Professional film composer Thomas C. Baggaley has written a response to some of the criticisms leveled by some reviewers: In Film Is There Really Only One Right Way To Do It?
The quotes from movie reviews presented below have been grouped into major themes. Each quote is not intended to reflect the overall opinion of each reviewer. The full text of these reviews is archived elsewhere on these web pages.
Washington Times
...the film is a sweet-natured and fitfully edifying biopic... the director gets considerable pictorial advantage from such crises as a hurricane and a shipwreck... [the movie's] subject matter, tropical setting and performers prove consistently disarming. You grow fond of the Ichabod Crane gawkiness of Christopher Gorham as young John Groberg and the Aussie-tinged accents of the Maori, Samoan and Tongan performers cast as the members of his flock. The director's flair for stirring interludes and moments becomes evident at the outset, in a sequence devoted to the college courtship of John Groberg and sweetheart Jean Sabin, played by Anne Hathaway, the delightful discovery of "The Princess Diaries."... An accumulation of tentative but heartfelt relationships allows the movie to simulate an illusion of genuine community by the fadeout... "The Other Side of Heaven" marks a welcome departure from the not-so-heavenly fare that comes from Hollywood.
Las Vegas Review-Journal
boasts breathtaking scenery, an exotic setting and a kinder, gentler message that's particularly soothing in these turbulent times... Davis and director of photography Brian Breheny capture lovely tropical vistas, resplendent sunsets and glimpses of island life that prove... inspiring... it's a blessing to see a movie that focuses on religious issues without resorting to heavy-handed proselytizing. Groberg happens to be a Mormon missionary, but he could be representing any group trying to spread a specific version of the Gospel. And in that, at least, "The Other Side of Heaven" practices what it preaches, delivering positive messages of tolerance, understanding, self-sacrifice and compassion that, alas, seem more timely than ever.
United Press International (UPI)
Film of the Week... Although the movie industry has practically dislocated its shoulder patting itself on the back for voting Oscars to Halle Berry and Denzel Washington, "The Other Side of Heaven" is a much riskier celebration of diversity. So old-fashioned that it seems fresh, this fact-based family drama about a young Idaho missionary's adventures in Tonga highlights two groups that have been almost invisible in recent movies: Polynesians and Mormons... "The Other Side of Heaven" represents an impressive step forward for Mormon cinema in sheer watchability. My adolescent son initially reacted to the movie the way he responds to everything we take him to these days. "Can't I just go wait in the car?" he whined. Yet, within 10 minutes he was watching with great interest... the $7 million dollar movie has been a smash in the Mormon states of Utah and Idaho. Since December, it has earned $2 million in the Great Basin -- the equivalent of $150 million nationwide... Just when you are no longer expecting to see anything spectacular, along comes a cyclone, some gorgeous helicopter shots of volcanic Rarotonga Island, and a nightmarish computer-generated storm at sea that's scarier than the one Tom Hanks battled in "Castaway." Christopher Gorham (of TV's "Popular") looks authentic as 1953 BYU graduate John Groberg, because the likeably gawky star is one of the few young actors who doesn't pump iron. Groberg must leave behind his girlfriend -- played by the lovely Anne Hathaway (star of "The Princess Diaries") -- which adds some needed romantic tension... As the once-callow lad and the islanders survive the unpredictable natural disasters endemic to this seeming paradise, a warm bond grows between them... In the most intriguing incident, a local beauty throws herself at Groberg... Now, that's diversity.
Box Office Magazine
Recent years have seen a dramatic increase in the number of independently-made and -distributed movies dealing with religious subjects, most of them niche-marketed to their core audiences with only cursory effort at finding interest among more mainstream filmgoers. Efforts to target a crossover audience for "The Other Side of Heaven," however, look promising thanks to the uplifting fact-based story and the exotic appeal of the South Pacific locations... Such qualities will invariably endear the movie to some and alienate others, depending on their disposition to such affectations. In the end, though, it's all in the interest of an undeniably uplifting story, made all the more inspirational by the fact that it's true. Though made with limited resources and relatively little money for a film of this scale, "The Other Side of Heaven" has a big-film feel to it, thanks to the work of first-time writer/director Mitch Davis and cinematographer Brian Breheny, whose lensing of the New Zealand and Cook Island locations captures both the beauty of the land and the people. Highest praise as well for the outstanding supporting cast of relative unknowns, most of whom were culled from New Zealand, Tonga and Samoa... if it comes down to details making a difference, "The Other Side of Heaven" can claim a decided edge.
Variety
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... That the 19-year-old Groberg, over two-and-a-half years, accomplished this while combating all manner of hardship and natural disaster, should make for a compelling entertainment, and it does... Pic takes a refreshingly different stance on missionaries (they're not all out to wreck indigenous cultures) and natives (they're not all savages) than Hollywood has in the past. Specifically, Davis depicts Tongan customs with warmth and respect, and he endorses the benefits of missionary work without pushing too hard to make us feel the same way.
9News.com (Denver television station)
From the very beginning, it is clear "The Other Side Of Heaven" is different. Different in a very good way... I loved this movie, it has humor, love, adventure and real spirit. It is directed by Denver resident Mitch Davis. This is Mitch's first directing job. I'm sure we will be hearing a lot more about Mitch in the years ahead. The film is rated PG and I highly recommend it.
New York Post
Easier to sit through than the typical, earnest Christian movie, "The Other Side of Heaven" tells the true, inspirational story of John Groberg... Christopher Gorham... does well as Groberg... writer/director Mitch Davis... keeps things moving at a brisk enough pace for family audiences. The most notable elements are gorgeous New Zealand scenery, elaborate special effects (including a "Perfect Storm"-style boat capsizing) that belie the modest $7 million budget, and brief appearances by budding star Anne Hathaway...
Philadelphia Inquirer
Groberg's assignment to learn the language and build the empire is the basis of The Other Side of Heaven, a paean to service, community and cross-cultural understanding. It has the added attraction of being photographed on location on the island Eden of Rarotonga... it is inspirational in characterizing how people from such diverse cultures share the same human and spiritual needs. Though the islanders initially mock the white man, his dedication to learning their language and culture earns their respect and love. Christopher Gorham... gives an appealing performance as Groberg, and Joe Folau is likewise excellent as Feki...
Los Angeles Times "Family Filmgoer" (Horwitz)
Solid, unfussy acting and gorgeous scenery... [John Groberg] sees
illness, injury and death, none of it depicted graphically.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
...it will certainly have appeal to many of those looking for clean family entertainment and an inspirational message... At one point late in the film [Groberg] writes to [Jean], "There is a connection between heaven and earth. Finding that connection makes everything meaningful, including death. Missing it makes everything meaningless, including life." At last, the movie breaks through the strictures of narrative and reaches us on a more profound plane.
Hollywood Reporter
Set amid lush rain forests and pristine beaches, with production values belying tight budgetary restrictions, the word "Heaven" in its title is not misplaced... The journey to Tonga has its amusing moments... Gorman gives a sturdy performance... Under the guidance of Gerald R. Molen, former head of production for Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment, this $7 million production achieves an epic look. Shot on the island of Rarotonga in the Cook Islands, the film's design and visual effects are outstanding.
Enetertainment Weekly
"Mormon film industry" would've been oxymoronic a few years ago, but LDS filmmakers are catching up with evangelical Protestants, and pronto; this slick, fact-based, missionary-themed drama has racked up almost $4.5 million in a gradual national rollout... The opening scene in "The Other Side of Heaven" has hero John Groberg (Christopher Gorham) stealing somebody's gal at a wild Brigham Young U. dance party in 1953 (talk about shattering stereotypes -- Mormons were hep to "Rip It Up"... Some touching cross-cultural scenes and cool typhoons ensue.
Arizona Daily Star
Solid entertainment with lots of laughs... "The Other Side of Heaven" contains one of the funniest moments of any movie currently in theaters... the movie is tough not to enjoy... makes for solid laughs and fast-paced entertainment... Davis' picture never fails to entertain... the filmmaker's genuine, disarming love for faith emerges... anyone curious about what a Mormon missionary experiences will likely be fascinated... John... genuinely seems to love the people. And it's easy to see why the Tongans like having John around... "The Other Side of Heaven" won't disappoint...
