Verabredung mit einem Engel

I watched this film again recently after nearly ten years and was pleased to find that it's very much as I remember it. Emmanuelle Beart as the angel is a perfect mixture of stunning beauty, and playful innocence, all expressed using only facial expressions, and soft birdlike cooing sounds. Whether gleefully snarfing french fries, or bringing down the wrath of god on her enemies, she steals every scene she's in. It's easy to understand why everyone falls in love with her.

Special effects are mainly limited to a set of beautiful articulated wings, and a lovely flying sequence are quite effective, especially considering the films small budget.

Michael Knight holds up his end well enough, effectively likeable and sympathetic playing the standard befuddled hero caught in the middle. A shame we haven't seen more of him.

The three actors playing Jim's friends just manage to miss being annoying. Fortunately their antics are tempered by the fact that they obviously seem to care about him, not to mention they have some genuinely funny lines.

If there are any negatives to be found here, it's in the decidedly 'tacked on' ending. The original ending was supposedly quite lovely. Unfortunately some studio exec apparently decided it needed a 'happier' ending. Typical.

Also, Phoebe Cates as the spoiled 'jealous girlfriend' quickly grows tiresome and starts to grate on the nerves with her tantrums and shrill screaming. I guess some might find this sort of thing funny, but I found myself fast forwarding through all of her scenes. A shame really since she's such a lovely actress. In spite of the gripes though this is a pleasant and sweet enough little movie for those who enjoy romantic fantasies.

... but not even her unearthly, celestial beauty could rescue this film. And yes, the young Phoebe Cates was beautiful, but in looks alone, she's no match for Ms. Beart. But really, this is a idiotic film, with an idiotic plot, that is only watchable when Ms. Beart is on screen. Yes, she can do with just a glance what most actresses need a few pages of dialog to convey. I can't recommend this boring, badly directed and badly everything film, except for Ms. Beart. She's the only reason why you should watch this film, but fast forward any part she's not in.

Anybody who looks at this film, will say what a unimaginative story, nervetheless at leat a bit entertaining.... But in a contrast to this, the soundtrack is a very special one. The music is by Randy Kerber / Sound Design by Dane Tracks. Singing composition and additional voice is by Avant Garde diva Joan La Barbara. Her voice is uttering in a peculiar way. Not human, maybe angelic?! - Usely angels in films sing like saloon sopranos from the 19th century in very kitschy manner. The music in the film is very kitschy, too. But the voice of La Barbara ist relativating the rest of the film.

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.

If ever an angel looked like Emmanuelle Be'art,she was the one. The movie was so enjoyable and moving at times, you could shed a tear, while laughing off the couch at the antics of the "MORTALS" The movie just made you feel good to be able to watch. Why it never became a 10 star I can't figure out. The American movies will often engross you in this type of "Story" with name stars and at the end, "KICK YOU IN THE STOMACH" for effect...like Turner and Hooch, and City Of Angels and Heaven Can Wait. This "DATE WITH AN ANGEL" is one of my favorite movies of all time. I have 4000 very selected movies movies on vcr tapes and this one is TOP TEN. It should be run more often. Armand D. Maanum