phoebe Cates. There's nothing deep here it's all surface. But it's fun and heartfelt and just hammy as hell. Nothing like this would ever get greenlit today and that's a good thing because this movie belongs right where it is, as part of a cinematic library so I can enjoy this guilty pleasure again and again.

Date with an angel is one of my favourite, and as far as I know most of my friends love this one just as I do. I just can't figure out why such a lovely movie gets soooo underrated :(

yeah, maybe the plot is a bit simple, and maybe the special f/x is just a joke compared with "the jurassic park" and "the matrix", but this movie makes me feel good. it makes you believe that there are so many wonderful things in this world: beautiful love, funny friends and adorable angel...

If you watch this movie with high expectation, it's gonna fail you; but if you just wanna relex and get yourself one and a half hour of fun, it's a must-see!!!

I admit I was a major fan of Micheal E. Knight as Tad Martin in his "All My Children" days back in the 1980s. I was elated back in 1987 when he finally appeared in a major motion picture, but unfortunately, the small Northern town I lived in at the time had no movie theatre.

I had to wait for the movie to come out at the local video store and when it did, I watched and re-watched it in glee, loving how utterly handsome he looked and laughed at his goofball and comedic antics in the same vein as John Ritter from "Three's Company".

Well, time hasn't been too kind. I was always aware this was a box office flop and thought it deserved better than that, but after ordering the DVD from Amazon recently , I've grown to think otherwise.

I viewed it tonight now that I'm older and wiser than I was from the 1980s, and, after looking at it with more mature eyes, finally see the problem. Mike Knight didn't carry the film too well. He had the comedic talents and professional acting ability, but he didn't "stick out" like a star in a film should. His mingling with the mischievous prankster friends made him look like he was an "extra" among them and not the star of the film. It's easy to see why the film flopped.

The potential was there with Emmanuelle Béart looking perfectly beautiful in a heavenly and ethereally way and with Phoebe Cates acting hilariously as the "jilted fiancee", but the problem was with Knight. A good looking guy with slapstick comedic talents, but one who's unable to carry the star power of a film like this.

The story was also mediocre to the extreme. There was nothing to make it unique and it offered no surprises, just the potent performances of Beart and Cates. Other than that. a total dud. Sorry Mike.

As many have said, the script is horrendous. The main character did every worst possible choices. He could just have be assertive with his "friends" to stop and that's it, and make sure his girlfriend to meet the angel and set things up. But he was able to hurt one and lose the other. And the angel behavior was just inspired on a bird, wtf.

Pass that. Emmanuelle Beart is awesome. She's the perfect angel, her expressions were pure and delicate. I'm just sad the script and direction she was put under were so bad.

Phoebe Cates was perfect in her shaking-mad scenes. It was just like in "Top Gun", where the air-control tower-guy spilled coffee all over himself during a 'fly-by'.

One of the funny scenes showed three of Michael E. Knight's buddies knocking at his door in the beat of a classic hit. That was unique.

The movie had touching parts as well, like when he awakens in the hospital, sees 'Angel', (Emmanuelle Beart), and finally understands she had come originally to carry him 'over', so to speak. Alas! She couldn't carry out her mission, having fallen for him ...

The movie deserves a higher rating!

Yeah it's a little sappy, but it does have its moments. Overall, I found it mostly entertaining, and truly a hidden gem. As they say, "one man's flop, is another man's treasure!" Simply a delight to watch and I recommend it in full.

When I write a review it's usualty because I feel compelled to praise the praiseworthy. Not this time.

Formulaic teen flick with awful plot, script, location, costumes, sets, direction, camerawork, and acting.

Did I miss anything?

The roll out song is OK.

Money ill-spent.

This film happens to be one of my most favorite movies i've seen. I remember watching this film as a kid and there's just something about it every time i see it. Actually the film was made in the town i visit everyday or almost everyday. It allows me to feel really good every time i see it. Almost makes me believe that an angel will come and visit me. Not to be sappy but i get a little teary from the film.(it takes a real man to admit) and every time i eat french fries it hits me again. Although the acting was not the greatest, but hey its the 80s gotta love it!!! Not like the 90s and 2000s have any better acting. And yes in closing i have the DVD of this film to watch over and over again!!! Its just a good feel Good movie!! highly recommended!

All the scenes between the angel Emmanuelle Béart and Michael E. Knight were great, even brought me to tears near the end. But all the other characters, with the possible exception of Michael's father, were played as cartoons. Why the writer/director would make such a decision I cannot fathom.

The angel costume/character is absolutely beautiful, wings and all, as is the lighting.

I do so wish the ending had been the opposite - personal preference. After such a build-up during the penultimate scene, I was let down.

Also wish we were allowed shorter reviews as in the past. It is difficult to come up with additional commentary when there wasn't much of value to view. When a project such as "Date With An Angel" offers employment to so many and takes such an effort on the part of the actors and crew, one would hope that the daily rushes would give a clue to the eventual outcome.

Oh my God people no a days have no taste so ever ... Where is everybody's humor... I was reading some of the comments people made about this fim. I just do not understand why they hate it so much... Yes, it is true this film is out dated but we need to remember that it came out 17 years ago!!! (Special effects were not the same as they are now)The first time I watched it, i FELL IN LOVE WITH IT.. It was romantic and hilarious! So what! if the Angel didnt talk, her beauty itself did the talking for her.. I really loved this film, I remember when it first came out on the theaters, I was only 7 years old...I do wish that this film would have had a better rating.. I think is one of the most unforgettable romantic/comedies I've ever seen. People need to start being less bitter now a days..!

