Movie Review - Angel and the Badman
I haven’t seen the original 1947 John Wayne version or the 2009 remake of Angel and the Badman starring Lou Diamond Phillips, so I can’t tell you how closely this latest retelling sticks to either one.
What I can tell you is that the new Angel and the Badman lands somewhere in the Hallmark neighborhood, with a little Western flavor and some heart on the side.
Coming from Angel Studios, you pretty much know what you’re getting. Don’t expect a big-budget Western with jaw-dropping production values or lots of action and gunfire from start to finish.
Instead, you get a straightforward story, very little (if any) cursing, mostly off-screen violence, and an ending you can probably see coming from a mile away. And that’s OK.
Zachary Levi leads the film, with Neal McDonough adding some familiar star power for fans of his work in projects like Tulsa King. Tommy Lee Jones also turns up in a supporting role, which is never a bad thing. It’s a nice collection of actors, even if the production doesn’t have the budget to match the talent.
Will this show up at next year’s awards shows? Probably not.
Is it going to reinvent the Western? Nope.
But now and then, it’s nice to just sit back in your local theater and enjoy a good story without everyone dropping F-bombs or getting shot in graphic detail.
Angel and the Badman is a story of redemption, romance, and the possibility of a second chance. It’s comfortable, predictable filmmaking, but sometimes predictable is exactly what you’re in the mood for.
It’s the kind of film you can take your grandparents to without worrying about what might pop up on screen. Chances are, they’ll enjoy the ride, appreciate the story, and leave the theater with a smile.
Grade: C
| Rated: | (PG-13) |
| Genres: | Action, Adventure, Romance, Western |
| USA release date: | 2026-10-09 |
| Movie length: | 97 minutes |
| Starring: | Zachary Levi, Neal McDonough, Tommy Lee Jones, Meg Fraser |
| Director: | Julio Quintana |
| Writer(s): | |
| Language: | en |
| Country: | US |
Plot
A wounded outlaw finds unexpected mercy in the care of a rancher’s daughter. The hope of love pulls him toward a different life until the law, and his violent past, close in on his new home. Now he must choose the kind of man he’ll become.
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