I'm a big believer in the fact that many of us will experience things that are just too hard to believe. For Hollywood, it's been the recent box office phenomenon of faith-based films. Heaven Is For Real recounts a family's reaction to the surprising reveal of a young boy's trip to heaven while he was in surgery fighting for his life.
Though this solidly constructed film is marketed for Christian audiences, non-Christians shouldn't quickly dismiss it. The talented cast and crew want to tell a story that will resonate with everyone. Writer-director Randall Wallace wrote Braveheart and most recently wrote and directed Secretariat. Greg Kinnear is the anchor of the film as Todd Burpo (he wrote the book of the same title based on conversations and events he witnessed with his 5 year old son, Colton). While the cast gives really strong performances, it is Connor Corum (as Colton Burpo) who gives you an "Awww, he's so cute" act that's pretty undeniable. Put him on a cereal box!
I won't spoil the things Colton claims he saw in heaven, but it is that experience where most of the film's conflict is derived from. Early on, the story paints us the portrait of a normal family with issues just like everyone else, but the set-up fumbles into the main catalyst of the film"”Colton's sickness that nearly kills him. Until then, it looks like a strict bio-pic on Todd Burpo, but the film quickly corrects itself by telling the story through Todd's perspective instead.
The Burpo family's reaction to Colton's experience spreads into their community, led by Margo Martindale and Thomas Hayden Church. While Martindale and Church provide a nice screen presence, the rest of the characters in their community don't add much to the narrative. This is especially noted in Church's character. He provides a little comic relief, but he's not as developed as Martindale's character.
And for those intrigued to see what heaven looks like with a $12 million Hollywood budget may be very disappointed. While the special effects shown aren't terrible, it lacks the wonder of The Tree of Life or Fox's Cosmos to give it justice. What we see on screen looks like a cheesy reenactment from an A&E reality show. Another thing that took me out of the movie was its score that was used when the movie wanted me to feel a certain way.
While Colton's experience gave much closure and answers to the Burpo family about their past, it will leave other Christians and non-Christians with more questions. Even the Christians in this story had great doubts and after watching this, many of you will doubt too. But many others will be in awe and believe. And that's what the film ultimately wants to do"”start a discussion about faith and reason, rather than preach it to you. However, Todd Burpo does a lot of that because"”SPOILER ALERT: he's a preacher! But he's preaching to wrestle through his own struggles, his family's struggles"”and we're there to get a taste. Now, that may not be heaven for us, but we can at least feel for him and his family because, in some shape or form, we've been there too.
