Heaven Is for Real

Much more interesting than the film -- as a film -- is how cynical we have become as moviegoers. I'm as guilty as everyone else. But the film is so slowly paced (as Don Rickles likes to remark, "as exciting as a fly crawling up a drape") the mind wanders. It can't help it. But if there is nothing on screen to mesmerize it, it wanders. And the first place the mind wanders, while watching HEAVEN IS FOR REAL, is to a very cynical place (definitely NOT heaven) where it starts to wonder how such an unspectacular production merited such a big-name cast and director ... and such lavish cinematography .. and such a major studio...?

And as the mind continues to wander (because what is on-screen is still not that mesmerizing) it goes to an even darker place (yep, still not Heaven) and wonders if the real money and clout behind the production was the religious right ... and if the audience was intended to be the same market...?

Folks I don't have the answers. I can't tell you if the writer of the story really went to heaven or if the producers of this film had an agenda. I can tell you that, if you really really really lower your expectations, and allow for the slower pace, it's not bad. Not great, but not bad. There is a scene where the sister of the main character punches out two boys in the playground for poking fun at her brother. It is short and fast and by itself worth the price of admission.

Not heaven. But not bad either.

Heaven Is for Real (1:39, PG) — borderline, 3rd string, original

You might be surprised that this film attracted an atheist activist like me. But I went to see it because — as part of my self-imposed obligation to catch EVERY science-fiction and fantasy movie that hits town so I can review them for my listserv and at SF cons — it looked like it might have some fantasy elements. I ended up classifying it as "borderline", which is where I put movies that are not clearly SF or fantasy but might be if viewed from a certain angle. This one leaves it open to interpretation whether little 4-year-old Colton Burpo actually experienced a trip to heaven while he was unconscious on the operating table at death's doorstep with a burst appendix.

The Burpos are presented as being among the nicest people you could ever hope to meet, and not in any "holier than thou" sense but as solid, down-to-Earth working folk, a kind, loving, and happy family. The dad, Todd Burpo, a part-time Protestant minister in Imperial, Kansas, is humble and declines the title "Reverend", saying "Call me Todd" even to members of his own congregation. He wears a work shirt and sits in the pews with the other congregants while the church service is doing other things, like Bible readings or singing led by Todd's wife Sonja.

The skeptical attitude is clearly articulated by several different characters in the film, including Todd Burpo himself, who's obviously having trouble wrestling with and reacting to what his son has been saying about his brief sojourn in heaven. And the conclusion is not some grand revelation or depiction of the "real" heaven but rather an informal sermon in which Todd (well played by Greg Kinnear) talks thru his uncertainties and tells his fellow congregants that "on Earth as it is in heaven" means that we should each value the little bit of heaven we share when we appreciate the people who love us.

Frankly, an avowed humanist couldn't have put it much better.

Still, there's the obvious fact that little Colton has been drenched in religion for almost his entire waking life, and that such total immersion surely accounts for everything he claims to have seen. And the Burpos had been having serious financial difficulties, a not-so-subtle motive for playing Colton's story for any financial benefit it might bring. Nor does the film stint from dramatizing those perfectly naturalistic explanations.

In short, if you were expecting a piece of pious propaganda, this isn't it. It's more like a nice, non-saccharine family drama with unusual subject matter, kind of along the lines of We Bought a Zoo. On my 9-point scale, it rates a 6.

I loved this film.

I knew the basic plot going in, but was pleasantly surprised on how well the film was put together. There was comedy, drama, real-life all wrapped in one film. The acting was solid. Greg was great, Margo was awesome, Thomas and Nancy were solid and I was in love with Kelly. Conner was great at just being the innocent child.

I loved the scenery, the rural life, the wide open spaces, the cinematography and the family life complete with it's struggles. Add to that the trauma of a nearing losing a child then having a unique heavenly experience. Rather than simply preach to us, the film shared the real human flesh struggles of a man that was a minister, but still a man.

Even if not based on a true story, it would be a great movie.

I walked into Heaven Is for Real expecting something overly sentimental or maybe even preachy. What I got instead was something surprisingly grounded. It's not just a movie about heaven-it's about doubt, grief, and the cost of believing in something bigger than what we can explain.

It's a quiet kind of movie, but it lingers in the heart more than I expected.

✅ What Worked for Me

1. Connor Corum is genuinely captivating as Colton He's not one of those "too-cute-to-be-real" movie kids. He's just honest. When he talks about heaven, it doesn't feel rehearsed-it feels like he actually saw something.

"Jesus had the angels sing to me because I was so scared."

2. The struggle of belief is portrayed with nuance Greg Kinnear as the pastor/dad is great. His faith is tested not by disbelief, but by fear-of what people will say, of what this might mean for his church, his family. It's not dramatic shouting-it's quiet uncertainty. Very human.

3. It avoids pushing an agenda Surprisingly, the movie doesn't try to "convert" anyone. It's about one family's experience and lets the viewer take from it what they will. It doesn't try to answer all the questions-just invites you to sit with them.

4. It's heartfelt and sincere If you've ever lost someone or struggled with belief, the emotional core of this movie will resonate. There's a moment between father and son in a cemetery that actually had me tearing up.

❌ What Didn't Work for Me

1. Pacing is uneven Some scenes feel stretched out, especially in the second act. It dips into repetition, and I found myself waiting for things to move along more than once.

2. Some emotional beats feel overly scripted There are a few moments where it tries to tug at your heartstrings too hard, and you can kind of see the strings being pulled. It works better when it stays quiet.

3. The supporting characters aren't deeply developed The townspeople and church community could've added more layers, but most of them exist just to react to the main story.

🌟 Final Thoughts

6 out of 10 Heaven Is for Real is more about questions than answers. It's not trying to prove heaven exists-it's showing how one family responds when their child claims to have been there. It's gentle, respectful, and at times, deeply moving. Whether or not you believe, you'll walk away thinking a little harder about love, loss, and what might come next.

🎥 If You Liked This, You Might Also Enjoy: 1. The Shack (2017) - Grief, God, and healing through tragedy

2. Miracles from Heaven (2016) - Another emotional, faith-based true story

3. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019) - Gentle stories about belief, love, and kindness

4. Life of Pi (2012) - Visual storytelling with spiritual depth

5. I Can Only Imagine (2018) - Faith, forgiveness, and music.

When it comes talking about heaven and hell, we just start ignoring the fact that they might exist. Everyone has heard about it, but nobody wants to believe in its existence. Well, I doubt myself. Sometimes, I want to believe in it but something always stops me from doing so. The movie talks about it, but it's only from a Christian's point of view.

I liked the concept of the movie. They don't actually make us believe in the existence of heaven (or hell), but the good thing about the movie is that, they've kept an effort to show how the world would react when something extraordinary happens. Whatever, the story and the concept touched my heart. It would have been better if they had gone deeper than this. They could have taken the lines of Bible or so, in order to have a factual conversations.

Movie says, it's based on a true story but when there's talking about Jesus, it becomes a Christian's story, not universal. It's not a must watch movie but I would recommend it. I say, we've always watched Sci-Fi movies when we know they are not true, why don't we give a try to some spiritual movies? For most of the people today, they would be only as true as the sci-fi. There's no any magic in the story, just some story of miracles. What if it was 'Your' story? How would you make people believe in you encountering miracles?

While the movie may not be at it best, it's not bad for a one time viewing. My rating would be 7 for the story, acting, dialogues and well, because it has some sort of influence to the society...