Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysToronto Int'l Film FestivalHispanic Heritage MonthIMDb Stars to WatchSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Unlikely Angel

  • TV Movie
  • 1996
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
1.3K
YOUR RATING
Dolly Parton in Unlikely Angel (1996)
ComedyFantasy

Dolly Parton portrays a country-music performer who meets an untimely demise, but cannot enter heaven until she performs a good deed back on Earth: to reunite a workaholic widower with his c... Read allDolly Parton portrays a country-music performer who meets an untimely demise, but cannot enter heaven until she performs a good deed back on Earth: to reunite a workaholic widower with his children for Christmas.Dolly Parton portrays a country-music performer who meets an untimely demise, but cannot enter heaven until she performs a good deed back on Earth: to reunite a workaholic widower with his children for Christmas.

  • Director
    • Michael Switzer
  • Writers
    • Catherine Ann Jones
    • Liz Coe
    • Robert L. Freedman
  • Stars
    • Dolly Parton
    • Roddy McDowall
    • Brian Kerwin
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.3/10
    1.3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Michael Switzer
    • Writers
      • Catherine Ann Jones
      • Liz Coe
      • Robert L. Freedman
    • Stars
      • Dolly Parton
      • Roddy McDowall
      • Brian Kerwin
    • 25User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos16

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster

    Top cast16

    Edit
    Dolly Parton
    Dolly Parton
    • Ruby Diamond
    Roddy McDowall
    Roddy McDowall
    • Saint Peter
    Brian Kerwin
    Brian Kerwin
    • Ben Bartilson
    Allison Mack
    Allison Mack
    • Sarah Bartilson
    Eli Marienthal
    Eli Marienthal
    • Matthew Bartilson
    Shelly Lenna Bauerly
    • Angel in Choir
    Ricki Dale
    • Secretary
    Maria del Mar
    Maria del Mar
    • Allison
    Matt Lincoln
    • Tree Farm Worker
    James Lurie
    James Lurie
    • Maitre'd
    • (as James Harrison Lurie)
    Frances Peach
    • Bingo Lady
    Gary Sandy
    Gary Sandy
    • Charlie
    Terrie Snell
    Terrie Snell
    • Church Lady
    Jana Stave
    • Honky Tonk Woman
    Billy 'Sly' Williams
    Billy 'Sly' Williams
    • Security Guard
    Ron Wolf
    • Jeremiah
    • Director
      • Michael Switzer
    • Writers
      • Catherine Ann Jones
      • Liz Coe
      • Robert L. Freedman
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews25

    6.31.3K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    MichaelLee1991

    an enjoyable fil

    i wanted to see this first movie when it came on lifetime but i was really to busy to see it.i mean i'm 12 years old and i like this movie.i mean it's a real family tradition movie this is my third favorite dolly parton movie of course number 2 being 9 to 5 and my first being stragiht talk but i mean this movie it isn't like the other dolly parton movies.i really liked this movie and i would recommand it to dollly parton fans.
    8k.mckay2

    dolly is the greatest

    I had never seen dolly in a movie,until seeing 9 to 5 and that was very good,but this movie,I'm not a great lover of this type of film and was apprehensive about,but after a couple of minutes and hearing dolly's fantastic voice I was completely sold. The film is the usual type,but dolly make it come to life. I go to nearly everyone of dolly's shows when she come to england.I would recommend this to any dolly fan,it's the best. The songs and the acting ability show by dolly is very good,she is a born actress of the highest quality. Long may she adorn the silvery screen and keep her fans happy we could be better it we had dolly over in england

    Peter Mckay
    9neilc42

    cute and funny

    I liked the movie. Predictable but entertaining. I'll have to admit, I'm a Dolly fan! She always plays good parts. Even in Nine to Five, she meant well in everything she did. The actors did an OK job of portraying their characters. CLEAN except for a few shots of Dolly. Language is fairly clean except for the word dam-it. Unfortunately it is all too true that the real world today focuses on the job, career, kids are left to fend for themselves, parents don't know how to be parents, etc. I would watch it again. Sometimes I think my grown up kids could learn some things, even from a simple movie like this one.

    Better than some of the trash out there these days.
    7mjanssens26

    Cute Christmas movie

    This is a sweet and happy holiday film where we get to watch Dolly in her prime working with the legendary Roddy McDowall. A fun film from the mid-90's, slightly dated due to an average film transfer but overall a nice time waster if you enjoy Christmas movies.
    5Prismark10

    Dolly sings again

    Dolly Parton has shown enough charm over the years to have developed a sideline as an actress. She may not have great range but films such as Unlikely Angel are a good display of her acting talents.

    Ruby is a small town country music singer who dies in a road crash. At the pearly gates Angel Peter (Roddy McDowall) tells her that in order to gain her wings she must go back to earth as a nanny to help a widower and his dysfunctional family over the Christmas holidays.

    The father is too busy at work, the teenage daughter is getting rebellious, the younger son spends too much time on video games.

    Ruby has short time to get the family to bond but every time she thinks she has got them together, something goes wrong and its back to square one. The film really thrives on Dolly's charms and a few songs help. The Christmas setting gives it a schmaltzy feel, its a decent if predictable television film.

    Best Emmys Moments

    Best Emmys Moments
    Discover nominees and winners, red carpet looks, and more from the Emmys!

    More like this

    A Smoky Mountain Christmas
    6.9
    A Smoky Mountain Christmas
    Straight Talk
    5.8
    Straight Talk
    Rhinestone
    4.0
    Rhinestone
    One Special Night
    7.2
    One Special Night
    Wild Texas Wind
    5.8
    Wild Texas Wind
    The Haunting Hour: Don't Think About It
    5.7
    The Haunting Hour: Don't Think About It
    Dolly Parton's Mountain Magic Christmas
    5.7
    Dolly Parton's Mountain Magic Christmas
    Ebbie
    6.6
    Ebbie
    Heavens to Betsy
    6.9
    Heavens to Betsy
    Ultimate Desire
    4.1
    Ultimate Desire
    Breaking Loose: Summer City II
    3.9
    Breaking Loose: Summer City II
    A Bone to Pick: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery
    6.6
    A Bone to Pick: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery

    Related interests

    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Elijah Wood in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
    Fantasy

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The title song has never officially been issued in audio format, but Dolly Parton re-recorded it for her 2014 album "Blue Smoke."
    • Goofs
      When Ruby walks into the bingo hall where Peter is calling out the numbers, she sits down at the table and plays a card, then Peter calls out "I-60." This cannot happen as the column "I" only has numbers 16-30.
    • Connections
      References The Sound of Music (1965)
    • Soundtracks
      Unlikely Angel
      Written and Performed by Dolly Parton

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 17, 1996 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Räddande ängel
    • Production companies
      • Sandollar Productions
      • The Kushner-Locke Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $4,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 35m(95 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.