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Unless they’re stirring up some kind of controversy, religious-based films are often overlooked—mostly because they lack the major studio release and big-name cast and crew needed to draw attention. Heaven Is for Real, on the other hand, gets a much-needed boost from both studio backing and a notable crew—including a director who earned an Oscar nod for writing Braveheart. But it still struggles with the usual religious movie challenges.
Heaven Is for Real is based on the true story of the Burpo family from Imperial, Nebraska—a small town where the local pastor is also a volunteer fireman, the school’s wrestling coach, and a garage door salesman. As Pastor Todd Burpo (Greg Kinnear) and his family struggle to make ends meet, they’re hit by one crisis after another. But it isn’t until their four-year-old son, Colton (Connor Corum), falls seriously ill that everything changes.
After Colton recovers from emergency surgery for a ruptured appendix, he begins telling stories about his experiences during the operation—about how he rose up from the operating table to watch his parents before being taken to heaven. Even for a man of faith like Todd, Colton’s stories are difficult to believe, and when the Burpos’ neighbors hear about Colton’s experience, they begin to doubt Todd and his family.
Heaven Is for Real is a challenging film. Obviously, the story will stir up its share of controversy—whether warranted or not. And its subject matter is sure to keep certain audiences away. But it’s still an admirable project, tackling issues of faith through the eyes of a child.
In telling the Burpos’ story, the film also sets out to show the characters as average Christians really are: flawed, human, and perfectly normal. These aren’t perfect people with perfect faith—nor do they spend their days alternately singing hymns and judging those around them. They’re kind and thoughtful people who care for their neighbors, but they also have real lives—and they face real challenges, struggling with their finances, their relationships, and their beliefs. And while they may sing hymns from time to time, they tend to belt out the occasional Queen hit, too. At times, they may still seem too good to be true—and the young actors may play up their cuteness a bit too much—but they’re generally likably average. Though the performances aren’t all top-notch, Kinnear heads up the cast with strength and charm, while Thomas Haden Church throws in some much-needed, light-hearted humor.
The film’s message, however, is unclear. In theory, the idea that heaven really does exist—thereby confirming long-held beliefs—should bring hope and comfort to the people who hear about Colton’s experiences. Sure, it’s hard to take the stories of a four-year-old at face value, but that’s not necessarily the point. His stories should at least act as a reminder of something greater—of hope for things to come. Instead, they seem to make people sad—and even angry. And that makes the movie surprisingly heavy and often depressing, too, focusing more on the family’s suffering and pain than on the uplifting message. Perhaps that’s just how things played out in real life, but if Hollywood is good at anything, it’s at spinning stories—and this is one story that could have used a positive spin.
As is often the case with religious-themed films, Heaven Is for Real struggles with its balance of storytelling and preachiness, resulting in an unfocused and often heavy plot. But its moments of honesty and hope will make it a meaningful film for open-minded audiences.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
