The audience applause at the end of this movie confirmed that I wasn’t the only attendee who appreciated this amazing story. At the beginning of the film the following words appear on the screen: “Heaven Is For Real, Based on A True Story.”
The movie is adapted from the New York Times number one best- selling book “Heaven Is For Real,” which tells the story of a four year old boy who had a near death experience an while on the operating table, spent time in heaven. The book was written by the boy’s father, who only learned of his son’s excursion through casual conversation sometime well after the surgery. Over a period of months, he extracts bits and pieces of the boy’s story. Eventually when little Colton reveals information about deceased family members that he met in heaven, things he couldn’t have possibly known, it becomes apparent he wasn’t making this up.
The story, however, is far more than the little boy’s revelations. It’s about his family’s journey through the difficult times as the story eventually becomes public knowledge locally and then through the media. Greg Kinnear plays Pastor Todd Burpo, little Colton’s father, and Kelly Reilly his mother Sonja. As a respected family in a small Nebraska town, things take a turn for the Burpo family when Colton’s story begins to leak out.
Greg Kinnear is terrific in the role of Todd Burpo. You can feel his pain and anguish as he searches and struggles to not only validate his son’s experience but believe it himself. Skepticism slowly evolves into reality but, in the process, takes a toll on his family, his church, and his beloved community.
The final scenes in the movie are outstanding and will have you watching earnestly as the high point approaches. Included is an amazing moment courtesy of CNN, which you will have to see to believe. In the meantime I have no doubt this story is true.
As an added footnote, Todd and Colton Burpo were interviewed on Fox News just before the film’s release, and stand resolutely behind their story. Colton is now 14.
Needless to say there has been much ado about the book. Colton’s disclosures about his time with Jesus Christ raised questions by some within the church, and one atheist writing in the Washington Post said “the success of the book shows that vast numbers of Americans lack the reasoning ability of adults.” How sad that the message of eternal love and hope escapes them; perhaps they need to check their reasoning ability.
• Comments or questions? E-mail me at tsansom2002@gmail.com.
Heaven is For Real
Entertainment Rating:***
Rating: PG; Family fare all the way
Possible Oscar nominations: None
