Heaven Is for Real is about a small-town father must find the courage and conviction to share his son’s extraordinary, life-changing experience with the world.

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Introduction

Powerful. Inspirational. Emotional. Words of which to describe Heaven Is for Real. If you’re afraid because it might be a Christian propaganda, don’t be. I watched this without thinking that way, and finished without it ever feeling that it was. Sure it’s about Christian faith and etcetera, but view it as your own. Main thing it delves into are “love for one another”, and that there’s a higher power, whichever one you believe in. I’m not a Christian nor am I that religious, but this movie was very moving and inspirational.

“Heaven is for Real” is based on a true story. It is adapted from the book of the same name, written by Todd Burpo (father and pastor) and Lynn Vincent. Directed Randall Wallace We Were Soldiers (2002), Pearl Harbor (2001) and Braveheart (1995).

The story revolves around the Burpo family and their son who’ve had a NDE (near death experience). Todd Burpo (played by Greg Kinnear) is a small-town businessman, pastor, and volunteer firefighter doing his best to get through a rough year with his wife Sonja (played by Kelly Reilly). When their young son Colton (played by Connor Corum) has to undergo emergency surgery, they’re relieved and grateful when he pulls through. But they’re caught off guard when Colton starts talking about a trip to heaven. Sharing details that leave them completely stunned.

Characters

• Greg Kinnear (Todd) and Kelly Reilly (Sonja) had great chemistry and was able to portray an authentic relationship on-screen. With their ups and downs, their fights and happiness were very well shown. Great performances by them.
• Connor Corum (Colton) haven’t had that much experience in acting prior to Heaven is for Real, but that made his performance all the more convincing. The way he moves and acts felt natural.
• Shout out to the supporting characters, specially Thomas Haden Church (Sandman/Flint Marko, Spider-man 3), and Margo Martindale (Cocaine Bear), they were able to drive the story further by adding that emotional depth to the situation.

Tone

All throughout Heaven Is for Real, it was shown that its mainly about caring for one another, whether its your immediate family, your closest friend, neighbor, even someone you haven’t met before. Its an inspirational movie about helping others. Regardless of their importance or relation to you. We all need that someone.

Angelic music

Inspirational scene after inspirational scene, we get to hear these carefully crafted music pieces that let’s us feel like we’re at the gates of Heaven. There’s a sense of hope, clarity, beauty and a sense of lightness.

What I didn’t like

• The backdrop of the church, a solid blue wall, was distracting. Everytime a scene comes up when Todd Burpo would preach, my eyes instantly looks at that backdrop, it was so blue and so annoying. I’m not sure if the real church had it as well though.
• The effects from when Colton visited heaven were, at most, mediocre. It was enough however to convey what he’d seen.

Conclusion

Even if you’re not a Christian, a religious person, or a consistent church-goer (I’m neither of all these), I still urge you to watch Heaven Is for Real. Its definitely not a 10/10, but its worth a one-time watch. Don’t worry, it’s not as preachy as it sounds and didn’t feel like a Christian propaganda movie either.