First, the Recap:
Second chances. It’s something we as human beings so often desire, usually in the face of decisions that were less than positive. Taking stock of the consequences we reap when bad choices are made, the longing to make it right or wishing we could go back and do things over again to change events weighs heavily on us. But, more often than not, we aren’t given that chance, and therefore find ways to accept what has occurred, grow, and move on. However, what if the second chance is in the form of a true miracle, a real life example of something far beyond luck or chance? Such was the case with pastor Don Piper (Hayden Christensen) on his way home from a church conference in late January 1989.
An unforeseen and horrific accident during a rainstorm causes him to be pronounced dead on the scene. While waiting for a local coroner to make it official, a random passerby feels led to pray for him, leading to what most would call an impossible result. Having suffered terrible wounds, Piper’s miraculous survival, however, causes him to become bitter towards God in that for those 90 minutes, he was in Heaven, but then brought back. Even as his family–wife Eva (Kate Bosworth) and three children Chris (Hudson Meek), Joe (Bobby Batson), and Nicole (Elizabeth Hunter)–strive to show him support, Piper’s crisis of faith only grows deeper as he struggles to understand why the pain he is in had to occur and why God chose to send him back.
Next. my Mind:
As these last several years have some along, and as this reviewer has likewise stated before, the new run of faith-based films has actually been quite refreshing to see, not just because of my own personal faith, but also because frankly, there needs to be at least a few more positively-themed efforts out there. This said, something was sadly missing overall with director Michael Polish’s “90 Minutes In Heaven” and it really was, truly, the lack of similar and truly heart-grabbing, inspirational potency found in other projects like “God’s Not Dead”, “Do You Believe?”, and “War Room”. Now, understand, this isn’t to say this film isn’t worthy of seeing, it just isn’t great.
The ultimate focus of the narrative mainly being on Piper’s struggles with events and how it initially impacts his own faith while trying to endure the physical rigors of recovery eventually becomes somewhat tedious in its execution, as let’s be honest, we’re really desiring to see something that makes us want to think more about even the concepts of eternity and our current state of heart. Christensen and Bosworth make it through the film, as does the whole cast, but again, it’s the concentration on the more, dare it be said, gloomy aspects of Piper’s journey that by the time he really settles in, accepts his circumstances, and realizes the power of what he has to share, it feels like it’s too late to lift our spirits.
In total, this will not have the same amount of support overall that the other films above experienced, and it just didn’t have quite the same emotional or spiritual impact as even the similar tale, “Heaven Is For Real”, did. However, this reviewer does believe it will at least act as a springboard for conversations about the existence, nature, and reality of God and faith. And that, at minimum, is a good result to have.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
