“Forget miracles, you need hitting.” —Angela
Today’s quick review: Angel-A. Thousands of euros in debt to the wrong kind of people, Andre Moussah (Jamel Debbouze), an American living in Paris, contemplates suicide as the only option left to him. But before he can go through with it, he meets Angela (Rie Rasmussen), a tall, gorgeous blonde who agrees to help him with his problems. As Angela helps him pay off his debts, Andre begins to suspect there is more to her than meets the eye.
Angel-A is a French dramatic comedy with elements of fantasy and romance. Written and directed by Luc Besson, Angel-A follows Andre and Angela as they set about cleaning up the mess Andre has made of his life. Over the course of a few days, Andre takes stock of his decisions, confronts his demons, and comes to depend on Angela, complaining and making excuses all the while. Angel-A is a niche pick that manages to hit a sweet spot for the right viewer.
Angel-A revolves heavily around the relationship between Andre and Angela. The two characters spend almost all of the movie together, and their patter drives both the movie’s comedy and its emotional arc. To the movie’s credit, it makes their dynamic work through a combination of artistry and brute force. There are meaningful moments that help cement their relationship, but for the most part, they simply argue and bond until it becomes natural.
Angel-A also has an offbeat quality that takes some getting used to. Andre lives in a comically exaggerated version of Paris where gangsters loan out five-figure sums to unreliable strangers, beautiful women intervene in the lives of desperate men, and fortunes can change in an instant. The movie’s larger-than-life story, seedy setting, and wholesome themes give it an identity of its own, but one the audience has to invest in.
Angel-A is an odd movie in a number of ways. It relies on two rough characters who take a while to establish a functional dynamic, its world uses familiar components in unfamiliar proportions, and its premise gets stranger the longer it plays out. But the payoff for all of this is a story that’s often funny and ultimately rewarding. Open-minded viewer should give it a shot. Those looking for something conventional should steer clear.
For a classic tale of self-reflection with a more dignified tone, try It’s a Wonderful Life or The Bishop’s Wife. For a romantic drama about a supernatural change to the course of one person’s life, try City of Angels. For a crime drama with introspective themes and an even stranger story, check out Revolver.
[7.1 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0473753/). I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for quirky charm with some rough edges.