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Other Side of Heaven, The

Generally unfavorable reviews
Based on 16 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 55 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie >
Movie Info
Genre(s): Drama
Written by:
Mitch Davis
John H. Groberg (book In the Eye of the Storm)
Directed by: Mitch Davis
Release Date:
Theatrical: April 12, 2002
DVD: April 1, 2003
Running Time: 113 minutes, Color
Origin: USA
Summary
RATING: PG for thematic elements and brief disturbing images
Starring Christopher Gorham, Anne Hathaway, Joe Folau, Miriama Smith, Nathaniel Lees, Whetu Fala, Alvin Fitisemanu, and Peter Sa'ena Brown
This romantic coming of age story is based on the memoirs of John H. Groberg, who served as a missionary in the remote Tongan Islands in the 1950's. (Excel Entertainment Group)
Also On The Web: Internet Movie Database View The Trailer Official Studio Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Chicago Tribune Robert K. Elder
Captures a breathtaking exotic landscape cluttered only by the smugness of its characters.
Read Full Review >Philadelphia Inquirer Carrie Rickey
It is inspirational in characterizing how people from such diverse cultures share the same human and spiritual needs.
Read Full Review >Washington Post Michael O'Sullivan
A tad preachy and more than a little bit sanctimonious.
Read Full Review >Variety Scott Foundas
Rousing, family-friendly item has a big, epic look and state-of-the-art visual effects, which help to make pic -- a high-profile example of the mainstreaming of Christian entertainment.
Read Full Review >New York Post Lou Lumenick
Easier to sit through than the typical, earnest Christian movie.
Read Full Review >San Francisco Chronicle Edward Guthmann
Handsome and sincere but slightly awkward in its combination of entertainment and evangelical boosterism.
Read Full Review >New York Daily News Elizabeth Weitzman
Earnest, fact-based drama is marred only by the fact that it wants desperately to save your soul.
TV Guide Ken Fox
The film looks great and makes sophisticated use of digital effects.
Read Full Review >LA Weekly Ron Stringer
A fine specimen of clean-cut Mormon family entertainment, but it may also be a step in the wrong direction for the fledgling production company.
Read Full Review >The Onion (A.V. Club) Nathan Rabin
Movies don't get much more wholesome and earnest than The Other Side Of Heaven, a handsomely mounted but empty-headed drama that attempts to do for fresh-faced Mormon missionaries what Top Gun did for cocky fighter pilots.
Read Full Review >Los Angeles Times Jan Stuart
The whole trippy experience is like being held at gunpoint by a Jehovah's Witness at the front door while George Gobel holds forth in the living room on Nickelodeon.
Read Full Review >Miami Herald Connie Ogle
The film is supposed to be about tolerance, but the only acceptance comes in terms of how the islanders accept the Mormon teachings. Somehow, that doesn't quite feel divine.
Read Full Review >The New York Times Stephen Holden
What sets this syrupy swatch of kitsch apart from other films peddling a dogmatic religious agenda is the serious money that obviously went into it.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this movie is 8.2 (out of 10) based on 55 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Howard Y. gave it a9:
I very much enjoyed this movie, as it DID provide wholesome family entertainment that refrained from the use of violence, sex, or profanity. However, I feel that I must point out to those who did not enjoy the movie, that this was not "Mormon" propaganda, as no one forced you to watch this, and that the film was intended, not limited to, but for Mormons. It was a film that was intended to tell a story about service and self-sacriice, not one of preachiness or "propaganda".
Salome K. gave it a10:
It was a wonderful movie but it makes me homesick for my Island.
Timothy S. gave it a10:
I thought this movie was more than preaching about LDS (mormon) view points; is a good old fashion movie about faith, hope and love and I think its to bad that the anti-mormon/christian media cannot accept a wholesom movie that is lacking in sex, violence and profanity.
john gave it a1:
Patronizing, obviously fictional bull!@#$. I agree with most of the real critics on this one.
Scott P. gave it a10:
How his feet were treated (medical) by the local Tongan people. was my favorite part. Then all he went through to get there, what faith he must of had to know all would work out.
Tongan N. gave it a0:
I was so angrey when at the funural on the movie the lady cried and creid then fliped over and asked " is the pudding ready." What do they think we are fat, unthoughtful people? This truly affected me and im only 13.
Gena S. gave it a10:
Fabulous movie, I laughed, cried, and throughly enjoyed every minute of this movie.
