MIRACLES FROM HEAVEN  3.2*** for its Religious Genre

   

           Earnest almost to a fault, this feel good religiously based true story is well done. Jennifer Garner is very believable as a mother brought to question her faith completely when her daughter is afflicted with a bizarre abdominal condition. Her husband (Martin Henderson) is Veterinarian in rural Texas and the family is stretched to the limit financially and emotionally when the daughter is stricken. Eugenio Derbez is terrific as the pediatrician in Boston to whom mom turns (even flying to Boston and camping out in his office to get an appointment). Despite the Doctors best efforts there is no cure. The film does a fine job of balancing  faith in man with faith in God.    

The story is a heartwarming  though sometimes it was hard to watch this girl's traumatic story unfold on the movie screen. It was painful to see her  and her family have to come to  realize that ultimately there is nothing more that medicine or science could do . You could not help but be touched by it no matter what your belief system is. Then, just when no hope is left, there is an event that is startling and miraculous. I won’t give it away… you must see the movie to experience the resulting chilly-bumps !!!

It is a good leading role for Jennifer Garner. She did a great job as the real  Christy Beam, a mom trying to cope with the fact that her daughter may not be coming back from an illness for which there is no cure, and she wonders why God would allow this. While everyone is telling her to have faith she finds it hard because the situation is out of her control.

The film is a bit preachy but really tugs at the heartstrings and delivers an affecting message about faith and miracles. Some critics found the message heavy-handed, but I thought the faith elements of the movie were well presented  without being too preachy. I applaud the director for finding this balance.  

My wife, Sara, saw it with me and likewise enjoyed it.

Clark