Rating of
2/4
Finding the Small 'Miracles'
Unknown - wrote on 05/08/16
'Miracles from Heaven' is exactly what you'd expect it to be; a "based on a true story" tale, involving a baffling occurrence, entangled with the dramatic effect of the central family's faith. It follows the path of similar films such as: 'Heaven is for Real' and '90 Minutes in Heaven'. The difference here is that the actual incident is presented in a more believable light. This young girl's whole ordeal is quite odd. Her sudden unexplainable illness is weirdly fascinating to investigate. A great majority of the film is focused on the family's (mostly mother/daughter) struggle with this incurable ill that comes out of nowhere. Seeing the mother lose and regain faith through the course of the story actually carries some weight, given the serious nature at hand. Scenes between her and her daughter are emotional because of their discussions on the acceptance of death and retaining hope throughout the experience. These moments elevate the film substantially. However, the underlying small amount of cheese still exists. The best examples would be the entirely unnecessary character (played by Latifah) who shows up only for a breath of unfunny comic relief in the middle of the film, and the overly eccentric doctor who acts like Robin Williams in 'Patch Adams'. Other times this forced mentality is not as prevalent, but it's something that bugs just a tad too often. The resolution is both sincere and laden with a bit more cheese. I did like the overall message regarding the tiny "miracles" of everyday kindness that are taken for granted. It was nice to see a movie of this sort dial back and deliver a statement that most will find relevant.
