On A Wing and a Prayer movie review

MOVIE TITLE: On A Wing and a Prayer

This dramatic movie based on true events will be available on Amazon on April 7, 2023.

RATING: PG

LENGTH: 1 hour 42 minutes

MOVIE REVIEW MOM GRADE: B

IN A NUTSHELL:

This true story is about a family man, played by Dennis Quaid. After his pilot dies unexpectedly mid-flight, he has to safely land a plane in order to save his entire family from insurmountable danger.

The movie was directed by Sean McNamara, and written by Brian Egeston. The lovely Roma Downey served as the producer with Autumn Bailey-Ford, and the famous Mark Burnett as the Executive Producer.

THINGS I LIKED:

Dennis Quaid plays such likable and crusty characters, especially in recent years. Family members of the real Doug White, have said that Dennis Quaid’s performance was eerily accurate.
I’ve also always enjoyed Heather Graham’s performances, but I was surprised to see her play Dennis Quaid’s wife because she’s much younger than he is. He’s 68 years old, while Heather is 53. I know that’s not an impossible age difference for a married couple; I was just surprised by the casting.
Brett Rice plays Dennnis Quaid’s loving brother in the film. I got a kick out of their playful banter and support for one another. They have some very touching moments together.
There’s a honky-tonk vibe with a southern touch, giving us a soundtrack that’s a lot of fun.
It sure makes you appreciate pilots who know what they’re doing.
When I watch true stories like this, I often wonder how many of the details are actually accurate versus how many were added for dramatic effect. For example, it’s super cliché to have a child with a health emergency during an already dangerous situation, so was that part of the story true?
There are some sweet and touching moments.
It was clever to utilize the two children who were side characters to explain various flying principles to the audience.
We see personal growth in several characters.
We get to read messages on the screen at the end of the movie that tell us what happened after the events of the movie. We also get to see pictures and videos of the real people involved. As we watch a video of Doug telling the story of what happened, it’s touching to see that he recognized the many times when God intervened to save his family on that traumatic day.
It’s a family-friendly movie that illustrates how wavering faith can become strengthened.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

Some of the scenes in the airplane have terrible green-screen shots.
Jessi Case plays a snarky, entitled teen with an attitude. I wonder how the daughter in real life feels about being portrayed that way.
It was surprising how quickly some of the air traffic controllers were willing to give up.
Some of the dialogue is pretty lame.
In one scene, we see dark clouds and rain where the little girl lives, but then, suddenly, we see perfectly blue skies in the next scene.
The unsung hero of the story is really Doug’s wife. She NEVER gave up hope, while Doug did. She constantly prayed and offered help, while Doug kept saying over the pilot headphone, “We need help!” Sure, he had to fly the plane, but she didn’t seem to get the credit she deserved. Since the real-life events, Doug is a faithful Christian.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

People are in perilous situations
We see homeless people being fed by kind people
Lots of alcohol
A suggestive conversation about a one-night stand
Some “mild” profanity
A man dies of a heart attack
We see a man who is hungover
A teen helps another teen who has a health emergency
A family attends a funeral

THEMES:

Survival
Hobbies
Family
Faith and doubt
Life and loss
Communication
Hope
Celebrate answered prayers
Seeing God’s hand in the details of our life

FUNNY LINES:
None. This is a serious drama.

INTERESTING LINES:

“You gotta be grateful for what you got before you don’t have it anymore.” – Mrs. White (Heather Graham)
“Life and loss cannot exist without the other.” – Pastor Williams (James Healy Jr.)
“Sometimes you gotta trust in those things you can’t see.” – (Jesse Metcalfe)
“Thank God for growth, huh?” – Jeff White (Brett Rice)