Sean McNamara’s On a Wing and a Prayer doesn’t stand a chance from the opening frame. The flat comedy and ham-fisted themes from screenwriter Brian Egeston (The Game) don’t do the film any favors and, sadly, the performances range from bad to worse. The occasional moment of tension or interesting use of split screen is about all the film has to offer, which is a shame because the real-life actions of Doug White are nothing short of extraordinary. On a Wing and a Prayer is a tale of two halves and neither is entertaining.
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Doug (Dennis Quaid) wants to learn how to fly and drags his brother along for the lesson. Once safely on the ground, the brothers enter a barbeque contest and win in a landslide. Rejoicing with their families over the victory, it seems life couldn’t be sweeter. That is, until Doug gets a call in the middle of the night saying his brother has died. Stricken with grief, Doug begins to spiral. His wife (Heather Graham) tries to calm him down but the grief, combined with the pressures of being a father, are getting to him. Doug is forced into dealing with his trauma faster than he thinks when, while flying with his family, their pilot suddenly dies. Air traffic control calls in a specialist (Jesse Metcalfe) and it’s up to Doug to land the plane safely.

Jesse Metcalfe in On a Wing and a Prayer

The first half of the film is spent on character development the story does not need. It’s hard to critique these elements in films based on real stories but, in the case of On a Wing and a Prayer, the same theme is repeated over and over. Grief and loss of belief in a higher power can be fascinating concepts to grapple with, but the film literalizes everything and offers no nuance. Even the plot mechanics themselves are redundant.

There is a subplot about two kids tracking the events of the film; they are one of three sets of characters doing the same thing. Meanwhile, air traffic control calls in a consultant to walk Quaid through flying the plane. The consultant’s wife who is in the room with him calls Quaid even though they are already in contact. Cell phones themselves are an unnecessary bit of plot that keeps showing up. Two different characters are warned about the danger of using cell phones in plane environments and there are no consequences for either. So, why include that in the movie twice?

Bad southern accents and a truly confounding lead performance don’t help this already struggling film. The entire family sounds closer to a Saturday Night Live skit than they do to real people and every line of dialogue suffers as a result. Quaid is inaudible in certain scenes, but his accent is not distracting to the plot of the film. The same cannot be said for the rest of the cast. Graham’s affectation is so noticeable one simply cannot pay attention to anything else that’s going on. Similarly, her daughter Bailey, played by Abigail Rhyne (Where’d All The Time Go), is clearly invested and working hard in this role, but is held back by the twang in every word.

On a Wing and a Prayer will certainly find its audience and pays respect to a man who did the impossible, but as a viewing experience, it misses the mark at every turn. When Quaid lands the plane there is a triple split screen of each wheel releasing and hitting the tarmac. That instance of visual language commands attention, but unfortunately, it is the only scene in the film that does.

On A Wing And A Prayer begins streaming on Prime Video Friday, April 7. The film is 102 minutes long and is rated PG for peril, some language, suggestive references, and thematic elements.