With High Spirits (1987) proving to be a critical and commercial failure, director Neil Jordan attempted another big-budget comedy for a Hollywood studio. This time around Paramount put up the money for a remake of an old Humphrey Bogart comedy called We’re No Angels (Michael Curtiz 1955). Robert De Niro took on the Bogart role, while Sean Penn and Demi Moore co-starred. Famed playwright David Mamet provided the screenplay.
We’re No Angels Plot Summary
Ned (De Niro) and Jim (Penn) are locked up in a prison ruled over by the brutal Warden (Ray McNally). Bobby (James Russo), a tough killer is being prepared for execution, an act both Ned and Jim are forced to watch. However Bobby has an escape plan and carries out an inventive jailbreak dragging his two fellow convicts along with him. Bobby goes his own way, leaving the boys to their own devices. While cadging a lift from a resident of a nearby town Ned and Jim are mistaken for two priests and taken to a monastery.
De Niro the Cynic, Penn the Believer
Ned is the more cynical of the two and regards as the monastery as being simply another kind of prison. Jim is an innocent, more susceptible to thoughts about religion even if initially he struggles to comprehend such ideas. Ned is aware they will have to leave soon as the town is attracting visitors after a statue of the Virgin Mary appears to be crying real tears. Molly (Demi Moore), a single mother with a disabled child who wants a miracle and is less than pleased with Ned’s explanations for why she can’t have one.
We’re No Angels – A Comedy That Isn’t Funny
With We’re No Angels Neil Jordan has chosen to collaborate on a comedy with three of the least funny people working in the movies. Mamet has many virtues but making people laugh isn’t one of them. Sean Penn is a fine dramatic actor, but has no sense of humour. As for De Niro he would go on to get it right with Meet the Parents (Jay Roach 2000), but here his comic technique involves moving his head around from side to side while grimacing.
Jordan does handle the religious aspects of We’re No Angels with respect and Penn’s growing faith is taken seriously. Its failure then is down to a lack of laughs. The menacing performances of the late Ray McNally and James Russo are never really allowed to threaten the heroes. Jordan would return to his native Ireland to direct the low-budget, but infinitely more rewarding small-town drama The Miracle (1991).
- We’re No Angels
- Starring Robert De Niro, Sean Penn, Demi Moore
- Written by David Mament
- Directed by Neil Jordan
- Year of Release 1989
- Running time 101 mins
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