Review of Heaven Is for Real

Of course there will be disbelievers regarding a story like "Heaven Is for Real", but you also have many such explained phenomena, like people who have passed on a plane flight that went on to crash killing everyone aboard, or those who sense an impending disaster like a hurricane or flood that levels a town. The 1959-1961 television series "One Step Beyond" chronicled numerous instances of events that could only be regarded as supernatural or other-worldly. This film can be a deeply moving and spiritual experience for those who question their faith, much as Todd Burpo (Greg Kinnear) did when his son Colton (Connor Corum) began relating his experiences from the other side. The story makes it a point to mention that Colton didn't actually die, though his sensations and observations did resemble those of people who have undergone a near death experience. Pastor Burpo was able to reconcile all those conflicting emotions shared by his wife, his parishoners and himself near the end of the film with that emotional, heart tugging sermon that elevates his congregation in a way that helps all of them understand that Colton underwent a life altering encounter. Personally, I like to keep an open mind on events like this, even if some of the specifics lend themselves to some questioning. The clincher in this story for me was when Colton revealed the identity of an unborn and unnamed sister he met while in heaven, which had to come as a shock to parents who never confided the information to their children.