OnAWingAndAPrayer Review: Dennis Quaid’s Doug White Story Flails Then Fails
Sean McNamara’s On a Wing and a Prayer doesn't stand a chance from the opening frame. The flat comedy and ham-fisted themes from screenwriter Brian Egeston don’t do the film any favors and, sadly, the performances range from bad to worse. The occasional moment of tension or interesting use of split screen is about all the film has to offer, which is a shame because the real-life actions of Doug White are nothing short of extraordinary.
The first half of the film is spent on character development the story does not need. It’s hard to critique these elements in films based on real stories but, in the case of On a Wing and a Prayer, the same theme is repeated over and over. Grief and loss of belief in a higher power can be fascinating concepts to grapple with, but the film literalizes everything and offers no nuance. Even the plot mechanics themselves are redundant.
Bad southern accents and a truly confounding lead performance don’t help this already struggling film. The entire family sounds closer to a Saturday Night Live skit than they do to real people and every line of dialogue suffers as a result. Quaid is inaudible in certain scenes, but his accent is not distracting to the plot of the film. The same cannot be said for the rest of the cast. Graham’s affectation is so noticeable one simply cannot pay attention to anything else that’s going on.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
‘On a Wing and a Prayer’ Review: Dennis Quaid’s Spiritual Thriller Flies on Bad FaithNo redemptive stone is left unturned in “On a Wing and a Prayer,” Sean McNamara’s formulaic dramatization of the true events surrounding civilian Doug White’s 2009 emergency landing of a King Air 2…
Read more »
Beverly D’Angelo, Dennis Haysbert, Nicole Richie & Josh Peck Set For ‘Summer Camp’ ComedyEXCLUSIVE: Beverly D’Angelo (National Lampoon’s Vacation), Dennis Haysbert (Far from Heaven), Nicole Richie (Bless This Mess) and Josh Peck (How I Met Your Father) are among the newest …
Read more »
'Getting guys involved': How Austin Reaves and Dennis Schroder impacted Lakers' winAustin Reaves and Dennis Schroder provided big plays in key moments Tuesday during the Lakers' overtime victory against Utah. Here's how they did it.
Read more »
Frida Baby Potty Review 2023 - Today's ParentIs it weird to say we're obsessed with a toddler potty? We are though. pottytraining fridapotty toddlerpotty
Read more »
Brandon Johnson Wins Chicago Mayoral RaceBrandon Johnson defeated Paul Vallas in Chicago's mayoral election Tuesday, and will succeed outgoing Mayor Lori Lightfoot. See potential biases and similarities in reports from cnn, nro and chicagotribune:
Read more »