Almost an Angel (1990) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Terry Dean is the protagonist, a skilled electronics specialist and career thief who undergoes a moral transformation after a near-death experience. After being struck by a car while saving a child, he receives a divine message claiming he's been made an angel. He then uses his technical skills and street smarts to perform good deeds, seeking redemption and a sense of purpose.

• terry dean
• protagonist
• angel
• redemption
• paul hogan

The story unfolds in several urban locations across the United States, starting in prison, moving to a hospital, then to a church, Paradise Bar, and a youth center run by Steve and Rose. These settings anchor Terry's transformation from prisoner to angel-in-training, with each location representing a stage in his spiritual journey.

• setting
• locations
• prison
• hospital
• church
• youth center

Almost an Angel is set in the late 1980s to 1990, reflecting a contemporary American setting. The era is hinted at through visual cues like the TV show Highway to Heaven playing in the hospital and Terry's use of period-specific technology like a universal remote to manipulate broadcasts.

• time period
• 1980s
• 1990
• setting
• era

Redemption drives the narrative as Terry, an ex-criminal, seeks to atone for his past sins. His journey involves using his criminal skills for good, returning stolen money, helping the community, and embracing a higher purpose as an angel-in-training. The film emphasizes mercy, personal growth, and the possibility of a second chance.

• redemption
• theme
• atonement
• forgiveness
• second chance

Steve Garner is a wheelchair-bound, terminally ill man who becomes Terry's ally and friend at the youth center. Initially guarded and in pain, he develops camaraderie and purpose by supporting Terry's mission to help at-risk youths. His character adds emotional depth to the story as his eventual tragic death creates a bittersweet element.

• steve garner
• character
• terminal illness
• youth center
• elias koteas

Faith and miracles are central to the narrative, with God appearing to Terry as a probation officer and a lit cross serving as a test of his character. The hospital, church, and bar act as stages for both literal and metaphorical miracles, shaping how characters perceive meaning, destiny, and divine intervention in everyday life.

• faith
• miracles
• god
• religion
• divine

The youth center becomes the focal point for hope and community healing. Run by Steve and Rose, it shelters children and teens while providing Terry with a space to give back. He teaches boxing, repairs arcade games, and helps the center survive financial troubles, using his talents mentorship and support to spur personal change.

• youth center
• community
• children
• steve garner
• rose garner

The premise follows Terry Dean, a career thief released from prison who is hit by a car while saving a little girl. In a hospital dream, God tells him he's been made an angel and must atone for his past. Though lacking supernatural powers, Terry uses his skills and ingenuity to perform good deeds, proving his worth as an angel-in-training.

• angel
• premise
• god
• heaven
• afterlife

Community and healing are major themes as the youth center represents a space where broken individuals find purpose. Terry's interactions with the center's children, Steve, and Rose demonstrate how mentorship, support, and shared purpose can foster personal transformation and create a makeshift family for those on the margins.

• community
• healing
• mentorship
• youth center
• support

Terry applies his electronics expertise and street-wise ingenuity to help others throughout the film. He fixes the youth center's arcade games, manipulates a telecast to secure funding from the skeptical backer George Bealeman, and uses his criminal know-how to return stolen money to its rightful owners, channeling his talents toward altruistic ends.

• skills
• electronics
• gadgets
• helping others
• thief

Detective Bill is a police detective portrayed by David Alan Grier who pursues Terry, representing the law and the film's moral counterforce. He embodies the tension between Terry's criminal past and his new path of righteousness, as Terry must navigate temptation and consequences while being pursued for his previous crimes.

• detective bill
• police
• law
• david alan grier
• pursuit