Unlikely Angel
{{Short description|American made-for-TV Movie}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox television
| image = Unlikely Angel dvd cover.gif
| image_upright = 0.81
| caption =
| genre = Comedy
Fantasy
| story = Katherine Ann Jones
| writer = Liz Coe
Robert L. Freedman
| director = Michael Switzer
| starring = Dolly Parton
Brian Kerwin
Maria Del Mar
Allison Mack
Gary Sandy
Roddy McDowall
| music = Velton Ray Bunch
| country = United States
| language = English
| executive_producer = Peter Locke
Donald Kushner
| producer = Jonathan Bernstein
| location =
| editor = Mark W. Rosenbaum
| cinematography = Robert Draper
| runtime = 95 minutes
| company = Sandollar Productions
The Kushner-Locke Company
| budget = $4,000,000 (estimated)
| network = CBS
| released = {{Start date|1996|12|17}}
}}
Unlikely Angel is a 1996 American made-for-television Christmas fantasy-comedy film directed by Michael Switzer and starring Dolly Parton. It premiered on CBS on December 17, 1996.{{cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/shows/dyn/unlikely_angel/series_about_special.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305135904/http://www.cmt.com/shows/dyn/unlikely_angel/series_about_special.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 5, 2016|title=Unlikely Angel|publisher=Country Music Television|access-date=January 20, 2013}}
Plot
While driving home from a bar one night, straight-talking singer Ruby Diamond (Dolly Parton) crashes her car and dies. In heaven, she meets Saint Peter (Roddy McDowall) who reveals she can return to Earth, but only to reunite an estranged suburban family who have been torn apart since the mother died. If she succeeds by midnight on Christmas Eve, she will be granted her wings as an angel.
Ruby arrives at the Bartilson house, masquerading as a housekeeper and a nanny for rebellious teenager Sarah (Allison Mack) and her younger brother Matthew (Eli Marienthal), both of whom have trouble bonding with their distracted father Ben (Brian Kerwin) and spend most of their time alone in their bedrooms. The three are initially cold towards Ruby, but as time goes by, she slowly manages to bring the family back together.
Ruby develops feelings for Ben, much to Saint Peter's dismay who tells her a romantic relationship is against the rules of the deal. As Christmas Eve comes around, Matthew runs away from home, and Saint Peter appears to remind Ruby she must reunite them all by midnight. Ruby replies, "I don't care; I'm fixing this family whether I get into Heaven or not." Upon the successful completion of her mission, Saint Peter urges her to leave. As she has become very close with the family, she protests, but Saint Peter reminds her they will no longer remember.
As Ruby is finally awarded her wings, we see the Bartilson family celebrating their first Christmas together in years.
Cast
- Dolly Parton as Ruby Diamond
- Brian Kerwin as Ben Bartilson
- Maria Del Mar as Allison
- Allison Mack as Sarah Bartilson
- Eli Marienthal as Matthew Bartilson
- Gary Sandy as Charlie
- Roddy McDowall as Saint Peter
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|0118048}}
Category:1996 television films
Category:1990s fantasy comedy films
Category:American Christmas television films
Category:American fantasy comedy films
Category:Films about the afterlife
Category:1990s Christmas comedy films
Category:American Christmas comedy films
Category:The Kushner-Locke Company films
Category:Films directed by Michael Switzer
Category:1990s English-language films