I posted this review of Letters to God on my Little Rock Christian Examiner column recently. But I wanted to share it with my blog readers, too.

I hesitated watching a movie about little boy with cancer, who writes "letters to God." But I was curious to see if this particular message of hope could be depicted without a lot of cheesy, soul-wrenching drama. I also didn't know if I could handle my own emotions while watching this story—so, I brought some tissue, just in case.

“A heartfelt tale of inspiration, hope and redemption, Letters to God is the story of what happens when one boy’s walk of faith crosses paths with one man’s search for meaning—the resulting transformational journey touches the lives of everyone around them” (Vivendi Entertainment).

At first, the movie reminded me of a Hallmark or Disney film. But as the message and characters developed, the story had many inspiring elements that can be seen in other powerful faith films, like Fireproof, Facing the Giants, and Flywheel (Sherwood Pictures).

Inspired by a true story, Letters to God demonstrates the heartache of alcoholism and cancer. It also reveals the healing power of writing as the characters share their pain and faith in letters to God.

I tried to view the film through the eyes of a non-Christian, and I felt the characters came across a bit unrealistic at times. I'm not sure "non-believers" would have swallowed some of the "preachiness" of the script. But even if the acting and language did appear a bit "cheesy" at times, it tugged at the heart-strings of the audience. And yes, I did need my tissue!

Photo/Karen Jordan

Comments. I'd love to hear some of your reactions to this movie. So, leave a comment, and tell me what you think.