Angry Angel
Angry Angel is a 2017 American romantic comedy-drama television film directed by Jamie Travis and written by David Iserson from a story by Will Gluck.[1]The story follows Allison Pyke, a young woman who dies unexpectedly and becomes an angel tasked with performing good deeds—tracked via a smartphone app—to earn entry into heaven, only for her plans to be disrupted by a love triangle involving two men from her past life.[2]
Starring Brenda Song in the lead role as Allison, alongside Jason Biggs, Andy Favreau, and Andrew Bachelor, the film blends fantasy elements with holiday themes, emphasizing redemption, loss, and romance.[3]
It premiered on Freeform on November 27, 2017, as part of the network's holiday programming lineup, receiving mixed reviews for its whimsical premise and Song's performance while critiquing some clichéd tropes.[4]
Produced by Olive Bridge Entertainment and Sony Pictures Television and distributed by Freeform, Angry Angel marks an early lead role for Song, highlighting Asian American representation in mainstream holiday films.
Film overview
Plot
Allison Pyke is a young angel who has spent nine years on Earth, performing good deeds to accumulate points required for admission to heaven. She receives assignments via smartphone notifications, earning points for successful miracles, such as the 40,000 points awarded for her role in the Miracle on the Hudson. Despite her efforts, progress has been slow, leaving her frustrated and close to the threshold after years of small-scale interventions.[5] Her latest assignment involves assisting a high school student named Leonard in reuniting with his crush during the holiday season. Posing as a helpful stranger, Allison orchestrates a series of serendipitous events at a New York City bus station and Christmas party, ultimately succeeding in bringing the pair together. This mission grants her the exact points needed to qualify for ascension, filling her with a sense of accomplishment and anticipation for her departure the day after Christmas.[6] Complications arise when Allison unexpectedly encounters Patrick Dorsey, her husband from her previous human life, who has no memory of their shared past due to the rules of the afterlife. Patrick, now living as a human, is traveling with his new girlfriend, stirring deep emotions in Allison and violating angelic protocols against personal contact with past lives. This reunion forms a love triangle with her boss, James Barker, a jaded fellow angel who has been stuck on Earth for over a century and with whom Allison shares a casual romantic connection. The tension escalates as Allison grapples with lingering feelings for Patrick while navigating her growing affection for Barker.[2] Interwoven throughout the narrative are flashbacks revealing Allison's human identity as Megan, a woman who died nine years earlier from cancer, leaving behind her husband Patrick, whom she had married after a lifelong friendship. These sequences explore her regrets over unspoken words and unfulfilled dreams, providing emotional depth to her current struggles and highlighting the supernatural barrier that separates her from her former life. The backstory underscores her motivation for redemption through angelic service, contrasting her past human vulnerabilities with her present supernatural responsibilities.[7] In the climax, Allison briefly ascends to heaven after confirming her points total, experiencing a moment of peace and reunion with familiar souls. However, upon learning that Barker is in mortal danger from a heavenly oversight, she defies the rules by returning to Earth to save him, intervening in a life-threatening situation during a chaotic holiday event. This act of selfless love results in a severe 100,000-point penalty, resetting her progress and stranding her back on Earth indefinitely.[1] Ultimately, Allison chooses to remain on Earth, recommitting to her role as an angel despite the setback. This decision emphasizes themes of redemption, the value of earthly connections over heavenly reward, and the power of personal choice in the face of supernatural constraints, allowing her to continue aiding others while resolving her internal conflicts.[2]Cast
The principal cast of Angry Angel features a mix of established and emerging actors portraying the film's central heavenly and earthly figures. Brenda Song leads as Allison Pyke, the central angel protagonist struggling with her past and heavenly duties.[8]| Actor | Character | Role Description |
|---|---|---|
| Brenda Song | Allison Pyke | The central angel protagonist struggling with her past and heavenly duties.[8] |
| Andy Favreau | James Barker | Allison's strict boss and potential romantic interest, representing authority and vulnerability.[8] |
| Andrew Bachelor (King Bach) | Leonard | The high school student whose matchmaking assignment advances the plot.[8] |
| Ricky Mabe | Patrick Dorsey | Allison's deceased human husband, reappearing to complicate her emotions.[8] |
| Jason Biggs | Meta-angel character (guest role) | Provides comic relief through self-referential humor as a heavenly overseer.[8] |