A Review of On a Wing and a Prayer by Nick Olszyk
Distribution Service: Theatrical
MPAA Rating, Not Rated at the Time of this Review
CNS Rating, Not Rated at the Time of this Review
Reel Rating, Two and ½ Reels
Flying as a
passenger is nerve wrecking enough; being forced to pilot a plane mid-flight
with almost no experience is an entirely different order of panic. Yet that is
exactly what one ordinary man, with his family in tow, was forced to do. His
story is inspiring, his film adaptation a little less so.
Doug White
(Dennis Quaid) is a millionaire pharmacist who has achieved the American dream:
a good business, a beautiful wife, two aloof children, and the ability to pursue
whatever happiness he desires. His largest challenge is placing first at the
local charity barbeque cooking contest. Then his brother dies. Even though his
sibling was old, overweight, and led a great life, it throws Doug into a spiritual
crisis. Where is God when bad things happen? Little does Doug know that a much
greater challenge is looming. Returning on a private plane from a vacation with
his family in Florida, the pilot has a massive heart attack. Doug takes control
of the plane and, under frantic directions from air control, must learn how to
fly – and land – the aircraft. There will be other challenges, including a
medical emergency with his daughter and a looming thunderstorm. It’s going to
require not just skill but an incredible amount of grace for them to get out
alive.
Like Doug’s
ill-fated journey, On a Wing and a Prayer is a bumpy ride. The acting is
all over the place, and the script is underdeveloped. One guys calls another
guy who tells another guy what to say to Doug. Yes, it’s what really happened,
but cinematically some liberties would have immensely served the story. Despite
these problems, the visual effects and cinematography are quite good for such a
low budget film. The camera moves seamlessly inside and outside the craft. The
pacing is also good, keeping the audience on their toes while never being
overbearing.
When Doug’s
brother dies, his wife is quick to remind him of God’s goodness. People constantly
saying, “I’ll pray for you.” When piloting the plane, everyone comes to God for
help. Expressions of faith are everywhere. In the Pacific Northwest, where I
reside, On a Wing and a Prayer would automatically be branded a “Christian
film.” Yet to a Southerner, this is just part of life, as regular and conventional
as good manners and tabasco sauce. As such, it feels organic as an expression
of culture but not noteworthy as a work of faith. It upholds the goodness of
God and help he gave Doug but is not especially profound.
On a
Wing and a Prayer is a fun little film that never really gets off the
ground. It works better as a story than a movie. Perhaps this was just the
nature of the event, perhaps the mistakes of the filmmakers, but no doubt Doug
White and his family are grateful it happened. Long after the film is
remembered, the story will still be told.
This article first appeared in Catholic World Report on April 19th, 2023.
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