Watched this movie on SBS Movies in Sydney and do not understand why they chose this film to show on their movie channel. A US movie made in 1987 to look like the late 1950s or early 1960s, it was made in the style of the worst movies of that era. Bad script, bad acting. Kept on fast forwarding to the end and it never showed signs of improving. Do not understand how some of these reviewers rated it so highly. If you want to watch a better movie about an angel with a sort of similar theme watch the 2009 English movie called Skellig: The Owl Man based on an award winning book and starring Tim Roth.

This is one brain dead movie. Think Wim Wenders's classic Wings of Desire and then consider being confronted with the exact opposite of that classic, both cinematically and intellectually.

It features some no name lead guy whose best work was apparently in some daytime soap opera.

Why Phoebe Gates, a talented comedic actress, accepted this part where she just impersonates a rather simple - minded, unfunny harpy, I'll never know. Her role calls for her to scream, throw lots of things and fall over on a regular basis. Sound challenging?

A script that is earthbound by derivative plotting and an endless presentation of seen it all before tropes. It's cardinal sin was to deliver the audience an angel who virtually doesn't speak, just reacts (e.g. To the taste of French fries) and flaps her wings* every so often. (* Minor spoiler alert! One of them is broken for much of this featherweight movie.) The result is that things become boring very quickly both comedy and drama wise.

The one saving grace of this stinker is the lovely Emmanuelle Beart who is perfectly cast as The Angel. Her divine looks and ethereal presence would have been appreciated far more in a better film in which her character should have been allowed to speak. But saddled with a near dumb - struck Beart, Date with an Angel, ends up being a hopelessly, uninvolving, languid endeavour.

Siskel & Ebert have often said that they wish filmmakers would remake bad movies that had potential rather than update classics. DATE WITH AN ANGEL is one of those films that could easily be made into something much better. The opening and concluding scenes hint at the charming fantasy it could have been. Unfortunately, to get from beginning to end you have to slog through everything in between. The basic storyline isn't bad, although it could use a little reworking. Michael E. Knight is OK as the would-be composer who wakes up after his bachelor party to find an injured angel in his pool. Emmanuelle Beart is appealing as the angel. If you don't pay attention you might not notice that Phoebe Cates has the more striking features. Phil Brock, Albert Macklin, and Peter Kowanko are sufficiently amusing as Knight's scheming buddies, and David Dukes is the stereotypical conniving businessman.

The main problem with this movie is that it is populated by cardboard characters. Once you learn their respective niches they follow true to form. Phoebe Cates' talents are particularly wasted. She starts out as a real person but soon devolves into an ultra-spoiled, gin-fueled, jealousy-crazed maniac. I will say this for her, she gives it her all. The overacting is so pervasive (especially by Cates & Dukes) that I can't blame the actors. I have to think that the director hoped intensity would make up for tissue-thin characterizations. It doesn't.

In short, the filmmakers should have toned down the gags and noise in order to give the actors some real acting to do. I can't recommend DATE WITH AN ANGEL unless you are either a real fan of one of the actors or a sucker for romantic fantasy/comedies. This isn't a terrible movie, but it is a pity to see talent wasted on a klunker that could have been a small gem.

Forget the script. Forget the acting. Never has such beauty leapt off the screen as it did with french actress, Emmanuelle Beart. My reaction was much like that of the characters on screen. MESMERIZED!!! I am forever in this films debt for the american introduction of this incredible woman. Thank you!

Patty Winston (Phoebe Cates) is the entitled daughter of a cosmetics company owner. She's the face of their entire advertisement. Jim Sanders (Michael E. Knight) is a company executive set to marry her. After a night of partying by her bros, he wakes up to find a fallen angel (Emmanuelle Béart) in the swimming pool. She breaks her wing and has a powerful effect on men.

It's fun that Emmanuelle is doing physical comedy with her angel. It's an interesting non-voice for her character. She is basically Mr. Bean and that's weird. There is potential for something with this fish out of water aspect. This movie may work if she's the lead character but it's the boy. The character is pathetically bland and the actor has no charisma. In a way, she's an object to the men in this movie and that it is very off-putting. Non of the guys have an appealing story. The kidnapping is just bad... and criminal. Jim's affections are not earned. The attempt at a love triangle is cringeworthy. I expected more from Phoebe Cates but she's nothing more than a side character and she isn't doing anything interesting. She's just angry after the angel. She seems to be losing her screen presence with the shorter cut. It's Felicity all over again. This is hard to watch most of the time. There are a couple of fun moments early on before the movie really pounded me down. This is generally bad.

When I was a very young lad I used to watch this movie again, and again, and again. I don't why but this, innerspace, ghostbusters (1 and later 2) and beetlejuice were the crown jewels of my video library. It may be campy, but it has a pretty good storyline and a slew of hilarious moments. Let's face it it's still betetr than 90% of the movies that came out this year--and most of the late nineties--UNder the tuscan Sun, I"m looking in your direction. Anyway Phoebe Cates and the model angel chick are wicked hot--and really random thigns like a singing love-o-gram dressed as a beetle pop-up in the flick. For a late eighties romantic comedy, the plot is actually somewhat interesting and doesn't involve shenanigans with a dead boss, a secret party island, or either of the corey;s. It's good times.

A silly plot (an angel lands in a pool, a guy tries to help her get back to heaven while dealing with jealous fiance) but it's helped by the always wonderful Phoebe Cates. Done a few years after her star making turn in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, this film has her in the less confident role of jealous fiance, but it doesn't really work because she's more beautiful than the angel! Still it's kind of a fun movie, even if it gets a little boring sometimes.