Is Ordinary Angels safe for kids? Is Ordinary Angels OK for kids? Read the Ordinary Angels Movie Review | Safe for Kids?, an honest parents guide and mom review of the all-new Lionsgate based-on-a-true story inspiring film Ordinary Angels 2024, starring Hilary Swank, Alan Ritchson, Nancy Travis, and Tamala Jones. No spoilers! #OrdinaryAngelsMovie May contain commissioned links.
Ordinary Angels Movie Review | Safe for Kids? Parents Guide
I’ve always been a fan of Hilary Swank. From Million Dollar Baby to The Next Karate Kid (fine I’ll stand alone on this one – but Pat Morita was the man!), I’ve always appreciated how she portrayed personal struggle on the screen.
2024 is no different with a definite hiatus noted in Hilary Swanks filmography to take to motherhood. But is the Hilary Swank we love back? Or is this just a cheesy Lifetime reboot?
In this Ordinary Angels Movie Review | Safe for Kids?, I’m breaking down the visuals, the story, a full PG age rating explanation for violence, adult themes and language, and what kids’ age recommendation is suggested to watch in this new 2024 Ordinary Angels parents guide to the new Lionsgate heartwarming based on a true story film. A no-spoiler parent review of Ordinary Angels 2024, can Hilary Swank still pull at our heartstrings – or has she spent too much time out of the entertainment ring?
The Visuals
Think low-budget Lifetime movie. This Lionsgate based-on-a-true-story film focuses on story over special effects and CGI. Nothing amazing about the visuals in Ordinary Angels, but honestly the visuals are not the point of this movie anyway.
Photosensitivity Warning. For viewers prone to epilepsy and photosensitivity, there are no scenes of bright flashing or strobing lights of note. There are also no spinning or dizzying camera movements that may be nausea inducing.
The Story
From the studio that brought us Oscar-nominated Wonder in 2017 and Jesus Revolution in 2023, Lionsgate’s all new Ordinary Angels is a heartwarming, inspirational based on a true story film directed by Jon Gunn (“American Underdog“). Ordinary Angels stars Hilary Swank (“Million Dollar Baby“) as Sharon and Alan Ritchson (“Reacher“) as widowed father Ed Schmitt, along with Nancy Travis (“Three Men and a Baby“) and Tamala Jones (“Castle“).
Lionsgate’s Ordinary Angels is an uplifting, inspirational film based on a true story about one woman rallying an entire community to save the life of a critically ill young girl. Playing out like a low-budget Lifetime Movie, we follow 1990’s “snow baby” in Louisville, Kentucky as a struggling hairdresser battling with her own personal demons single-handedly sets her mind, finds purpose, and helps the Schmitt family struggling to save a little girl in need of a transplant.
Exposing some deep themes like death, grief, and personal addictions – this ultimately feel-good film pulls at heartstrings to motivate the audience to rise above and find purpose in life.
Ordinary Angels PG Rating Explained
Is Ordinary Angels safe for kids? A Lionsgate based-on-a-true-story film rated PG? Should parents be concerned? It’s no secret that I am highly skeptical of all MPAA ratings (um hello, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker not disclosing any language??). And as we know, not all movie and TV age ratings are the same. As a parent, it’s been rather heartbreaking to witness how ratings have shifted over the years with a G-rating no longer an option to help guide parents.
PG ratings now oscillating between Turning Red intense to Christopher Robin calm, and even PG-13/TV-14 age ratings teetering on the edge of R or MA ratings (Moon Knight and Werewolf by Night, I see you!), there’s a wide range between the age of 0-14 years old for parents to consider. Having fully disclosed parent guidelines can help determine if a movie or show is kid friendly – and safe for the whole family to watch together.
Why is Ordinary Angels rated PG? In this Ordinary Angels Movie Review | Safe for Kids?, this 2024 inspirational based on a true story film from Lionsgate is rated PG for “thematic content, smoking, and brief bloody images.” With film and TV ratings also unpredictable these days, having fully disclosed parent guidelines can help determine if a movie or television show like Ordinary Angels is kid friendly. Is Ordinary Angels not for kids? Is Ordinary Angels for kids? Let’s breakdown that PG age rating in this Ordinary Angels parents guide.
