Michael (1996)

36% of critics liked it
(36 reviews)
52% of users liked it
(108,285 ratings)

There are angels among us, and they like lots of sugar in their coffee, in writer-director Nora Ephron's comic fantasy Michael. Vartan Malt (Bob Hoskins) is the editor of a tabloid called the National Mirror that specializes in unlikely stories about celebrities and frankly unbelievable tales about… More There are angels among us, and they like lots of sugar in their coffee, in writer-director Nora Ephron's comic fantasy Michael. Vartan Malt (Bob Hoskins) is the editor of a tabloid called the National Mirror that specializes in unlikely stories about celebrities and frankly unbelievable tales about ordinary folks. When Malt gets word that a woman is supposedly harboring an angel in a small town in Iowa, he figures that this might be right up the Mirror's alley, so he sends out three people to get the story -- Frank Quinlan (William Hurt), a reporter whose career has hit the skids; Huey Discoll (Robert Pastorelli), a photographer on the verge of losing his job (even though he owns the Mirror's mascot, Sparky The Wonder Dog); and Dorothy Winters (Andie MacDowell), a self-styled "angel expert." They arrive at the rooming house of Patsy Millband (Jean Stapleton), who informs them that she does indeed have an angel for a tenant, and introduces them to Michael (John Travolta). Michael has wings like an angel, but the resemblance ends there; Michael loves cigarettes, has an uncontrollable sweet tooth (and a pot belly to match), tends to use a large number of non-angelic phrases, is not much on personal hygiene, and likes to hang out with the ladies. Michael informs his visitors that in Heaven, an angel is allowed a certain number of "vacations" on Earth, and he's in the midst of one now; trouble is, this is the last one he's entitled to, and he wants to make the most of it. Frank and Huey then stumble on a great story idea -- if Michael wants to have some fun, why not take him to Chicago, where he can really kick up his heels? Michael was written in part by Jim Quinlan, himself a one-time reporter, though with a much more respectable tabloid than the Mirror -- he wrote for the Chicago Sun-Times. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 45 min.
Directed By: Nora Ephron
Written By: Peter Dexter, Jim Quinlan, Nora Ephron, Delia Ephron, Pete Dexter
Genres: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Comedy

In Theaters: Dec 25, 1996 Wide
On DVD: Jun 10, 1997

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy, Variety
Travolta's charismatic presence is the only positive element in Nora Ephron's flawed romantic fable marred by rough narrative spots and scattered direction, again showing that Ephron lacks the most basic technical skills.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
Not much in the way of laughs or anything else.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Wahida K

I love this Movie somuch. It makes you believe Wonders happen.
Jason O

Not one of Travolta's best, but I definitely liked it more than I anticipated I would.
Tim S

Not a great film. Ok, but not that great.
Kylie B

Parts are cheesy, parts are quite sweet. I do like Travolta's portrayal of an rather unconventional angel though.
Candy R

Michael is an angel on one last mission before going back to heaven.
Dean M

This film is fun, just not very memorable.
Tim S

Travolta riding that gravy train.
Red L

Michael is different -- a scruffy angel. John Travolta plays him well. He is part charm and part scruff. You have to decide if it is all a lark, or is it thought-provoking?
xGary X

After Battlefield Earth and Phenomenon, Travolta once again proves he shouldn't be let out on his own. And it's got McDowell in it. If I was duped into falling in love with Her, I'd sue.
Leigh R

It was alright.
Jason S

It was ok. Don't think I'll ever watch it again.
Michael G

Nothing to go out of your way for.
Joseph E

Maybe, i just don't like "Nora Ephron", but I get it was just that this was a flimsy film, not nessacerily intended to be bad, or that the acting was bad, but it was directed with such disregard that i wasn't sure where it was going or what it was looking for, but… More
Maybe, i just don't like "Nora Ephron", but I get it was just that this was a flimsy film, not nessacerily intended to be bad, or that the acting was bad, but it was directed with such disregard that i wasn't sure where it was going or what it was looking for, but it was all over the place, and not getting any closer to home!
Sunil J

Heartwarming and adorable.
Erin C

Very cute. Not too much to the plot, but it was adorable nonetheless.
Ira Z

Although this movie had no direction at all, I was still completely enthralled by the hilarious character of John Travolta in this film. Simply because of him, this movie's still worth seeing, at least once.
Lee K

I love travolta and i really like the scripts he picks since his pulp fiction revival. He's great as an angel with a broken halo

Read all 17 featured audience ratings

Cast

            John Travolta as Michael

            Andie MacDowell as Dorothy Winters

            William Hurt as Frank Quinlan

            Bob Hoskins as Vartan Malt

            Robert Pastorelli as Huey Driscoll

            Jean Stapleton as Pansy Milbank

            Teri Garr as Judge Esther Newberg

            Blue Deckert as Joe

            David Harrod as Mal

            Tom Hodges as groom

            John Hussey as minister

            Wallace Langham as Bruce Craddock

            Donald J Lee Jr as court bailiff

            Peyton E. Park as old geezer

            Richard Schiff as Italian Waiter

            Tracy Doyle as reporter

            Joey Lauren Adams as Anita

            Jane Lanier as Suzanne

            Joann Fregalette Jansen as Tammy

            Calvin Trillin as sheriff

            Catherine Lloyd Burns as Evie

            Mark Nutter as counterman

            Dianne Dreyer as Jennifer

            Margaret Travolta as Reporter

            Carla Cugino as bride

            David Bernstein as reporter

            Betsy Sokolow as reporter

            Deborah Nunez as woman

            Dell Aldrich as woman

            Kay Colvin as woman

            James Garrell as old geezer

            Tim Harrison as slacker

            Daniel Mimura as slacker

            Carla Gugino
            
            Andie Mac Dowell
            
See full cast

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