For all the deep philosophical questions it tries to ponder, the one "City of Angels" really poses is why American filmmakers choose to remake existing European movies — particularly good ones — in the first place.
That's not to say that this film is without its merits. But it's bound to fail in comparison with its source material, Wim Wenders' 1987 art-house hit "Wings of Desire," an engrossing fantasy-drama that most movie fans should seek out immediately.
However, the first hour of this stylish, well-acted remake is rewarding and seems to indicate the experiment could work. But it stumbles in its final 30 minutes, when director Brad Silberling goes farther into the story — too far and in a too sappy manner — than Wenders did in the original.
(Admittedly, Wenders also continued his characters' stories in the 1993 sequel "Faraway, So Close," but with somewhat mixed results.)
Also, with some male nudity and a lengthy sex scene, "City of Angels" should further the debate as to what exactly separates a PG-13 and an R-rated film.
The movie stars Nicolas Cage as Seth, a restless angel drawn to one of the humans he's supposed to comfort — Maggie Rice (Meg Ryan), a beautiful heart surgeon suffering from a loss of confidence after losing one of her patients on the operating table.
As he struggles to reassure Maggie, Seth finds himself falling in love with the mortal woman and violates a cardinal rule when he lets her see and hear him. (Though their presence is "felt," most human beings are unable to see the invisible spirit guides.)
Ultimately, Seth must decide whether to forsake immortality for unconditional love, though he's aided in his decision by his angelic partner, Cassiel (Andre Braugher, from TV's "Homicide: Life on the Streets"), and Nathaniel Messinger, a gluttonous, hedonistic Heaven-to-Earth convert (Dennis Franz, from TV's "NYPD Blue").
As mentioned, Silberling ("Casper") and screenwriter Dana Stevens ("Blink") successfully Americanize Wenders' plot for an hour or so. And the addition of well-placed humorous bits certainly doesn't hurt.
However, it's almost painful to watch the movie slowly degenerate from there into a weepy melodrama with a "four-hanky" ending that wouldn't be out of place in a TV movie of the week.
Still, Cage and Ryan have surprising chemistry (he's especially good), while Franz and Braugher add depth in supporting roles.
"City of Angels" is rated PG-13 for profanity, violent fist fights, sex, male nudity, hospital gore and some vulgar jokes and references.