Calgary Sun
The Other Side of Heaven is not just a well-intentioned film, it's a well-realized film... Christopher Gorham is an excellent choice as Groberg. He looks so young and frail yet is able to project the inner strength and faith Groberg needed. Through his script and direction, Mitch Davis does not shy away from showing how Mormons spread their religion, but he does not preach and that is the movie's greatest virtue. It is solid entertainment that has sincere and important messages about tolerance, acceptance, understanding and faith.
Boston Herald
In many ways, movies are becoming as restricted as television. So it's refreshing to see an offbeat independent film showcasing a young, idealistic missionary... these scenes... establish the sweet-natured identity of John Groberg (Christopher Gorham) and his ardent but chaste love for Jean Sabin (a very perky Anne Hathaway)... Gorham has a guileless charm reminiscent of '40s and '50s leading man Robert Hutton and a little guileless charm goes a long way in these cynical times.
San Francisco Chronicle
...an example of the benefits of missionary work... "The Other Side of Heaven," made without church sponsorship, is handsome and sincere... Christopher Gorham... is appealing as Groberg... The South Pacific photography by Brian Breheny is very strong... and Anne Hathaway ("The Princess Diaries") is lovely as the girlfriend Groberg leaves behind.
Austin Chronicle
The Kingdom of Tonga certainly looks like paradise. Sandy, sunny beaches, gorgeous natives... zero modernities to distract from the natural beauty... earnest family drama... director Davis takes an even-handed approach to the film's spiritual message, avoiding proselytizing or any of the Armageddon overtures contemporary Christian films have taken such a shine to as of late... The preaching here is of a more generic nature, and more palatable, too... to a general audience... the material is certainly interesting... you can't really fault a filmmaker for trying to provide good-natured, clean-cut, and gratifying family entertainment... The film also does no disservice to the gorgeous landscape (shot in the Cook Islands and nearby New Zealand), and the film has a professional polish to it that belies its relatively small budget.
The Arizona Republic
...those who look for a family film that isn't totally banal will find a good deal to appreciate in it. It maintains a rock-solid morality without ever getting bogged down in doctrine. Except for the particularities of Mormon missionhood, our hero might be an adherent of any of a dozen other religions... it stands head and shoulders above such previous Mormon movies as God's Army,... the acting... is uniformly good. Christopher Gorham brings dimension to the missionary, and the New Zealand and Tongan actors all create fully drawn characters... This is not an amateur movie - its producer, Gerald Molen, won an Oscar for producing Schindler's List.
Quad-City Times
...always with a good-hearted approach, "The Other Side of Heaven" may be the most sincere movie of the year. It certainly is refreshing in its subject matter... narrative of their real letters helps the audience understand the changes that John undergoes on his spiritual journey... The movie certainly has its share of humor, and of action, particularly when John must grapple with the elements of his environment such as the threat of rats and terrible storms. And it's certainly a beautiful film, with the island of Rarotonga standing in for Tonga. The actors are interesting... its sincerity brings it to above-average in quality. And hey -- you actually can take your whole family to this one.
Fresno Bee
With its gorgeous tropical sunsets and slick production values that set a new standard for faith-based films... [the movie's] message certainly will fall on fertile ground in the Central Valley... a sweetly spiritual affair... interested in lushly orchestrated moments of inspiration... "Heaven" has a solid emotional impact. And with a budget of $7 million... director Mitch Davis got a lot of bang for his buck. The production has a far more polished and professional feel -- and more spiritual oomph -- than such recent Christian special-effects offerings as "Megiddo: The Omega Code 2."... Gorham, a Fresno native and Good Company Players alumnus who starred in the WB series "Popular," has a cheerful, boyish appeal, and he develops a strong bond with the island residents. The film's production values are slick, including a raging storm that nearly snuffs out the islanders... it's endearing to watch the farm-fresh main character slowly adapt to island life.
L.A. Weekly
...a fine specimen of clean-cut Mormon family entertainment... The Other Side of Heaven is the true and intrinsically fascinating story, as told in letters to his sweetheart back in Idaho, of young Elder John Groberg's three-year mission... Mitch Davis, a better than competent first-time director with a skilled editor (Steven Ramirez) and a crackerjack special-effects team...
Minnapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune
This is a sweetly told, true-life story... But the film does little proselytizing... Rather, his unshakable faith is taken as a given around which the rest of the story unfolds... The best scenes are the ones involving humor.
Washington Post
On the plus side, "Heaven" is refreshingly movie-star-free, and the screen is often graced with pretty shots of South Pacific real estate...
New Times Los Angeles
A beautiful... adaptation of a missionary's memoir, this pep-talk for faith, hope and charity does little to offend... The islanders (Miriama Smith, Nathanial Lees and Whetu Fala, to name but a few) are awesome... Some pretty views on offer...
Salt Lake Tribune
...a heartfelt... movie... refreshingly forthright... Its emotional honesty pulls it past some of its storytelling shortcomings... With a miniscule budget of $7 million, writer-director Mitch Davis makes the best of what he has. The location footage, shot in Raratonga, is gorgeous -- and the cast and crew from nearby New Zealand are as professional as can be... Thankfully, Davis avoids the two biggest cliches by never showing Groberg either as someone who "goes native" or as an all-knowing Anglo among the "heathen" Tongans... Groberg -- portrayed with unassuming charm by Gorham... His plain-spokenness gives 'The Other Side of Heaven' a sincerity that money can't buy.
Robert K. Elder (Chicago Tribune/Hartford Courant/Newport News)
captures a breathtaking exotic landscape
Orange County Register
This story of a Mormon missionary has a message for teens... "The Other Side of Heaven"... was produced by Gerald Molen... who counts "Schindler's List" and "Jurassic Park" among his credits... actor Christopher Gorham turns in an earnest, milky performance that neatly taps into the national teen abstinence debate... Mitch Davis illustrates with apt discretion... Non-Latter Day Saints might suspect that the movie - financed outside the LDS church - is nothing more than a recruiting film, but it steers clear of religious didacticism. On the peachiness scale, it rates no higher than, say, "Hart's War."
St. Paul Pioneer Press
wholesome... The shots of Tonga are awfully pretty, like a Conde Nast Traveler '10 Island Getaways'
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
You have to admire people who suffer for the peaceful expression of their beliefs... "The Other Side of Heaven" is a faith-based true story that doesn't prosletyze for a particular dogma. Instead, it's a compelling adventure story with an unusually conscientious hero... Mostly the tone is earnest and upbeat, with a geniality that is reinforced by Gorham's boyish charm and the character's ubiquitous necktie. His letters to Jean, recited in voice-over, add a touch of chaste romance... family friendly film... the solid acting, concise script and visual gloss (courtesy of a co-producer of "Jurassic Park") should wow the faithful and could even convert some skeptics.
Christian Science Monitor
The film carries a simple, yet meaningful message about God's healing power and how it can bring people together.
Dallas Morning News
It feels almost blasphemous to write anything negative about "The Other Side of Heaven." Lord knows, its heart is in the right place. And as Christian films go, it offers a welcome, uplifting change from the "apocalypse any day now" flicks so popular among the holier-than-thou set... In an era when parents take 8-year-olds to see "Blade II", "The Other Side of Heaven" is certainly a great choice for a family outing.
New York Times
The movie, written and directed by Mitch Davis, was filmed on Rarotonga in the Cook Islands and in Auckland, New Zealand, and its tropical sunsets and turquoise seas are balm to the eyes.
Los Angeles Times (Jan Stuart)
exotic backdrops fit for Bloody Mary: swaying palms, cozy grass huts and epic moons.
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
The ethically admirable "The Other Side of Heaven" has dramatic highlights including a hurricane, starvation and a capsized boat in shark-prone waters... well-intentioned... considerable sincerity... The film is highly suitable for a family audience...
Detroit Free Press
...exotic locales and impressive production values... Gorman... approaches his role in earnest... To its credit, the movie manages some nifty special effects on its reported $7-million budget...
Kansas City Star
Filmed on location in the Cook Islands, "The Other Side of Heaven" captures both the beauty and danger of its natural setting, with gorgeous, almost magical landscapes hiding nasty surprises such as rats that gnaw on people's feet at night. Davis deftly blends drama and humor in conveying John's early struggles to comprehend this new environment.
Daily Southtown (Chicago)
A stirring testament to the faith and dedication of a young Mormon missionary assigned to a tiny island in the South Pacific during the early 1950s. Christopher Gorham and Anne Hathaway make a cute couple...
