Heaven is for Real

Heaven is for Real

Rated PG-13 and Released in Grand Rapids 4/16/14

Reviewed 4/19/14 at Celebration North Theatre

with Lynne

3 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

The is the second quality Christian-influenced movie I've seen this week (God's Not Dead review here). This is based on the book of the same name which I am now planning to read. The young actor Connor Corum playing four-year-old Colton Burpo makes this movie worthwhile. What a little star! Greg Kinnear as Colton's father Todd Burpo, a pastor of a small town church in Nebraska, is convincing. Thomas Hayden Church seems like a peculiar choice for a religious movie (as it's hard to get past him as the sleaze bag in Sideways), but he really grows on you in this role. Lynne and I both thought this was a sweet and adorable story and the writers did a good job conveying the message.

The tight knit Burpo family has hit a rough patch with a few health scares primarily with Dad Todd. But now the crisis hits another family member - young Colton. Dad and Mom rush him to the hospital as he is getting worse after four days of what seemed to be a routine illness. The doctors whisk him away for emergency surgery as it is determined Colton's appendix had ruptured several days prior and his condition is now grave. Friends and family start a prayer chain and a miracle occurs as Colton makes a full recovery. Then he reveals slowly over time to his parents that he has not only experienced heaven, but met Jesus and others. At first skepticism by his father and especially his mother Sonja (Kelly Reilly) leave them to wonder if he just imagined it. As the story progresses Todd becomes more of a believer despite resistance from the church family to keep this on the down low as they don't want to be looked at with unwanted scrutiny. Like any other movie there are some holes in the story, but I'm sure the book will give more detail and fill in the gaps. This is a meaningful film that will cause a few sniffles, but for the most part just sit back and believe.

QUIET Rating system: 3  Js

Quality: JJj

Understood story:  JJj

Interest: JJJj

Entertainment:  JJJ

Time:  JJJ