Heaven Is for Real Good Reviews About the Movie
I am conflicted about "Heaven is for Real," which proves this is a improve pic than you might expect. It has some good performances, a sense of humor and an adorable little male child as its lead. Information technology has actors y'all'll recognize, like Oscar nominees Greg Kinnear and Thomas Haden Church. The always-welcome Margo Martindale has a key supporting function too. Outside of some mild gore, it has cipher that might jolt or offend kids or sensitive viewers.
But "Heaven is for Real" as well has an agenda, which is handily spelled out in its declarative sentence of a title. Information technology is the latest, and thus far best, of the current overflowing of faith-based films. Hollywood is finally warming up to a marketplace Tyler Perry has been servicing for a decade. Contrary to popular conventionalities, Perry's films are attended by churchgoers of every skin color. The Smoothen church on my block sends me cards (I guess Jesus gave them my accost) inviting me to group screenings of the latest Madea movie AND "Son of God."
Based on a bestselling volume by Todd Burpo and Lynn Vincent, "Heaven is for Existent" tells the story of how Burpo's 4-year former son, Colton (Connor Corum) visited Heaven and lived to tell of its pleasures. Colton didn't actually dice; he was just under some really good anesthesia during an appendectomy. Colton returns abode armed with knowledge he had never been privy to before. He knows things about his family that nobody has told him. When pressed by Todd (Greg Kinnear), Colton insists that Jesus informed him on these matters.
I have no problem believing the plot line of this film; if I can believe Captain America is darting across the sky with the star of "She Hate Me," I can believe a little boy went to Heaven and met the Lord. In fact, as someone who has died twice and didn't get 1/1000th every bit practiced an out-of-torso feel this child got, I was intrigued by "Sky is for Real."
Just, without fail, every fourth dimension I found myself liking this movie, information technology would break the spell with its ulterior motives. To make its points, it relies on the kind of cheap, reassuring notes of one of those psychics who purports to talk to dead people. Everybody the Burpos cared near is in Heaven, and they're all young, except in the case of the one particular unborn character who skews much older. That character pushes "Heaven is for Real" to the depths of manipulation from which it never recovers.
Different the recent "God's Non Dead," which is the "Beaches" of faith-based films in that it embodies every unmarried complaint against its genre, "Heaven is for Real" attempts to bandage a wider audience net. At times, you can experience director and co-screenwriter Randall Wallace ("Braveheart") reaching across the low-hanging fruit of his Christian audience. He devotes credible moments of uncertainty to the film's characters, asking some of the same questions a not-believer in the audience might.
There'southward a nice requite-and-take between church building pastor Todd and his married woman Sonja (Kelly Reilly) in regards to whether Colton's story is really the miracle it appears to be. Kinnear is very adept at being consumed by his son'south story and what it spiritually means. Reilly matches him, and has a fine scene where she demands her hubby focus on life instead of the afterlife. In scenes like this, the characters experience real and identifiable.
The problem is that "Sky is for Real" cannot leave well-enough alone. It has to testify its paw at all times. Information technology destroys the beautiful mystery of Colton'south experience and uses improper methods to shame the unconverted. Preaching to the choir is just fine past me, as I was one time a member of that choir. But doing victory laps, sticking your tongue out at non-members and hi-fiving the choir while chanting "Amirite, amirite?" does not aid the cause.
For case: In distress, Todd visits a therapist who is not a Christian. Their chat starts off interesting, with Todd citing that perhaps her non-belief will assist him put things in perspective. When she offers a scientific explanation that the encephalon induces hallucinogenic chemicals when a person is near death, Todd gives her a kiss-off line almost not having faith. Later, we meet this same shrink at Todd'southward church building. Why is she in that location? Did 1 accusatory line plough her into Shirley Caesar?
Another example: Colton tells u.s.a. virtually his Heaven, and information technology'south vivid enough from his words. Merely Wallace too has to show it to united states, which can only pb to disappointment because it's incredibly cheesy and stereotypical. There are angels (who don't dance on the head of a pivot because this is Protestant Heaven), a population that proves I never had a shot at getting by the Pearly Gates, and of course, Jesus. While I rolled my eyes at Heaven'south delineation, I loved how, for a time, Wallace keeps Jesus' face off camera. He has an aura of mystery and a calming voice, merely never faces united states of america; nosotros can project our own expectations as to appearance.
Unfortunately, "Heaven is for Existent" merely HAS to show us Jesus' confront and, unlike the hippie in those paintings your grandma had on her wall (or in the case of my grandma, the picture that looked suspiciously similar Nick Ashford from Ashford & Simpson), Jesus bears an uncanny resemblance to Kenny Loggins. "This is information technology," I said to myself. Thankfully, the movie was over.
Kinnear makes a fine preacher and a practiced comic foil. I liked him, and I liked his final sermon in which he reflects on how people measure miracles with yardsticks when they should exist looking for them in much smaller measurements. The widescreen cinematography past veteran Dean Semler is gorgeous to await at (it's generally outside, and so the fine art management is by God) and Wallace directs the tight, tranquility moments with such grace that I resented when he constantly went loud and broad.
I actually wanted to similar this movie, merely information technology kept poking me in the eye every time I got close to it. My 2 star, heart of the road rating seems advisable for a preacher's child who left the flock 20 years ago, destined never to render. Add two stars to my rating if you lot're a truthful believer who goes to church every Sunday. Now subtract one-half a star from that, because you know God'll strike y'all for lying about going every Sunday.
Odie Henderson
Odie "Odienator" Henderson has spent over 33 years working in Information Technology. He runs the blogs Large Media Vandalism and Tales of Odienary Madness. Read his answers to our Movie Love Questionnaire hither.
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Heaven Is for Real (2014)
100 minutes
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