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Gorham (TV's Popular), as Groberg, is sweetly naive in his portrayal of a believing missionary soul. His Groberg honestly wants to serve, and makes a meaningful connection with the people of Tonga... Alongside them, he battles mosquitoes, starvation and storms. Their isolation helps keep the dogmatic annoyances of religious hierarchy at bay. Daily struggles and simple pleasures usurp the preaching message so that, by the time the credits roll across the pat ending, a warm, fuzzy feeling prevails.
Kalamazoo Gazette
In its combination of religion, love story and exotic locales, "Heaven" is a bit reminiscent of James Michener's "Hawaii," although this is a somewhat simpler, more personal tale... [Davis] tells the story effectively and gets commendable performances from the ingratiating Gorham. Hathaway's role is regulated mainly to voice-overs, but she's appealing in her few scenes. Even the non-faithful in the audience will be moved by cinematographer Brian Breheny's eye-filling shots of Tonga, where the sky and the water appear to be every possible shade of blue, and by Kevin Kiner's lovely score, which feels tailor-made for the visuals.
Winston-Salem Journal
The Other Side of Heaven represents a major step forward in the trend of Christian filmmaking. This is a film with an agenda, but it doesn't allow its agenda to get in the way of telling a good story. On the contrary, the filmmakers have enough faith in their story to let it tell itself - and they've endeavored (successfully) to tell it well... Gorham's earnest but endearing performance drives home the character's idealism and resilience - and effortlessly gets the film's point across... Gorham's earnest but endearing performance drives home the character's idealism and resilience - and effortlessly gets the film's point across. Throughout the film, there's the recurring sense that John is actually doing something, and not just mouthing platitudes. The natives of Tonga are not portrayed as converts-in-waiting, but as proud people who view John with a mixture of curiosity and wariness. Director and screenwriter Mitch Davis keeps the onscreen drama level and credible throughout, and he even incorporates some welcome humor into the proceedings... Hathaway's got charm to burn, and she makes Jean someone worth waiting to come home to. By avoiding the pitfalls of pretentiousness or repetition, The Other Side of Heaven is engaging, informative and - yes - even inspirational family fare.
San Diego Union Tribune
The scenes are lovely (it was filmed around the Cook Islands and New Zealand) and the acting is convincing...
Deseret News
...good-looking... the film's pleas for racial tolerance, compassion and service without expectation of reward are messages we need in these trying times. And during this weak cinematic year, a live-action movie you can actually take the whole family to is a welcome sight... this is a handsomely mounted production that belies its $8 million budget... Especially impressive are the storm effects (nearly rivaling those in the much-pricier major-studio film "The Perfect Storm"). And to his credit, filmmaker Mitch Davis has filled out his cast with appealing fresh faces. As Groberg, Gorham has charm... He's well-matched with Hathaway, who has to make their relationship seem believable without much screen time together. The biggest surprise is Folau, a charismatic newcomer whose presence would be welcome again.
Ogden Standard-Examiner
The movie is filled with these faith-promoting stories, fortunately handled with a light touch. Most of the filming was done in New Zealand or Rarotonga in the Cook Islands to give it a look of authenticity -- no "Gilligan"s Island" back lot... I think Mormon and non-Mormon alike will appreciate Elder Groberg's adventure... Feki (Joe Folau), who radiated compassion and warmth. The director of "God's Army," Richard Dutcher, proved there is a market for Mormon-themed films. "The Other Side of Heaven" is the next evolutionary step in that genre... hats off to John Groberg. If half the things in this film are true, he is an amazing man whose story deserves to be told.
Daily Herald (Utah County)
...mildly uplifting and reasonably enjoyable... Davis has control of his craft in terms of making things look good. No amateur (despite this being his first feature film), Davis makes good use of beautiful locales, has an able cast of actors, and doesn't let the pace slow down too much. A couple storm sequences are very exciting.
Utah County Journal
...a fascinating story... It is handsomely mounted, with filming in New Zealand and Rarotonga... The cinematography is at times breathtaking, but then, with scenery such as the seascapes and sunsets and grand ocean vistas of the South Seas, it would be difficult to miss... the interchange of letters with Jean that forms a nice narrative to both explain the action of the film as well as to provide a counterpoint to other events... fascinating and at times majestic in its sweep... Bottom line: this movie is an unpretentious and sincere examination of a young missionary's struggles in a foreign land, to learn the language and love the people. That he succeeds on both levels is a tribute to both the real Groberg as well as this narrative of his experiences. By the time Groberg leaves the islands, we have come to know more about him and the people he loved there than we thought we would care to know.
Baltimore City Paper
...family-friendly flick... visually stunning film (shot in New Zealand and the Cook Islands) may suit families on the lookout for wholesome fare...
Miami Herald
...wholesome family entertainment... Gorham is likable... dogged earnestness overall and even a fairly realistic storm scene.
Spirituality & Health
[The Other Side of Heaven] will make a fine companion piece to God's Army... John's initiation into the real world of suffering, pain, tragedy, and hardship opens his heart... His develops a deep friendship with Feki... Although a minister from another religion does try to set the Tongan people against John, he does a turnaround and demonstrates his respect for the disciplined young man's ministry in a touching and surprising act of charity... The Other Side of Heaven lifts up and celebrates the spiritual practice of enthusiasm as an energizing and radiant way of life.
Sun Newspapers of Cleveland
What lies on "The Other Side of Heaven"? Harmless schmaltz that gives it old-fashioned appeal, along with a charming cast capable of engaging its viewers. Christopher Gorham isn't bad as John Groberg... Anne Hathaway ("The Princess Diaries") graces the film in the smaller role of his love interest. The charming Hathaway brings a lot of warmth to the screen... Its heart is in the right place...
Orlando Weekly
fine cinematography
Orlando Sentinel
...writer-director Mitch Davis proceeds with a confidence... The film's production values are Hollywood-slick (or nearly), the cinematography is calendar-art pretty... The Other Side of Heaven is no mere Hollywood entertainment.
Pacifica Tribune
...an earnest tale... The beautiful scenery is nicely rendered so it's easy to imagine being religiously inspired... the love story is genuine.
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
...an earnest portrayal of a young Mormon missionary... the film is very likeable... It is inspiring, especially for the faithful, to watch Groberg accomplish all of this, even in the face of personal hardship and natural disaster... Mitch Davis avoids the typical mistakes in adapting biographies of this sort. The Tongan people are not portrayed as savages nor is Groberg a know-it-all white man out to erase their culture by "civilizing" them... As a central character Groberg is compelling, firm in his conviction and sincere in his efforts to reveal Jesus Christ to the people in this remote village. And Gorham plays him in an appealing manner... the sincere film, with its top-notch special effects... is fine family entertainment and marks a definite uptick in Christian filmmaking.
College Times (Utah Valley State College)
"The Other Side of Heaven", directed by Mitch Davis, was a very palatable experience... It was nice and (not too) sweet. It truly was the cinematic equivalent to a warm fuzzy (that's a compliment).
Reel Movie Critic.com
"...high production values..."
Nitrate Online
The Other Side of Heaven... has what will probably become one of my most favorite opening scenes for any film this year... both of the guys (and the girl they're dancing with) really knowing how to move on the dance floor. It gets the movie off to an exhilarating start, which carries through into the next scene... concluding with their kissing beside a reflected moon -- the energy of the previous scene seems to chase away any corniness that might've arisen out of this.
Planet Tonga
...strong acting of Gorham. And Folau is actually a great actor. His smile lights up the screen and I hope he continues in films.
MovieMom.com
...gently retro story... it is always good to see a movie character who has a strong spiritual and moral commitment that informs his choices... John and his family draw on their faith in making their decisions.
CitySearch.com
...leading actor Gorham is likeable enough...
Apollo Guide Review
The Other Side of Heaven is a film that's relatively easy to watch. This is made so by some wonderful acting by the leads. Just as spectacular, and ultimately the saving grace for the film, is the turns put forth by the bit players -- who are organic and unselfconscious -- the adhesive holding this film together.
Gospelcom.net / Preview Family Movie & TV Review
Based on a true story, the film presents an overtly religious story, but avoids seeming too preachy with decent acting and writing... the beautiful island setting will entertain most audiences who discover this limited release... the positive messages in THE OTHER SIDE OF HEAVEN can be recommended.
