Many religious movies have come out in the last few months and the one to top all of them is “Heaven is for Real”. As it is based on a true story and on a book of the same name, many viewers have already been introduced to the story of 4-year-old Colton Burpo.

When Colton had emergency appendectomy surgery, his father, Todd Burpo, faced a frightening time. Colton claimed to have visited Heaven during the surgery. He came back to life, after it was expected he would not survive, knowing lots of things he shouldn’t have. For example, he knew what his mom and dad were doing during his surgery, he knew what his dad’s grandpa looked like, and he knew his mom had a miscarriage.

The family, shocked that the 4-year-old knew all of these things, didn’t know what to think or say. How could Colton have visited Heaven if his heart never stopped during surgery? How did he do so much in only the couple of hours he was on the operating table? These were all questions the family faced in trying to believe the young boy.

Not only struggling believing Colton, the family also had to face all of the questions from parents in their church community. It was hard to believe a boy of his age could know all the things he did without visiting Heaven, but how could it be possible?

During the movie you follow the rough journey the Burpo family faces in trying to protect their son from the media and other familys’ questions, while trying to figure out exactly what happened themselves.

The movie was excellently directed and followed the story from the book. Having read the book, I can say there was only a few minor details they left out, but following the rest of the book almost line for line. I have never seen another movie follow the book as closely as this movie did.

I would give the movie 9 out of 10 because of how closely it reflected the book, only missing a 10 out of 10 because I do not think there is truly a perfect movie out there. I think the movie is pushed toward a family setting because of the type of ending of “happy ever after” it had. Also, being a tear jerker, the viewer feels like they are there traveling the road with the family.