Heaven Is for Real

This good-looking, earnest drama sees pastor Greg Kinnear begin a spiritual exploration when his young son (cute newcomer Connor Corum) claims to have visited Heaven while undergoing a life-saving operation. It's based on a bestselling book, and sold as a true story, so the subject matter is always going to be divisive, but the film's script (director/co-writer Randall Wallace was Oscar-nominated for his Braveheart screenplay) fleshes the characters out to present relatable people rather than bland evangelists. Central to this strength is the casting of Kinnear, playing neither blind believer nor dismissive cynic, but a concerned father. This truly human perspective is the most compelling aspect of the film - though it's not utilised nearly enough. The religious message does emerge, and while not rammed down your throat, the cheesy computer-animated angels leave you in no doubt about the film's own conclusions. This cinematic sermon may be difficult to swallow for many, with a tendency for the saccharine that's hard to ignore, but it's a polished piece of preaching.