OneGuysOpinion.com (One Guy's Opinion)
the scenery is beautiful, and it's generally nicely photographed. Indeed, some of the shots of cloud-ringed islands rising majestically out of the azure-blue sea are so lovely that you half-expect to hear somebody belt out "Bali Hai" on the soundtrack... The native performers surrounding [Gorham] are often impressive presences... pretty scenery
OOFnet Cinema
...the effects were good, the locations nice, the Samoan actors did a fine job... replete with action, adventure, humor, and even a little romance... don't think that the film will preach to you. It simply tells the uplifting tale of a courageous, Christlike young man.
Dark Horizons (MaoriFett) "The Other Side of Heaven" provides an absolutely heart-warming and inspirational movie experience. I really wasn't expecting much going into this movie, as I am a Maori man... But this film is absolutely outstanding all across the boards. Terrific directing, perfect casting, simply stunning cinematography, and most of all, a story that leaves you better than you were before you walked in the theater. The academy-award winning producing team of Schindler's List, Jurassic Park & Dead Poet's Society were present at the pre-screening and called it their "best movie-making experience hands down" and it truly shows. Don't miss the chance to compliment this incredible cinematic Christmas with a film that will truly elevate your senses.
Compuserve
...a retro film which to its credit does quite a bit with its meager seven million dollar budget... has been praised by Larry King and Michael Medved... There are three impressive scenes. One is the opener featuring some vigorous jitterbugging at a Brigham University sockhop that gives you the impression that Mormons are all professional terpsichoreans. The others are Man-Against- Nature bits as John ... Feki (Joe Folau) are tossed and turned in a raging sea, and one sequence of a fierce hurricane that flattens the island huts and leaves the entire population... short of food... And oh yes: John brings a dead kid back to life, thereby winning the people over from the old, native minister who's all talk and no action.
About.com
The cinematography and special effects are top-notch, the film is very well cast, and is overall quite excellent.
Mormon News
...an uplifting and beautiful story. Shot in the Cook Islands, Rarotonga, and New Zealand, the film abounds in beautiful scenery, captured by Brian Breheny's rich cinematography. Christopher Gorham's excellent performance shows the evolution of an ignorant, but well-meaning boy into a grown man, powerful teacher and great leader. Joe Folau is fantastic and humorous in the supporting role of Feki, Groberg's missionary companion. In a day of film filled with mindless violence, immorality and other inappropriate content, this film is like a breath of fresh air. Uplifting and thought-provoking, "The Other Side of Heaven" is guaranteed to leave you feeling better coming out of the theater than when you came in.
Steve Rhodes' Internet Reviews
...it is a Hollywood class production... Before he [John] departs they share a magical moment as they swing above the shimmering reflection of the moon on an idyllic lake. Brian J. Breheny's cinematography is stunning throughout... if you want a beautiful film with commendable messages, you could do worse than THE OTHER SIDE OF HEAVEN... you may find that its images are enough to make the trip worthwhile...
CultureDose.com
...push for compassionate faith.
Bryce's Movie Domain
I really enjoyed this movie to pieces. The story is very well told, the acting is one-of-a-kind, and the message and feelings it brings are incredible... this is one heck of a movie. I loved every minute of it. It was funny, sad, adventurous, the best of both worlds. I recommend this to everyone, whether LDS or not, you can relate to his experiences sometimes and experience this great film.
TempleSquare.com
Definitely worth your time, "The Other Side of Heaven" is full of enlightenment, excitement and fun... I loved this film. Growing up with many Tongan friends of my own, I was able to relate and feel a strong connection in this film... masterpiece
Associated Press (AP): "the Pacific Islands setting is spectacular... This low-budget film is so professionally done in such exotic locales (New Zealand and Rarotonga in the Cook Islands) that no one would ever think it was accomplished by a rookie."
Variety: "Rousing, family-friendly item has a big, epic look..."
Washington Post: "...the screen is often graced with pretty shots of South Pacific real estate..."
Washington Times: ...the director gets considerable pictorial advantage from such crises as a hurricane and a shipwreck... [the movie's] tropical setting... prove consistently disarming... A stunning nocturnal image of Jean swinging across the glow of a full moon ends the episode and establishes a pictorial link across the ensuing years of separation on opposite sides of the world.
Philadelphia Inquirer: "It has the added attraction of being photographed on location on the island Eden of Rarotonga."
Box Office Magazine: exotic appeal of the South Pacific locations... Though made with limited resources and relatively little money for a film of this scale, "The Other Side of Heaven" has a big-film feel to it, thanks to the work of first-time writer/director Mitch Davis and cinematographer Brian Breheny, whose lensing of the New Zealand and Cook Island locations captures both the beauty of the land and the people.
New York Post: The most notable elements are gorgeous New Zealand scenery, elaborate special effects (including a "Perfect Storm"-style boat capsizing) that belie the modest $7 million budget...
United Press International (UPI): "gorgeous helicopter shots of volcanic Rarotonga Island"
Hollywood Reporter: Set amid lush rain forests and pristine beaches, with production values belying tight budgetary restrictions, the word "Heaven" in its title is not misplaced... Under the guidance of Gerald R. Molen, former head of production for Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment, this $7 million production achieves an epic look. Shot on the island of Rarotonga in the Cook Islands, the film's design and visual effects are outstanding.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: "This is one movie in which a thousand pretty pictures (the movie was shot in New Zealand and Raratonga) may be worth less than a few well-crafted words."
San Francisco Chronicle: "The South Pacific photography by Brian Breheny is very strong..."
Orlando Sentinel: The film's production values are Hollywood-slick (or nearly), the cinematography is calendar-art pretty...
Robert K. Elder (Chicago Tribune/Hartford Courant/Newport News): "captures a breathtaking exotic landscape"
St. Paul Pioneer Press: "The shots of Tonga are awfully pretty, like a Conde Nast Traveler '10 Island Getaways' spread come to life... movie's best moments are when everybody shuts up and looks at the ocean"
New York Times: The movie, written and directed by Mitch Davis, was filmed on Rarotonga in the Cook Islands and in Auckland, New Zealand, and its tropical sunsets and turquoise seas are balm to the eyes.
Austin Chronicle: The Kingdom of Tonga certainly looks like paradise. Sandy, sunny beaches, gorgeous natives... zero modernities to distract from the natural beauty... The film also does no disservice to the gorgeous landscape (shot in the Cook Islands and nearby New Zealand), and the film has a professional polish to it that belies its relatively small budget.
New Times Los Angeles: "...beautiful... Some pretty views on offer..."
San Diego Union Tribune: The scenes are lovely (it was filmed around the Cook Islands and New Zealand)..."
Detroit Free Press: "exotic locales and impressive production values"
St. Louis Post-Dispatch: "...visual gloss (courtesy of a co-producer of "Jurassic Park") should wow the faithful and could even convert some skeptics"
Baltimore City Paper: "...visually stunning film (shot in New Zealand and the Cook Islands)..."
Fresno Bee: "With its gorgeous tropical sunsets and slick production values that set a new standard for faith-based films..."
Salt Lake Tribune: With a miniscule budget of $7 million, writer-director Mitch Davis makes the best of what he has. The location footage, shot in Raratonga, is gorgeous
Kansas City Star: Filmed on location in the Cook Islands, "The Other Side of Heaven" captures both the beauty and danger of its natural setting, with gorgeous, almost magical landscapes hiding nasty surprises such as rats that gnaw on people's feet at night.
Pacifica Tribune: The beautiful scenery is nicely rendered so it's easy to imagine being religiously inspired.
Ogden Standard-Examiner: Most of the filming was done in New Zealand or Rarotonga in the Cook Islands to give it a look of authenticity -- no "Gilligan"s Island" back lot for this thinly budgeted production of $7 million.
Deseret News: "good-looking... this is a handsomely mounted production that belies its $8 million budget... Especially impressive are the storm effects (nearly rivaling those in the much-pricier major-studio film 'The Perfect Storm').
Utah County Journal: It is handsomely mounted, with filming in New Zealand and Rarotonga... The cinematography is at times breathtaking, but then, with scenery such as the seascapes and sunsets and grand ocean vistas of the South Seas, it would be difficult to miss.
Daily Herald (Utah County): ...Davis has control of his craft in terms of making things look good. No amateur (despite this being his first feature film), Davis makes good use of beautiful locales...
