"SINGING WITH ANGELS" — 2½ stars — Sarah Kent, Scott Christopher, Anne Sward; PG (thematic elements and an accident scene); in general release
Inspired by true events and composited into a fictional story, “Singing with Angels” is a reflection on a woman’s time in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and how the experience impacted and shaped the life of her family.
Director Brian Brough’s film follows the experience of a mother named Aubrey Larson (Sarah Kent). In a brief prologue, we learn that the power of music literally saved her life as an infant. As an adult, performing that same music gives her life meaning.
Aubrey is living with her family in the Salt Lake City area, working as a choir director at her daughter’s school and sitting on about 4-5 years of experience singing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
When Aubrey’s mother-in-law (Anne Sward) breaks the news of some serious health problems, Aubrey wonders if the best thing to do for her family might involve sacrificing her spot with the choir.
She thinks back on the start of her journey, and flashbacks catch us up on the milestones of the last five years. There’s the move to Salt Lake with her husband, Jason (Scott Christopher), and her tryout with the choir. We see more family-specific trials, such as when her daughter’s appendix burst, and spiritual experiences on tour with the choir, such as her encounter with a man who says the choir saved his life.
There are some nice moments along the way, but there isn’t enough conflict to allow “Singing with Angels” to get real traction. Since we already know Aubrey will join the choir, much of the tryout process feels more instructional than engaging, and though the early vignettes are related, they feel disconnected, like a meandering walk down memory lane.
It isn’t until the third act that Brough’s film lets go of its heavy nostalgic tone and really finds its stride. A surprising late twist introduces some powerful dramatic conflict, bringing the narrative together and helping “Singing with Angels” finish on a strong and uplifting note.
The big attraction for most viewers will be the depiction of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and many will be happy to know that choir music and members are used throughout the film. The depiction of the tryout process is pretty thin and serves more as a setup for the film than its focus. Often, the emphasis is placed more on the peripheral experiences of being in the choir rather than creating a live concert on screen.
But as much as the choir is used as the selling point of “Singing with Angels,” the film’s real focus is on the family at its heart. And of that material, the biggest surprise in the film might be the poignant relationship between Aubrey and her mother-in-law, which elevates beyond simple two-dimensional humor and grows into something genuinely moving.
In a film with strengths and weaknesses, “Singing with Angels” picks the right time to let its strengths shine.
"Singing with Angels" is rated PG for thematic elements; running time: 94 minutes.
Joshua Terry is a freelance writer and photojournalist who appears weekly on "The KJZZ Movie Show" and also teaches English composition for Salt Lake Community College. Find him online at facebook.com/joshterryreviews.