Product Details

• Actors: Paul Hogan, Elias Koteas, Linda Kozlowski
• Directors: John Cornell
• Format: Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Studio: Legend Films
• DVD Release Date: June 3, 2008
• Run Time: 98 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0016LFG24
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #18,383 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Almost An Angel" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Review

There was always a sweetness underlying Paul Hogan's Crocodile Dundee character. Sure, he could scare off punks with that knife of his, but one look at the twinkle in his eyes and you knew the guy was really just a big ol' softie. Perhaps it's little surprise, then, that in 1990, to follow-up the two Dundee films that made him an international star, Hogan wrote himself the role of a thief who turns out to be an angel, a role that surrounds him with a year's supply of sentimental gooiness.

Few actors could make this work, considering the elements on display: the community center in trouble, the angry man in the wheelchair who learns the power of friendship, the quaint love story, the schemer struggling to reform, etc. But Hogan sure knows how to write for himself (and for wife Linda Kozlowski, who costars with him once more), and he makes Almost an Angel a comedy not about schmaltz, but about how fun it is to watch a leathery guy like Hogan amble his way toward nice guy-ness.

Terry Dean (Hogan) is a professional thief so professional that he's essentially worked his way out of the business; cops know his handiwork, and he knows he'd be the first Usual Suspect for every crime in town. Upon leaving prison, he opts to retire from burglary - yet he can't quite shake the crime bug, so he turns to bank robbery instead. (His new M.O.: disguise himself as celebrities, leaving the tellers to remark how Willie Nelson just held them up.)

But his new career is cut short when he's hit by a car while saving a boy's life. In the hospital, he dreams (or does he?) he's in heaven, talking to God (a cameo so perfectly cast I dare not spoil it here). After getting called a "scumbag" by the Lord Almighty, Terry receives an offer: return to Earth as an "angel on probation," help as many people as he can, then maybe we'll see about this whole getting into heaven thing.

Is Terry really an angel? Does it matter? He's soon busy helping others any way he can - which usually means deceit and thievery. (He holds up a fast food joint to get lunch for the homeless.) Eventually, he befriends Steve (Elias Koteas), a bitter, handicapped young man who's mad at the world, but lightens up when Terry's around. This leads Terry to Steve's sister, Rose (Kozlowski), which paves the way for a gentle romance. [] Angel is a film that makes us smile even when we're not sure we should. It breaks down our cynicism and finds our heartstrings, and with Hogan at the reins, we don't mind the tug. [] --David Cornelius of DVDTalk.com

Product Description

It s hilarity to the high heavens as Australia s favorite funnyman, Paul Hogan (Crocodile Dundee®) stars as a thief who is convinced he s an angel. Hogan is career criminal Terry Dean, who s hit by a car while saving the life of a little girl. When Terry regains consciousness, he awakens to a place strangely like heaven with a God who looks strangely like Charlton Heston! Terry emerges from this vision believing he s an angel a belief that propels him and those he encounters into humorous and heartfelt predicaments. Featuring Hogan s Crocodile Dundee® co-star Linda Kozlowski, Almost An Angel showcases Paul Hogan at his most irrepressible.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Out of Print Video needing a DVD makeover, September 3, 2004

By	A.M.Boughey "Poetmaster" (Rochester, MN) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Almost an Angel [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Most US audiences first tast of Paul Hogan was in the hugely succesful Crocodile Dundee, with Mr Hogan in the title role. Although this movie tries to ride on the shirt tails of that success, it is actually a very well made, and self standing production. Paul began his career many years earlier on Australian TV in his own show which was a series of sketches, observations, and almost a down under version of a one man Saturday night live. Anyone familiar with this early material will enjoy the mix of subtle antipodean humor, and at times slapstick sight gags in this picture. But this is NO Dundee style flick, despite the repeated pairing of Hogan and Kozlowski (as the love interest)and is a light, poignant and thought provoking storyline. Another great strength is the moral comment that is discreetly delivered, without being overly sentimental, or patronising. Hogan plays a reformed petty thief who is convinced he has died and been delivered back to Earth to make amends for his wayward lifestyle. This knowledge makes him conduct himself as if indestructible, with some funny results, and the whole picture has a feelgood flavour, whilst cleverly retaining a sober undertone. This apsect of the picture is never really revealed to the audience, and the "is he, isn't he"? aspect adss an extra dimension to the comedy. An excellent cameo from Charlton Heston as God, and a solid supporting cast and script, leaves one wondering why this film was only moderately succesful at the box office, and more importantly why it has yet to make it to DVD. With the amount of relaunching, repackaging, special editions, and anniversary releases of a ton of movies these days, this film doesn't deserve to be overlooked. A contemporary "It's a Wonderful Life" it may not quite be, but it IS a very good movie. Enjoy!

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Paul Hogan tries to play someone other than Mick Dundee, December 2, 2003

By	Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

This review is from: Almost an Angel [VHS] (VHS Tape)

In 1986 Paul Hogan moved from being the spokesman for Australian tourism on the small screen to the surprise star of the surprise hit theatrical film, "Crocodile Dundee." Two years later he made "Crocodile Dundee II," and two years after that he made this comedy and married his constant co-star Linda Kozlowski. "Almost an Angel" is a better film than "Crocodile Dundee II," and certainly the most intimate of Hogan's first three films.

This time around he plays Terry Dean, an expert on security systems who was so good his criminal endeavors were easily recognizable who also took a turn at some creative attempts at bank robbery. The real story begins when Terry gets out of prison and becomes convinced that he has not only died but has been sent back to Earth by a heavenly being (who sure sounds and looks like Charlton Heston) with a chance to redeem himself. Since Hogan clearly believes this is what is going along, there is no reason for us not to go along for the ride.

Terry meets up with Steve (Elias Koteas), a guy in a wheelchair and the next thing we know he is being taken home, meeting Steve's sister Rose (Kozlowski), and helping out at the center for the neighborhood kids. The formula is fairly obvious, but the point is not whether Terry is going to find his redemption but how he is going to pull it off. Ultimately the film's message (yes, there actually is one) is relatively simple: Terry succeeds because he has complete faith in himself. It does not matter that his faith is without a true foundation, because Terry is too busy moving mountains to notice his grand delusion is built on shifting sand.

Once again, Hogan's performance redeems a lot of the faults with the movie in which he is appearing. Since Hogan writes his own scripts he has the advantage of knowing exactly what works for his screen persona. Terry Dean is not as whimsical as Mick Dundee, but Hogan was clearly smart enough to try and get beyond that character. He was also smart to make a more intimate sort of movie, where the situation is what is out there more than the character. Hogan also knows how to set up his gags pretty well. "Almost an Angel" only made a fraction of the money by either of the "Crocodile Dundee" films, but it is arguably a better made movie.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Paul Hogan Movie, December 23, 2003

By	Dave W "Dave W" (Denver, CO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Almost an Angel [VHS] (VHS Tape)

As far as I am concerned this is a classic film that ranks up there with It's a Wonderful Life. It has it's sad moments but is for the most part upbeat and funny. It is Paul Hogan at his best. I just wish they would put it out on DVD. If you are a Paul Hogan fan you can't help but love this film.