Reel Movie Critic.com: "...high production values..."
OneGuysOpinion.com: the scenery is beautiful, and it's generally nicely photographed. Indeed, some of the shots of cloud-ringed islands rising majestically out of the azure-blue sea are so lovely that you half-expect to hear somebody belt out "Bali Hai" on the soundtrack... pretty scenery
Orlando Weekly: "fine cinematography"
Mormon News: "Shot in the Cook Islands, Rarotonga, and New Zealand, the film abounds in beautiful scenery, captured by Brian Breheny's rich cinematography."
About.com: "The cinematography and special effects are top-notch..."
Gospelcom.net / Preview Family Movie & TV Review: ...the beautiful island setting will entertain most audiences...
Kalamazoo Gazette: Even the non-faithful in the audience will be moved by cinematographer Brian Breheny's eye-filling shots of Tonga, where the sky and the water appear to be every possible shade of blue...
Steve Rhodes' Internet Reviews: ...they share a magical moment as they swing above the shimmering reflection of the moon on an idyllic lake. Brian J. Breheny's cinematography is stunning throughout... a beautiful film... its images are enough to make the trip worthwhile.
Dark Horizons (MaoriFett): "simply stunning cinematography"
Los Angeles Times "Family Filmgoer" (Horwitz): "[Groberg] sees illness, injury and death, none of it depicted graphically."
Variety: "Rousing, family-friendly item has a big, epic look..."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: "it will certainly have appeal to many of those looking for clean family entertainment and an inspirational message."
Dallas Morning News: In an era when parents take 8-year-olds to see Blade II, The Other Side of Heaven is certainly a great choice for a family outing.
New York Post: "writer/director Mitch Davis... keeps things moving at a brisk enough pace for family audiences."
United Press International (UPI): "So old-fashioned that it seems fresh, this fact-based family drama..."
The Arizona Republic: ...those who look for a family film that isn't totally banal will find a good deal to appreciate in it. It maintains a rock-solid morality...
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "...ethically admirable... [John Groberg and Jean Sabin are] as chaste as the couple in the recent "A Walk to Remember" and in thousands of pre-1960 movies... The film is highly suitable for a family audience..."
Winston-Salem Journal: The Other Side of Heaven is engaging, informative and - yes - even inspirational family fare.
Austin Chronicle: "...earnest family drama... you can't really fault a filmmaker for trying to provide good-natured, clean-cut, and gratifying family entertainment...
Baltimore City Paper: "...family-friendly flick... may suit families on the lookout for wholesome fare..."
Hollywood Reporter: "...could attract a family audience on the basis of its exoticism and visual effects..."
St. Louis Post-Dispatch: "...a thwarted flirtation from a local lass is the only bit of raciness in this family friendly film."
L.A. Weekly: "...a fine specimen of clean-cut Mormon family entertainment..."
Deseret News: ...the film's pleas for racial tolerance, compassion and service without expectation of reward are messages we need in these trying times. And during this weak cinematic year, a live-action movie you can actually take the whole family to is a welcome sight.
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops: "fine family entertainment and marks a definite uptick in Christian filmmaking."
Mormon News: In a day of film filled with mindless violence, immorality and other inappropriate content, this film is like a breath of fresh air. Uplifting and thought-provoking, "The Other Side of Heaven" is guaranteed to leave you feeling better coming out of the theater than when you came in.
Miami Herald: "wholesome family entertainment"
St. Paul Pioneer Press: "relentlessly wholesome"
Dallas Morning News: as Christian films go, it offers a welcome, uplifting change from the "apocalypse any day now" flicks so popular among the holier-than-thou set...
The Arizona Republic: ...those who look for a family film that isn't totally banal will find a good deal to appreciate in it. It maintains a rock-solid morality without ever getting bogged down in doctrine. Except for the particularities of Mormon missionhood, our hero might be an adherent of any of a dozen other religions.
Calgary Sun
Through his script and direction, Mitch Davis does not shy away from showing how Mormons spread their religion, but he does not preach and that is the movie's greatest virtue.
Minnapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune: To survive, [John Groberg is] forced to rely on his wits and his faith. But the film does little proselytizing. It was neither made nor endorsed by the Mormon hierarchy. The movie doesn't examine Groberg's religious convictions. Rather, his unshakable faith is taken as a given around which the rest of the story unfolds.
Variety: Pic takes a refreshingly different stance on missionaries (they're not all out to wreck indigenous cultures) and natives (they're not all savages) than Hollywood has in the past. Specifically, Davis depicts Tongan customs with warmth and respect, and he endorses the benefits of missionary work without pushing too hard to make us feel the same way.
Austin Chronicle: "...director Davis takes an even-handed approach to the film's spiritual message, avoiding proselytizing or any of the Armageddon overtures contemporary Christian films have taken such a shine to as of late. In fact, I can't recall a single overt mention of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The preaching here is of a more generic nature, and more palatable, too -- at least, to a general audience (John urges the locals not to drink, not to have premarital sex, and the like)."
Orange County Register: Non-Latter Day Saints might suspect that the movie - financed outside the LDS church - is nothing more than a recruiting film, but it steers clear of religious didacticism. On the peachiness scale, it rates no higher than, say, "Hart's War."
St. Louis Post-Dispatch: "The Other Side of Heaven" is a faith-based true story that doesn't prosletyze for a particular dogma. Instead, it's a compelling adventure story with an unusually conscientious hero... Mostly the tone is earnest and upbeat, with a geniality that is reinforced by Gorham's boyish charm and the character's ubiquitous necktie. His letters to Jean, recited in voice-over, add a touch of chaste romance, while a thwarted flirtation from a local lass is the only bit of raciness in this family friendly film.
South Florida Sun-Sentinel: Their isolation helps keep the dogmatic annoyances of religious hierarchy at bay. Daily struggles and simple pleasures usurp the preaching message so that, by the time the credits roll across the pat ending, a warm, fuzzy feeling prevails.
Salt Lake Tribune: Thankfully, Davis avoids the two biggest cliches by never showing Groberg either as someone who "goes native" or as an all-knowing Anglo among the "heathen" Tongans.
Ogden Standard-Examiner: The movie is filled with these faith-promoting stories, fortunately handled with a light touch... I think Mormon and non-Mormon alike will appreciate Elder Groberg's adventure...
Gospelcom.net / Preview Family Movie & TV Review: Based on a true story, the film presents an overtly religious story, but avoids seeming too preachy...
CultureDose.com: On a positive note, the religious ideas portrayed in The Other Side of Heaven are actually handled with a sensitivity to universality. Where Groberg does perform an annoying miracle in God's name, which takes far too long to execute, the story sticks to the idea of treating human beings with fairness in an effort at decency, and not due to any particular alignment with divination. This is not a film preaching in an effort to proselytize the holiness of Jesus, and it effectively shies from centering on the power of believing in God. The focus remains on the interaction between a collection of people who work against hardship, and for that it deserves credit.
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops: Mitch Davis avoids the typical mistakes in adapting biographies of this sort. The Tongan people are not portrayed as savages nor is Groberg a know-it-all white man out to erase their culture by "civilizing" them.
OOFnet Cinema: ...don't think that the film will preach to you. It simply tells the uplifting tale of a courageous, Christlike young man.
St. Paul Pioneer Press: "A virtual ad for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints... do-goody in a way that seems certain to turn off the young audience to whom its story of teen-age love might appeal. Our hero delivers lectures on temperance, abstinence and community service in between saving souls"
Village Voice: "Though The Other Side of Heaven is to Latter Day Saint proselytizing what Top Gun was to Air Force recruitment..."
New York Times: "An earnest, shining-eyed idealist who exudes the dewier-than-thou sanctimony of the young Robbie Benson crossed with Tom Cruise at his most podlike, John speaks entirely in smug, sugary platitudes. John speaks entirely in smug, sugary platitudes... 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... When the prettiest girl on the island impulsively sheds her clothing and offers herself to John, he averts his eyes and solemnly lectures her about true love and saving herself for one man, then leads her to the beach to pray. The girl's mother is angered by John's rejection of her daughter until he pulls out a snapshot of Jean and starts prating about eternal love. Beyond pushing its religious message...
