‘Heaven Is For Real’ Movie Review: Greg Kinnear shines in non-abrasive faith-based film
Hollywood faith-based films don’t always please the Christian community atlarge, but Heaven Is For Real will pleasantly surprise audiences by being a tear-jerker compliant with the source material without being overly preachy to non-believers.
The Dispatch interview with Todd Burpo, the real life father who author the book which spawned the film, revealed that the film springboards fans of the book into more of the backstory the Burpos faced during the aftermath of their son’s near-death experience.
Burpo, a smalltown pastor in Nebraska, is rocked by the testimony from his four-year-old son Colton, played marvelously by Collen Colum, details his experience visiting heaven and speaks on things the young boy could not actually know.
Greg Kinnear plays Burpo perfectly, praised by the real life Burpo during the interview, is the center of the film, which contrasts the book.
The book focuses more on the details communicated by Colton with the film centering on everyone’s response to this news. A conflict at school, a concerned church board and marital strife all take centerstage setting up director Randall Wallace to probe the audience for a self-examination of their faith.
There is no 2×4 hitting the viewer bwtween the eyes to believe in heaven, especially the details of the child’s account. Faithful Christians will be weeping while non-believers will walk away saying the boy believe what he saw because Colum’s performance is not cheesy, but very understated and sincere.
Kelly Reilly (Flight) and Margo Martindale (The Americans, The Millers) are adequate with Thomas Haden Church (Sideways) getting weak material to work with as Todd’s closest friend.
Overall the film is a great send up for Kinnear with the Christian community enjoying the film much more than the secular community.
Heaven Is For Real receives 3 stars out of 5.
The devout church community can add a star, especially those that have a young boy around age 4 or 5.
(100 minutes, at area theaters) is rated PG for thematic material, including medical situations.
Listen to the full interview with Todd Burpo HERE