Date with an Angel

Date with an Angel

Year: 1987

Runtime: 105 mins

Language: English

Director: Tom McLoughlin

ComedyScience FictionFantasyRomanceCrude humor and satire

Aspiring composer Jim Sanders is engaged to spoiled rich girl Patty, but after his bachelor party he finds a beautiful, broken‑winged angel in his pool. As the heavenly visitor becomes known, Jim must juggle a dangerously jealous fiancée, an exploitative future father‑in‑law, and his pals’ outrageous business scheme.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Date with an Angel (1987)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Date with an Angel (1987). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Jim's apartment, a fast-food restaurant, a treehouse in the woods, hospital

The story unfolds across a mix of intimate and public spaces: Jim's private apartment where personal drama unfolds, a casual fast-food restaurant where small-town moments occur, a secluded treehouse in the woods that serves as a hideout, and the hospital where the most dire consequences are faced. These locations reflect the film's blend of everyday life with a dash of magical intrusion. The settings emphasize the contrast between normalcy and the extraordinary presence of the Angel.

🏙️ City apartment 🏡 Suburban home 🌲 Woods 🏥 Hospital

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:48

Main Characters – Date with an Angel (1987)

Meet the key characters of Date with an Angel (1987), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Jim Sanders (Michael E. Knight)

Aspiring composer Jim is engaged to Patty but torn between her world and his artistic dreams. After reviving the mysterious Angel, he becomes protective of her and fights to keep her from being exploited, even as a brain tumor threatens his life and career.

🎼 Creative 💕 Romantic 🧭 Moral struggle

Patty Winston (Phoebe Cates)

The spoiled fiancée who suspects an affair when the Angel enters Jim's life. Her jealousy and fixation on status drive confrontations with Jim and generate dramatic tension as she fights to preserve her engagement and social standing.

💎 Spoiled 😡 Jealous 🗣️ Confrontational

Angel (Emmanuelle Béart)

A celestial being stranded on Earth, the Angel cannot speak at first and communicates through coos. She heals Jim, forms a tender bond with him, and eventually gains a voice, choosing to stay and fight for their future together.

🪽 Ethereal 💫 Mysterious 🛡️ Protective

Ed Winston (David Dukes)

Patty's father and cosmetics company chief who sees the Angel as a publicity opportunity. He pressures, negotiates, and schemes to turn the miraculous into marketing, clashing with Jim's protective instincts and the family's dynamics.

🎯 Ambitious 💼 Business-driven 🥂 Controlling

Grace Sanders (Bibi Besch)

Jim's mother, a steady, supportive presence amid the chaos. She anchors the family dynamic and witnesses the transformative impact of the Angel on Jim's life.

👩‍👦 Family-first 🧭 Grounded 💬 Empathetic

Ben Sanders (Vinny Argiro)

Jim's father and a source of encouragement for Jim's musical dreams. He represents the familial ties that ground Jim as he faces illness and extraordinary circumstances.

👨‍👦 Familial 🎵 Encouraging 🛡️ Supportive

George

One of Jim's best friends who helps mastermind the kidnapping scheme to exploit the Angel. His greed and misjudgments drive much of the conflict.

🤐 Sneaky 🧠 Calculating 🥄 Opportunistic

Don

A member of the trio who assists in the Angel's capture and participates in the escalating plot, balancing loyalty with self-interest.

🤝 Loyal yet opportunistic 🧪 Risk-taker 🗜️ Mechanic

Rex

The third member of the trio, whose actions intensify the tension and propel the public confrontation surrounding the Angel.

🎭 Brash 🧭 Impulsive 🧰 Gadget-minded

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:48

Major Themes – Date with an Angel (1987)

Explore the central themes of Date with an Angel (1987), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💖 Love

Romance drives the central relationship between Jim and the Angel, a bond that transcends ordinary boundaries. Their connection brings healing, risk, and a sense of destiny as they navigate jealousy, exploitation, and loss. The film uses their love to question what is truly valuable when the world pressures you to conform to expectations.

🕊️ Mortality

Jim's advanced brain tumor introduces a looming deadline that heightens every choice. The Angel's presence offers a miraculous balm, yet the story remains grounded in the fragility of life and the fear of losing a loved one. The hospital scenes anchor the narrative in a real stakes framework while exploring faith and mortality.

🎭 Fame

The Angel becomes a potential corporate asset as Ed seeks to make her a spokesperson, highlighting how showmanship can corrupt meaningful connections. The pursuit of fame pits business interests against genuine affection, contrasting publicity with the quiet power of love. The tension asks whether the miraculous should be commodified or protected as a personal treasure.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:48

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Date with an Angel Summary

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Date with an Angel Summary

Date with an Angel Timeline

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Date with an Angel Timeline

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Date with an Angel (1987) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

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