Los Angeles Times (Jan Stuart): The directing debut of Brigham Young University grad Mitch Davis, "The Other Side of Heaven" is an unabashed Mormon propaganda piece disguised as an adventure film... The apex of thrillingly awful moments occurs when Groberg presides over the lagoon-water baptism of a Tongan teenage girl, saving her soul in the nick of time while just offshore, a bevy of misguided island lasses is deflowered by a boatload of rum-running seamen. "The Other Side of Heaven" is the most unambiguous in a recent spate of broad-market films about the other love that dare not speak its name in Hollywood, the worship of God... 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.
Washington Post: "The Other Side of Heaven" plays like a recruitment film for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A tad preachy and more than a little bit sanctimonious, it's a lite version of 1966's "Hawaii"...
New Times Los Angeles: "writer-director Mitch Davis' preachy little episodes"
Orange County Register: ...for a dogma-driven drama that's essentially a pious, less-cynical version of "40 Days and 40 Nights," it's not all that insufferable.
Boston Herald: The music over the opening credits is so obnoxiously "inspirational," I was exhausted before the film even began.
Arizona Daily Star: Though writer/director Mitch Davis ham-fistedly delivers his messages, the movie is tough not to enjoy. The proselytizing folly of this film is nowhere near as poorly executed as last year's so-bad-it's-great "Carman: The Champion," but still makes for solid laughs and fast-paced entertainment... In between all the misfired religious homilies packed into the flick, the filmmaker's genuine, disarming love for faith emerges... some non-Mormons may bristle at the religious teachings... For those who don't mind taking a flier on a religious flick, "The Other Side of Heaven" won't disappoint. Those who'd rather not be preached to for two hours should stay on their own side of heaven.
San Diego Union Tribune: "The Other Side of Heaven"... takes less than 15 minutes before succumbing to the curse of preachiness, dooming it to the niche market of religious programming... its chief sin remains its inability to push us beyond the feeling that this is "only" a religious film.
Miami Herald: Your enjoyment of The Other Side of Heaven, about a young, fresh-faced Mormon missionary who travels to the remote Tongan islands in the South Pacific during the 1950s depends greatly on your appetite for wholesome family entertainment and your immediate reaction to proselytizing. The film is absolutely unswaying in its determination to show conversion of an indigenous people to Mormonism as an important endeavor... Yet, even to a charitable viewer, The Other Side of Heaven will feel like a piece of propaganda. 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.
Fresno Bee: ...aimed squarely at audiences most receptive to its message: that spreading God's word is one of the most noble endeavors a person can pursue... "Heaven," based on Groberg's book "In the Eye of the Storm," is content to preach to the choir. It plays out as if Groberg were standing to the side during the filming... If "Heaven" has an irritation, it's the missionary's self-confident sense of righteousness that borders on pompousness.
Cinema Source: "A shamelessly overheated and proselytizing South Seas tale of a young missionary who shepherds a Tonga island community from the wages of sin."
FlickFilosopher.com: bright shiny Mormons... you just wanna smack 'em... imagine if they moved into your house and wouldn't leave you alone, ever. That's what "The Other Side of Heaven" is about, only it's from the Mormons' point of view, and they think you're perfectly happy to listen to them prattle on... The people of Tonga, who have never seen a white person before and speak not a word of English, welcome him and his conversionary fervor with open arms. Carrying on the tradition of the scariest nice people in the world, Groberg brings the "truth" to a people so trusting or pleasant or polite that they actually believe that because Groberg traveled so far to teach them, what he says must be true.
Orlando Weekly: this long and relentlessly saccharine film is a clear case of preaching to the converted
San Francisco Chronicle: "...slightly awkward in its combination of entertainment and evangelical boosterism... slips occasionally into sermonettes extolling the virtues of Christian service"
Arizona Republic: ...it's still rather unfulfilling for those not listening to the sermon from the choir.
Detroit Free Press: If the movie industry had settled in Salt Lake City instead of Hollywood, movies might look a lot like "The Other Side of Heaven." This independent release about a Mormon missionary in the 1950s has exotic locales and impressive production values, but its story of uplift and conversion won't hold much appeal beyond its obvious target audience... Falling just short of propaganda, "The Other Side of Heaven" refuses even to question whether missionaries might sometimes have a detrimental effect on native cultures and belief systems. The movie's self-righteousness can go overboard, as in the case of the near-miracle Groberg performs on a dying Tongan boy.
Orlando Sentinel: Should a movie like The Other Side of Heaven be reviewed? Is it even, in fact, a movie? Of course, it's contained on celluloid and presented in theaters where admission is charged. But if its form is that of a movie, its spirit is that of a sermon.
Pacifica Tribune: While corny, chaste, and more than a little preachy, the love story is genuine.
Reel Movie Critic.com: This film is by no means alone in its unrealistic portrayal of the Hollywood version of life, but its agenda is so unmistakable it makes one wince. The high production values in this bit of unabashed propaganda may give it an air of trustworthiness to some but it's total transparency shines through. This movie takes itself so seriously that its audience can only be those who are similarly biased aka, preaching to the converted.
OneGuysOpinion.com: As a recruitment device for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, "The Other Side of Heaven" might do the trick.
For general audiences, however, the tale of a young Idahoan's three-year stint as a missionary on the South Pacific island of Tonga during the 1950s will probably seem like one very long, haltingly delivered sermon. For all its good intentions, the picture's strenuous efforts to convey an uplifting message collapse in a sea of amateurishness... Though it might aspire to attract a wider audience, "The Other Side of Heaven" is a film only a Mormon could love.
Associated Press (AP): "Gorham... is well cast as the earnestly naive missionary"
Box Office Magazine: Highest praise as well for the outstanding supporting cast of relative unknowns, most of whom were culled from New Zealand, Tonga and Samoa
New York Post: "Christopher Gorham... does well as Groberg... The most notable elements [include]... brief appearances by budding star Anne Hathaway ("The Princess Diaries") as Groberg's girlfriend back home in Idaho.
Washington Times: [the movie's] performers prove consistently disarming. You grow fond of the Ichabod Crane gawkiness of Christopher Gorham as young John Groberg and the Aussie-tinged accents of the Maori, Samoan and Tongan performers cast... courtship of John Groberg and sweetheart Jean Sabin, played by Anne Hathaway, the delightful discovery of "The Princess Diaries." The movie gets off to a flying start with a jitterbug number... A stunning nocturnal image of Jean swinging across the glow of a full moon ends the episode and establishes a pictorial link across the ensuing years of separation on opposite sides of the world. The two will be under the same moon, even if the western United States is a long way from the South Pacific.
United Press International (UPI): Christopher Gorham looks authentic as 1953 BYU graduate John Groberg, because the likeably gawky star is one of the few young actors who doesn't pump iron. Groberg must leave behind his girlfriend -- played by the lovely Anne Hathaway (star of "The Princess Diaries") -- which adds some needed romantic tension. Leaving a young lady who looks like that on her own for three years shows either great faith or...
Calgary Sun: Christopher Gorham is an excellent choice as Groberg. He looks so young and frail yet is able to project the inner strength and faith Groberg needed.
San Francisco Chronicle: "...Christopher Gorham, who looks a bit like the young Tom Hanks, is appealing as Groberg... Anne Hathaway ("The Princess Diaries") is lovely as the girlfriend Groberg leaves behind."
Chicago Tribune: "...Groberg's character (played with heart by Christopher Groham)..."
Orange County Register: ...actor Christopher Gorham turns in an earnest, milky performance...
Boston Herald: these scenes... establish the sweet-natured identity of John Groberg (Christopher Gorham) and his ardent but chaste love for Jean Sabin (a very perky Anne Hathaway)... Gorham has a guileless charm reminiscent of '40s and '50s leading man Robert Hutton and a little guileless charm goes a long way in these cynical times.
Salt Lake Tribune: "...the cast and crew from nearby New Zealand are as professional as can be... Groberg -- portrayed with unassuming charm by Gorham... His plain-spokenness gives 'The Other Side of Heaven' a sincerity that money can't buy."
Fresno Bee: "Gorham, a Fresno native and Good Company Players alumnus who starred in the WB series "Popular," has a cheerful, boyish appeal, and he develops a strong bond with the island residents."
Arizona Republic: "the acting... is uniformly good. Christopher Gorham brings dimension to the missionary, and the New Zealand and Tongan actors all create fully drawn characters."
San Diego Union Tribune: "the acting is convincing..."
Hollywood Reporter: "Gorman gives a sturdy performance..."
