About as light as an angel's wings, this pithy parable takes a while to warm to - and some explaining.

Michael (John Travolta) may be 'an angel but no saint' - although we thought the two were synonymous - but to enjoy the temptations of the flesh seems completely contrary to the angel's code.

Never mind, at least he has been put on Earth to help people.

But his time is running out when reporters William Hurt and Robert Pastorelli get to hear of this evangelical expedition and are sent by editor Bob Hoskins to get the unlikeliest scoop of the century.

Although the movie has some charm, it might have worked better had Travolta's character been more mellow.

Even so, there are affecting moments, especially towards the end. Jean Stapleton scores as the elderly recipient of Michael's penultimate mission, and Andie MacDowell does her own singing (!) in an amusing and naively touching musical interlude.