"Heaven is for Real," the movie, is made for non-denominational megachurches that mask the insidiousness of the franchise, which was born amongst smaller, more extremist evangelical churches in the Bible Belt. More extreme Christian review websites didn't like it because it wasn't extreme enough; I myself, not exactly a Christian, didn't really like it much because it was boring. But I did take something from it, something I feel like sharing.
When taken in concert with the books from which it's named, the "Heaven is for Real" franchise serves as a really cool example of the way religious beliefs (like viruses) modify themselves depending on group size or group relationships; generally, you have more extreme belief systems and behavior in smaller groups and more open messages when appealing to people outside of the group. The movie was built to appeal to a wider audience and thus kind of downplays the "heaven" part, instead opting for a "live for heaven now" conclusion.
As a social institution, religion can be amazing or terrible, but that isn't because supernatural beliefs are inherently good or bad. They're a part of the overall human experience, a way to socialize and keep groups together. I mean, right now, two guys are sitting at the table next to me praying over their Starbucks lattes. Good. But there are things like the "Heaven is for Real" books, which profit on more extreme notions of religious faith and evangelicalism, that make me more uncomfortable.
The movie sheds away the more extreme notions of the franchise. It's kind of a reminder of the variety of ways religious ideas can manifest themselves, even within one particular belief system (consumer franchise!).
I guess I should mention the movie, though. The cast is all pretty much on-key, with Greg Kinnear standing out, as you'd expect.
That said, it's not really worth watching because it's boring, and the kid is really kind of creepy, and it would have been better if the third act was a slasher film where he locked his family in the house and used his diminutive stature to hide in the laundry chute and stab at Greg Kinnear's ankles. Something exciting. WWJD?