New Times Los Angeles: "The islanders (Miriama Smith, Nathanial Lees and Whetu Fala, to name but a few) are awesome..."
Daily Southtown (Chicago): "Christopher Gorham and Anne Hathaway make a cute couple, even when separated by thousands of miles"
St. Louis Post-Dispatch: "...a geniality that is reinforced by Gorham's boyish charm... the solid acting..."
Sun Newspapers of Cleveland: Christopher Gorham isn't bad as John Groberg... Anne Hathaway ("The Princess Diaries") graces the film in the smaller role of his love interest. The charming Hathaway brings a lot of warmth to the screen...
Deseret News: "...to his credit, filmmaker Mitch Davis has filled out his cast with appealing fresh faces. As Groberg, Gorham has charm... He's well-matched with Hathaway, who has to make their relationship seem believable without much screen time together. The biggest surprise is Folau, a charismatic newcomer whose presence would be welcome again."
Winston-Salem Journal: Gorham's earnest but endearing performance drives home the character's idealism and resilience - and effortlessly gets the film's point across... The "big-name" actor in the cast is Anne Hathaway of last year's surprise hit, The Princess Diaries. She plays Jean, John's college sweetheart... It's a fairly thankless role, but Hathaway's got charm to burn, and she makes Jean someone worth waiting to come home to.
Quad-City Times: The actors are interesting...
South Florida Sun-Sentinel: Gorham... as Groberg, is sweetly naive in his portrayal of a believing missionary soul. His Groberg honestly wants to serve, and makes a meaningful connection with the people of Tonga...
Ogden Standard-Examiner: "[Groberg's] Tongan companion, Feki (Joe Folau), who radiated compassion and warmth."
Apollo Guide Review: The Other Side of Heaven is a film that's relatively easy to watch. This is made so by some wonderful acting by the leads. Just as spectacular, and ultimately the saving grace for the film, is the turns put forth by the bit players -- who are organic and unselfconscious -- the adhesive holding this film together.
Variety: "Gorham's performance, however, almost makes you forget how shallowly his character has been conceived."
Detroit Free Press: "Gorman... approaches his role in earnest."
St. Paul Pioneer Press: "Gorham is not bad"
Miami Herald: "Gorham is likable"
Daily Herald (Utah County): "an able cast of actors"
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops: As a central character Groberg is compelling... And Gorham plays him in an appealing manner.
Cinema Source: "Youthful stars Christopher Gorham and Anne Hathaway conceal their mortification [at the script] like old pros."
CitySearch.com: "...leading actor Gorham is likeable enough..."
Planet Tonga: The only thing carrying this movie is the strong acting of Gorham. And Folau is actually a great actor. His smile lights up the screen and I hope he continues in films.
Kalamazoo Gazette: [Davis] tells the story effectively and gets commendable performances from the ingratiating Gorham. Hathaway's role is regulated mainly to voice-overs, but she's appealing in her few scenes.
OneGuysOpinion.com: "The native performers surrounding [Gorham] are often impressive presences"
OOFnet Cinema: "the Samoan actors did a fine job"
Dark Horizons (MaoriFett): "perfect casting"
About.com: "...the film is very well cast..."
Mormon News: "Christopher Gorham's excellent performance shows the evolution of an ignorant, but well-meaning boy into a grown man, powerful teacher and great leader. Joe Folau is fantastic and humorous in the supporting role of Feki, Groberg's missionary companion."
Bryce's Movie Domain: "the acting is one-of-a-kind"
New Times Los Angeles: "Like a less-charismatic Josh Hartnett (if that's possible), Christopher Gorham plays real-life 1950s Idaho boy John Groberg..."
Ogden Standard-Examiner: I never felt comfortable with the young man they chose to play Groberg (Christopher Gorham...). He seemed too polished -- even borderline arrogant -- working next to his Tongan companion...
Kansas City Star: You could easily blame Gorham's passive performance for this, but the material doesn't give him much choice... It falls to the actors playing the islanders to provide some personality, but Davis seems intent on draining the life out of them; by the end of the film, they're all wearing those blasted ties, too.
Daily Herald (Utah County): The blame for the lack of dynamics is shared between Davis the writer/director and Gorham the actor... Even when emotional depth might be called for, Gorham doesn't do it. Sure, he cries a couple times, and Groberg does some amazing act-of-faith kind of stuff. But Gorham's attitude throughout is so blandly go-with-the-flow -- almost cavalier -- that we wind up liking him, but not knowing him.
Orlando Sentinel: ...the acting is at best serviceable. As John, Christopher Gorham spends a lot of time looking sadly superior...
Compuserve: "features a lead actor with a flat personality... In her gratefully brief role, Anne Hathaway is as insufferable as she was in "The Princess Diaries" and though the press notes indicate that John "changes forever" from his experience... he's as priggish as he was in the opening except that now he sleeps on the floor.
CultureDose.com: It's not so much that the acting is bad, but that there isn't much to it.
Robert K. Elder (Chicago Tribune/Hartford Courant/Newport News): "For its target audience... 'Heaven' will be held up as justification for a whole worldview. For others, it will be a statement of religious imperialism and cultural superiority... [Groberg is] cast as a religious Superman figure shipped to the 'savage' Tonga islands to heal children and rescue babies. And while the natives are folded into the story, they still only hang around to reveal that, yes, Groberg was right about God, the world and everything.
Village Voice: Despite sole-gnawing rats and a woman of color up for a roll in the ferns, the white man's burden has rarely seemed lighter; straight-arrow John never wavers in his devotion to church and stateside squeeze... When the mother of John's would-be seductress pleads for a 'half-white baby,' he shows her a picture of his beloved. Overcome with shame, the woman commences to sob.
Dallas Morning News: there's a disturbing "Great White Hope" undertone to The Other Side of Heaven that subtly undermines its message of Christian love and compassion... You have your... white guy who'd rather sleep on the floor than a bed... The question arises, though: Who's saving whom? The Tongans were wonderfully happy people before John showed up. They were even apparently practicing some form of Christianity. And John himself notes that he wants to be more like them because "they have nothing, and they have everything." Are their lives better now because they can get dressed up, stand on the beach and tearfully sing "God Be With You Till We Meet Again" in harmony as John walks away, his mission accomplished? In an era when parents take 8-year-olds to see Blade II, The Other Side of Heaven is certainly a great choice for a family outing. The key is avoiding feelings of smug superiority and instead learning the same lessons that John Groberg did.
New York Times: the movie's vision of a white American zealously spreading a Puritanical brand of Christianity to South Seas islanders is one only a true believer could relish. The Tongan natives resemble a 1950's National Geographic cliche of childlike pagans being taken in hand by wiser, smarter Westerners.
Hollywood Reporter: ...more than a few viewers will be surprised, in this day and age, at a movie that so staunchly celebrates white paternalism... The religious imperialism at the heart of such an experience is accepted at face value without any critical examination of the notion of a young man from Idaho going to such a far-flung land to help the natives not by bringing better food or medicine or education but simply a "better" God... Instead of developing characters or conflicts, the film adopts a pattern of natural disaster striking and the white missionary coming to the rescue...
Los Angeles Times (Jan Stuart): Not since English missionary Ingrid Bergman saved the Chinese from their basest instincts in "Inn of the Sixth Happiness" can we recall such a narcissistic screen spectacle of white Christian chauvinism versus the dark-skinned heathen. Only more grotesque than the film's clueless air of self-congratulation is the screenplay's square-as-"Father Knows Best" sense of humor...
New Times Los Angeles: "[Groberg] makes it his job to convert the crazy, misguided heathen of Tonga to Christianity. Joe Folau plays his ethnic insta-friend..."
Arizona Daily Star: Anthropological thinkers may wince as they watch John (Christopher Gorham) disregard the Tongan culture with his own beliefs...
Fresno Bee: And there's never any question that the "great white missionary" is anything but the answer to the natives' prayers -- we never even see any evidence of their own religion.
Quad-City Times: The actors are interesting -- although Hathaway doesn't have much to do -- although I had a feeling that the characters as depicted in Groberg's book, "In the Eye of the Storm," would be even more fascinating.
Baltimore City Paper: "...shies away from tough questions. (Could his Western values represent a corruptive force?)"
