REVIEW: Heaven is for Real

Heaven Is for Real is a touching story about a four year old boy named Colton who has a near death experience, and astoundingly ascends to heaven and comes back to tell the tale. This film is based on the book by the same name, and is a film that delves deeper into faith.

Todd Burpo (who is the author of the book, but is also played by Greg Kinnear in the film) is a flourishing Pastor of the church Crossroads Wesleyn Church in Nebraska. Throughout the film we are shown the struggles he has to face with not just being a Pastor, but being a husband and a father of two children. The biggest struggle of all is questioning his own faith when his son begins speaking of seeing Jesus and seeing and hearing angels sing to him.
Before this experience, Colton encounters a very high fever for two days, and is then rushed to the hospital with a ruptured spleen. As Colton is on the operating table, there are scenes where Todd is in a church, arguing with God and saying to him ‘Do not take my son!’ as well as his wife, in the waiting room, making phone calls to all of their neighbours asking to pray for him for the operation to go well.

The operation goes well and Colton makes a full recovery. Now, the real journey begins.

Colton and his dad are in the park, playing together, and Colton mentions to his dad ‘I saw you were arguing with God in the church and you were angry’, Todd then asks ‘How did you know that?’ and Colton says ‘I went to heaven’.
That one comment from Colton caused Todd to ask himself so many questions in regards to his faith and God. Once in a while Colton will recall himself ‘sitting on Jesus’ lap’ and asking the angels if they can sing ‘we will rock you’ and them laughing. Todd became in a state of conviction and questioned if his son was making everything up; but then realized he is only 4, and is at an age of innocence.

News spread across the town in Nebraska; and it started to take effect on the Burpo family; Colton’s sister got teased by someone in her school and ended up punching him in the face—The relationship between Todd and his wife started to go downhill because Todd was getting more and more submerged in Colton’s experience of going to heaven, as well as the church also in a struggle due to this conviction Todd was going through, he couldn’t preach, or didn’t know what to preach or even believe in anymore.

After an interview was conducted with Colton about his experience; Todd went back to the church and preached a word that allowed him to accept the fact that what Colton had gone through was real; and continued on his own journey of building up his faith.

This film in particular really touched my heart; in the way the film gripped such innocence of children, as well as catching how genuine just questioning ourselves and our faith due to certain circumstances. Heaven Is for Real  is for anyone that wants to watch something heartfelt and sweet.