Angels with Angles

Angels with Angles, released in 2005, is a comedy film directed by Stephen Smoke. The movie is a humorous and compassionate take on death and the afterlife, starring Frank Gorshin, Julie Carmen and Scott Edmund Lane. With a diverse star-studded cast and an ingenious script, this film navigates the ethereal world, exploring a transition between life and afterlife, infusing humor into the most profound existential questions.

Frank Gorshin, known for his role as The Riddler in the Batman TV series, plays the lead character. As a devout con man named Jerry, he has spent most of his life dodging responsibilities and escaping from sticky situations. However, the film takes a turn after he suffers an unexpected death and finds himself in the realm of heaven amongst a crowd of heavenly beings and saintly figures. The premise takes on a comedic twist as Jerry, the inveterate trickster, maneuvers through a series of amusing yet insightful situations that challenge his understanding of life and afterlife.

Julie Carmen plays the role of Angelica, an ethereal angel dispatched to guide departed souls to their new homes in the celestial sphere. This beautiful, compassionate, and tireless guide personifies the tender love heaven possesses for its newest arrivals. Her angelic grace serves as a foil to Jerry's earthly mischief, creating a balanced yin and yang of comical whimsy and deep thoughtfulness. Her mission is to help Jerry adjust to heaven and its ways, a task even more difficult than it may seem due to Jerry’s incorrigible knack for trouble.

An equally interesting character is the deceased comedian Rodney Dangerfield, portrayed by Scott Edmund Lane. Unlike Jerry, Rodney rapidly adjusts and embraces his new ethereal life, turning his comedic class into a spiritual lesson for other celestials. His character adds an authentic touch of raw comedy and balances the surreal premise of the film with earthy humor.

As the celestial journey unfolds, Angels with Angles delves into theology, philosophy, and morality but always with a playful spirit. The title itself is a pun, reflecting the film's witty treatment of the afterlife. Setting the narrative in heaven, the movie maintains a lighthearted tone, peppering the screenplay with puns, one-liners, and slapstick comedy. Still, it doesn’t forget to shed light on substantial issues such as life, death, redemption, and ultimate purpose.

Apart from the central characters, the film also includes a number of cameos, featuring prominent figures from history like Albert Einstein, Marilyn Monroe, Napoleon Bonaparte, and others. The movie further highlights the continuity of universal human concerns, regardless of temporal or spatial borders, while reminding that even the most revered personalities can have their lighter, more human-like facets.

Interlacing the messages of wisdom with humor, the film ensures that the audience doesn't get overwhelmed by the heavy themes. The cinematography adds to the ethereal, dream-like atmosphere, with the use of gentle lighting and heavenly backdrop.

The performances of the lead actors are simply endearing. Frank Gorshin displays his fantastic acting skills in this unconventional comedic role, delivering each joke and pun with precision. Julie Carmen gives credit to her character's angelic grace, empathy, and patience, proving her talent as a seasoned actress. Scott Edmund Lane's portrayal of Rodney Dangerfield is commendable, seamlessly recreating Rodney's energy, charisma, and signature moves.

The direction by Stephen Smoke is proficient, interspersing the narrative with moments that make you pause and reflect amidst the laughter. The movie doesn't aim to answer the mysteries of life and death but rather provoke thought and tickle your humorous bone simultaneously.

Angels with Angles is a film that transcends the ordinary and treads into the realm of the afterlife, taking its audience on a delightful journey. This movie is undoubtedly a delightful amalgamation of comedy, drama, philosophy, and heartwarming emotions, guaranteed to leave a thoughtful smile on its viewer’s faces. It’s a lighthearted and tender work that reminds us to cherish the laughter and love in our everyday lives while playfully speculating on what might await us in the great beyond.