Reportedly, James Caan hated working on this movie so much, that he did not make another film until Gardens of Stone (1987).
The movie was part of a 1980s cycle of Hollywood angelic comedies which had started with Heaven Can Wait (1978). The films included that movie and Two of a Kind (1983), The Devil and Max Devlin (1981), Defending Your Life (1991), Oh Heavenly Dog (1980), Kiss Me Goodbye (1982), The Heavenly Kid (1985), Made in Heaven (1987), Almost an Angel (1990), All of Me (1984), and Oh, God! (1977), and its two sequels.
Reportedly, James Caan took the part of "Jolly" in the movie for about half his regular salary. Caan's reaction to making this movie later on, was reportedly anything but "jolly".
Director Robert Mulligan had to withdraw from Rich and Famous (1981), which he had been hired to direct, because of a three-month delay in the beginning of principal photography on this film.