But this bond, and several other acts of kindness that are revealed along the way, play neatly into the film’s central notion that miracles are everywhere, in the smallest, kindest gestures, which isn’t exactly the worst message a movie can convey. Parents need to know that Miracles from Heaven is a drama based on the real-life experiences of a Texas family whose daughter suddenly develops a debilitating, mostly untreatable illness. As Christy, Garner gives an earnest performance, her perpetually worried expression put to good use here as the Beams grapple with the unimaginable possibility of losing Anna. Extremely earnest drama explores issues of family and faith. What to Watch, Read, and Play While Your Kids Are Stuck Indoors, Common Sense Selections for family entertainment, Stoke kids' love of reading with great summer stories, Teachers: Find the best edtech tools for your classroom with in-depth expert reviews, 6 formas de usar los medios para que los niños mantengan el español, Wide Open School: recursos para el aprendizaje a distancia, Which Side of History? The branch they’re sitting on gives way and she dives into the tree's hollow trunk for safety, only to plummet 30 feet to the ground and land on her head. You can find Christy's writing at ChristyLemire.com. Bring tissues. There are plenty of fantastic films with Christian messages, but Miracles From Heaven is more interested in simplistic proselytizing to a heavily evangelical market that just wants their own existing beliefs confirmed. And while the extremely earnest drama is pretty predictable (and underwhelming), it does boast a strong cast -- especially Garner as a mom who nearly breaks under her huge burden and Derbez as the sympathetic, Patch Adams-esque doctor. The supporting cast holds steady, though Queen Latifah's contribution feels underutilized. And they’ll be earned. Until it delivers an eye-rolling scene near the end, Miracles From Heaven is an unexpectedly effective tear-jerker. From there, it’s a non-stop back-and-forth between Texas and Boston, with some painful moments involving feeding tubes as well as heavenly imagery of sunlight piercing fluffy, white clouds or the water where majestic creatures swim at the New England Aquarium. You can spot Miracles from Heaven's destination from the onramp. Families can talk about how the characters in Miracles from Heaven exhibit perseverance. Miracles from Heaven grossed $61.7 million in North America and $12.2 million in other territories for a worldwide total of $73.9 million, against a budget of $13 million. Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners. The directness on display in Randy Brown's script, and in later scenes when Anna suffers from depression and Christy acknowledges that her faith is so shattered that she can’t even pray anymore, represents a welcome balance of emotion and tone. (Visual effects are not the film’s strong suit.) Back in Boston, an unlikely friendship the mother and daughter strike up with a big-hearted waitress (Queen Latifah) would seem like a facile method of injecting comic relief—except it really happened. © Common Sense Media. Young boy's faith pulls heartstrings in sentimental drama. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free. Read her answers to our Movie Love Questionnaire here. She gets a big arc to work within, revealing warmth and vulnerability, grit and determination as Christy. But just when all seems lost, a terrible accident could actually be just the miracle the Beams have been waiting for. for thematic material, including accident and medical images. There's no drinking or sex and very little language ("oh my God" and "sucks" are about it), but characters argue and get very emotional, and some of the scenes featuring very sick children could be unsettling for younger viewers. Any Christian movie dealing in miracles is likely to be too sweet for some but this one is gently moving rather than pushy about its religious elements. Without question, this movie does elicit “feel-good” emotions — largely driven by Garner’s ability to exude genuine maternal devotion and the charm of young Kylie Rogers. One child is also involved in a serious accident late in the film. The tone is frequently more searching than self-satisfied, and the harrowing medical crisis that drives the family story gives it the nonreligious urgency to preach beyond the choir. Many tearful rants/confrontations between both adults and kids and parents; stress, tension, and fear. Good acting can't save earnest, faith-based family drama. Christy reviewed films for The Associated Press for over 14 years. Pastor Scott is supportive, accessible, and practical. Again, this is all in the trailer—and in the book—but in a seemingly implausible twist, not only does Anna survive the drop without a scratch, she’s cured of her intestinal disease. and Martin Henderson. Miracles From Heaven is too dramatically inert to oblige Garner with a great character, but it does offer plenty of tearful monologues and mini-monologues. It’s based on the 2015 memoir of the same name by Christy Beam, whose daughter, Anna, suddenly suffered from a rare intestinal disorder—and then, just as suddenly, was cured in the craziest of ways. “Miracles From Heaven” shares the same producers as that last film, as well as some of the same redemptive, inspirational ideas and the real-life hook. Watching a child inch closer to death is definitely a somber experience, but viewers shouldn't get too upset; no matter how bad things seem, the film's title is a major clue to how things will end. Infrequent use of words/phrases including "sucks," "oh my God," and "hell.". © 2020 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote. But the Beams’ story is anchored in smaller miracles — the reliability of friends, the kindness of strangers. Our ratings are based on child development best practices. She asks all the existential questions any of us would in the midst of such a faith-testing trauma. One of the most poignant scenes is also one of the most understated as Anna and the young girl in the hospital bed next to her (Hannah Alligood), who’s battling cancer, discuss whether they’re afraid of dying. Searching for streaming and purchasing options ... Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. But because we know what will happen at the outset, the challenge for director Patricia Riggen is finding a source of tension to keep us emotionally engaged. It's easy to get discouraged in a crisis, but being able to believe that somehow things will work out for the best is critical. Ultimately, though, the film is about the possibility of miracles. Parents: Set preferences and get age-appropriate recommendations with Common Sense Media Plus. Common Sense is the nation's leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of all kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the 21st century. A young girl takes a fall while climbing a tree, potentially sustaining fatal injuries. Who you think Miracles from Heaven is most intended to appeal to? When he eventually agrees to see them, he confirms what a local doctor (Bruce Altman, very good in a small role) initially diagnosed: Anna is suffering from a severe and incurable intestinal motility disorder which makes eating impossible. Get full reviews, ratings, and advice delivered weekly to your inbox. From the title alone, it’s clear that faith will win out in the end. Common Sense and other associated names and logos are trademarks of Common Sense Media, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (FEIN: 41-2024986). The star rating reflects overall quality. While the film runs a bit too long, and the heartstring tugging becomes overwrought, overall, this family melodrama about a devastating illness and the freak accident that cured it is surprisingly effective, even for those of little faith. Wondering if Miracles from Heaven is OK for your kids? The 25 Best Console Launch Games (Since 2000). But the pain doesn’t go away. Christy is tireless in advocating for her daughter and helping her through her illness; Dr. Nurko is patient and upbeat with his young patients. Heavy-handed tearjerker about faith, death, and friendship. Marital affection. This is what makes the film so frustrating to watch; for the vast majority of its runtime, it’s essentially a good (if not great) family drama. Because whether you’re the faithful target audience for Miracles From Heaven, a non-believer or someone in the mass agnostic middle ground, you may find it hard to hold back the tears during various points in this real-life tale. One child is also involved in a serious accident late in the film. “Miracles From Heaven” shares the same producers as that last film, as well as some of the same redemptive, inspirational ideas and the real-life hook. And they’ll be earned. Drama Movies That Tug at the Heartstrings, 5 Tips to Make Family Movie Night a Success. But out of nowhere one night, she’s violently vomiting, which leads to massive stomach pain, which leads to various doctors telling Christy and her veterinarian husband, Kevin (Martin Henderson), that it’s lactose intolerance or acid reflux or something else that’s minor and treatable. Ultimately the message is that maintaining your faith that things will work out is both difficult and necessary. Maybe. Parents and caregivers: Set limits for violence and more with Plus. As one might expect from a Christian film, Miracles From Heaven centers on faith — and a major miracle — but it’s also a decent family drama about a mother’s tribulations in caring for her sick child. Anna's mom, Christy (Jennifer Garner), is completely demoralized watching her little girl waste away, especially when even the best doctor in the country (Eugenio Derbez) can do little to slow the effects of her condition. (The film’s cinematographer, Checco Varese, is Riggen’s husband.) Does it matter whether viewers believe? “Miracles From Heaven” wisely and efficiently depicts the toll Anna’s illness is taking on this once-idyllic home, with Kevin struggling to make ends meet and generally holding down the fort while Christy and Anna are away every six weeks. But the film suggests that you can interpret this magical moment in any way you like, depending on your beliefs and needs—and that’s sort of miraculous in itself. Common Sense Media, a nonprofit organization, earns a small affiliate fee from Amazon or iTunes when you use our links to make a purchase. Stretched across nearly two hours, it tells a story that would have been adequately laid out in a 30-second television spot. Perseverance and sacrifice pay off. The tone is frequently more searching than self-satisfied, and the harrowing medical crisis that drives the family story gives it the nonreligious urgency to preach beyond the choir. Anna endures her illness better than you'd expect for a child of her age; she rarely gives into frustration or doubt (largely because of her faith). She's also on Twitter @christylemire and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/christy.lemire2. A few of the Beams' fellow churchgoers are portrayed as judgmental, but they're not meant to be sympathetic. Impossible? Garner's solid performance as Christy lifts Miracles from Heaven up a couple of notches on the quality scale.

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