Violence/Suspense. While no violence is present in Ordinary Angels, there are scenes with mild peril and brief bloody images. There is one scene of a character having a small open wound on their head. There is also a scene of a character vomiting up blood (moderate amount).
Multiple scenes displaying medical sickness and issues related – including presence of medical equipment and medicine (infusion and prescription bottles), scenes taking place in a hospital setting, visuals of needles, tubes, and IV’s.
Adult Themes. Alcohol consumption in Ordinary Angels is a common theme – including liquor, shots, champagne, and beer consumption – with characters acting drunk, tipsy, hungover, and passed out at home and out at bars. Scenes and references to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and alcoholic issues including references to being an “addict.” Multiple scenes of characters smoking cigarettes and/or having lit cigarettes present.
There are multiple scenes relaying death, grief, loss, and estranged family dynamics between characters. This may be triggering for some. Scenes taking place at a funeral setting and grave site.
No sexual innuendo present. There are some scenes of characters wearing tight, flashy, “sexy,” outfits. And one scene of dancing on a bar.
Language. While no language is disclosed by the MPAA, Ordinary Angels does not get a full pass. Foul language phrases and swear words include: 1 “oh sh–” (doesn’t complete the phrase).
Milder bad language phrases and insults in Ordinary Angels include: “stupid,” “dummy,” “hate,” “heck,” “g-d,” and “Chr!st.”
Ordinary Angels Age Rating for Kids
With a runtime of 1 hour 58 minutes, this Ordinary Angels 2024 film runs a little long. Focused more on parent heartstrings than kid-friendly entertainment – Ordinary Angels is PG enough for kids to watch but does not have enough substance for kids to be entertained.
Without action/adventure or humor driving the story home, Ordinary Angels may be kid friendly but may be a little too boring for younger kids to enjoy.
Ordinary Angels is a heartwarming, inspirational, based on a true story film comparable to Erin Brockovich meets a milder Patch Adams – and movies like Soul Surfer and Queen of Katwe.
This 2024 inspirational based on a true story film from Lionsgate is rated PG for “thematic content, smoking, and brief bloody images” by the MPAA.
No, there are no end credit scenes in Ordinary Angels. Feel free to leave when the credits start to roll.
Based on my Ordinary Angels parents guide and mom review above, I would not recommend Ordinary Angels to kids younger than the age of 7-8 years old.
While heartwarming and based on a true story medical film, Ordinary Angels also has deep adult themes that may be boring and one bloody scene that may be scary for younger kids. I advise parents to prescreen the film for medical and alcohol/addict themes throughout.
Considering the full PG age rating breakdown above, this parent movie reviewer would not recommend Ordinary Angels to kids younger than the age of 7-8 years old. This Ordinary Angels PG rating is pretty light and easily comparable to heartwarming, inspirational, based on a true story type of films like Soul Surfer and a milder Patch Adams.
The Overall
Hilary Swank is a mild Erin Brockovich in an even milder Patch Adams in an even milder B-rated Lifetime film.
Pulling at parent heartstrings, Ordinary Angels unfolds an inspiring and mildly entertaining yet formulaic movie about faith, miracles, and ordinary people coming together to do extraordinary things. While not earth shattering in the plotline department, this Lionsgate film has enough Lifetime feel-goods to bring everything together for a cozy night in – but certainly won’t be winning any awards. Focused more on parent heartstrings than kid-friendly entertainment – Ordinary Angels is PG enough for kids to watch but does not have enough substance to be entertained.
Worth a stream for some misty-eyed, life purpose-giving vibes. And that’s about it.
Follow Ordinary Angels on social media:
- Website: https://ordinaryangels.movie/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lionsgate/
- Twitter (“X”): https://twitter.com/Lionsgate
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lionsgate
- #OrdinaryAngelsMovie
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Ordinary Angels, the all-new heartwarming inspiration film from Lionsgate flies into theaters starting Friday February 23, 2024. Will your family be watching?
I was invited to screen Lionsgate’s new inspirational based-on-a-true-story film Ordinary Angels 2024 in exchange for this Ordinary Angels Movie Review | Safe for Kids? Parents Guide. All photos courtesy of Lionsgate. Be sure to follow Raising Whasians for more movie updates, celebrity interviews, entertainment and behind-the-scenes info!
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