Cinema Source: A shamelessly overheated and proselytizing South Seas tale of a young missionary who shepherds a Tonga island community from the wages of sin. Everything but Bing, Bob and Dorothy Lamour boiling in a pot over a ceremonial fire. Youthful stars Christopher Gorham and Anne Hathaway conceal their mortification like old pros.
Kansas City Star: It falls to the actors playing the islanders to provide some personality, but Davis seems intent on draining the life out of them; by the end of the film, they're all wearing those blasted ties, too. Therein lies a nagging problem. Despite its good intentions and high production values, this is basically a story about a noble white guy "saving" simple-minded natives from their own primitive culture. John truly comes to love these people, but does he respect them? Maybe he does in real life, but to the filmmakers the islanders are doomed until they put on the uniform. That notion may resonate with some viewers. To others it's likely to seem like preaching to the choir.
FlickFilosopher.com: If anyone has a problem with Arrogant White Boy coming to their island and telling them everything they believe is wrong, then it is not represented here, in screenwriter/director Mitch Davis's cloying and sanctimonious movie... Groberg treats Tongan rituals and beliefs with disdain, yet he wants these people to be open to new ideas, his ideas... and they are. His customs and practices and culture are treated with more reverence and more importance and a far greater sense of morality than the Tongans are, and the Tongans here are just fine with that. I may be the only person to watch this movie who finds it disgusting that Groberg came to teach these people to sing "Amazing Grace," to teach them that they were lost wretches before he arrived. It makes me furious. White people have a lot to answer for.
Washington Post: A tad preachy and more than a little bit sanctimonious, it's a lite version of 1966's "Hawaii," a film whose epic scope gave a far more complex treatment to what "Heaven" writer-director Mitch Davis seems to view as the encounter between God's benign white emissaries and the noble savages of the world.
Orlando Weekly: If you think that a Westerner's right to "save" a backward people will be seriously explored, you're missing the point of this professionally made but sappy sermon of a film, in which witness-bearing wuss John Groberg (Christopher Gorham) overcomes cultural barriers and braves the harsh elements to spread the Word to some cute dark-skinned folks.
The Arizona Republic: "...the movie never questions the desirability of converting the Tongans to a religion that would seem to make little sense in their world. Near the film's end, there is a nod to the doubt whether it makes any sense for Tongans to listen to The Lone Ranger on the radio, but it has no doubt they are better off for wearing ties."
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: With only the most token resistance from the Tongans, John masters the language with just one ho-ho faux pas, and quickly ingratiates himself... When near the end the islanders get a huge old console radio, 1930s vintage, Davis cuts to an objective shot of dozens sitting around listening to "The Lone Ranger," but without a trace of wonderment or of the world shrinking at that moment.
Detroit Free Press: Falling just short of propaganda, "The Other Side of Heaven" refuses even to question whether missionaries might sometimes have a detrimental effect on native cultures and belief systems.
Miami Herald: The film is absolutely unswaying in its determination to show conversion of an indigenous people to Mormonism as an important endeavor. If the idea of the white man arriving on foreign shores to show wary natives the true light is abhorrent to you, the simplistic Heaven will quite likely be more like hell... across the ocean to an island where no one speaks his language or has ever seen a white man... 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.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch: "...the propriety of subverting native religious traditions is never questioned. (How would the people of Salt Lake City feel if Tongans suddenly arrived to save their souls?)"
Seattle Times: ...there's just a thoroughly Caucasian guy spreading the word of the New-New Testament to a bunch of good-natured Tongans on a tiny island in the South Seas. Mind you, this is no isolated Eden, this island. It's a hotbed of lusty virgins, unkempt drunks, former philanderers and — gasp! — a minister's flock resistant to an incursion by Mormons. None of this fazes young John Groberg (Christopher Gorham) intent on delivering his message without undergoing any significant transformation himself... And though it's lauded by some for its message of cultural tolerance, "The Other Side of Heaven" still falls into subtle Kiplingesque traps as this isolated culture all but leaps to embrace the ways of their white visitor. No matter how nice Groberg is, it'll still leave you with a feeling of unease.
South Florida Sun-Sentinel: The premise of The Other Side of Heaven seems unbearably haughty: A 1950s white guy sails halfway around the world to convince an island of heathens that his religion is their salvation. Mormon missionary John Groberg (Christopher Gorham) even is "assigned" a faithful, brown-skinned companion, Feki... The taint of racism rears up at a number of occasions in Mitch Davis' film, based on true-life missionary Groberg's memoirs. Feki (Joe Folou) never gets to be called "elder" like Groberg, or even called a counselor...
Orlando Sentinel: ...writer-director Mitch Davis proceeds with a confidence that is perhaps slightly less admirable for being entirely misplaced. In this, he is not unlike the young hero of his film. The film's implicit premise is that the faith of the Tonga people is in every way inferior to that of John. And so, early on, we are meant to share in the missionary's disappointment that the parents of a young villager will not permit him to be baptized, preferring (stubbornly, it seems) to have their son share their own beliefs. Possibly, the film would have been more persuasive had Davis been able to make the case that John's beliefs actually are superior to those of the natives. But the filmmaker's attempts to do so are ham-handed at best. Davis contrasts a "saved" native girl who accepts John's teachings with the "fallen" girls who prostitute themselves. But is this really a serious case against the natives' ways? Women raised in good Christian homes do sometimes become prostitutes, too, after all. It doesn't appear to have occurred to anyone connected with the production that this sort of thing may be offensive to someone who does not happen to share John's point of view. Late in the film, there's a scene in which a native holy man who had initially resisted John's proselytizing comes to acknowledge the essential goodness of John's mission. It's telling that the young missionary fails to return the compliment (although John is grateful when the man saves his life).
Nitrate Online: The Tongans are depicted as being simple, remote and rather unknowable... What do they think about this white guy coming to them and telling them that they must convert to this particular religion?... How does it relate to their existing way of life? By comparison, Richard Dutcher, in his 1999 film, God's Army, at least gave us some idea of the pattern and structure that made up the lives of the missionary characters he depicted, and which in turn gave us some understanding as to what their work meant to them and how it affected their lives.
Compuserve: In 1947 the Andrews Sisters and Danny Kaye made a big hit with the Bob Hilliard and Carl Sigman song, "Civilization," a plea to Africans to take missionary logic with a grain of salt. The song goes in part... By this logic, how could missionaries hope to "convert the natives" to the "superior" bliss of Christianity? The people of Tonga, east of Australia and not too far from Fiji, can swim and fish and year 'round, too, so you wouldn't think they'd have anything but patronizing smiles for the Mormon missionaries who arrived during the 1950s to change their values... Why the Mormons would be so interested in converting a handful of people in a hot, humid, mosquito-laden location without electricity is anyone's guess. Why some brown-skinned people in what they must consider a tropical paradise, eating the fruit of the land and of the sea without some bureaucratic boss breathing down their neck would welcome a white guy who does not speak their language is even more mysterious... Groberg arrives and is greeted with less than enthusiasm especially by an old local minister who rightly considers him both competition and supernumerary.
CultureDose.com: Leaving behind a sweetheart and a cushy middle-class life, Groberg sets out on his journey to learn the savages... dialogue that blatantly urges how the wonderful White Man is going to bring The Truth to those oh-so-unfortunate. The worst of these moments is when a mother is lashing out at Groberg for not being generous enough to give her daughter a half white baby. Ipecac for the eyes... What little common sense there is that white influence on other cultures is troublesome comes from the rarely seen personage of the village elder, who is such a non-entity that I can't remember his name.
Las Vegas Review-Journal: "The Other Side of Heaven" relates these incidents in episodic fashion, using Groberg's letters to Jean as a narrative device... the movie maintains a leisurely, almost meandering pace, treating each challenge with the same mild-mannered approach."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: "...spiritual journey unfolds one small step at a time rather than in one sudden flash of revelation, which does not necessarily lend itself to the steady pacing or the dramatic tension that movie audiences often demand. As a result, 'The Other Side of Heaven' requires more patience than many filmgoers will be able to muster... the film remains episodic in nature until a storm ravages the island and provides the sternest test of survival yet
St. Paul Pioneer Press: "clunky, episodic script has him conquer one disaster after another in a way that feels like a five-episode marathon of some uplifting TV show"
New Times Los Angeles: "writer-director Mitch Davis' preachy little episodes, which offer some local color but never manage to congeal."
Fresno Bee: "While the narrative never fully develops -- there's little sense of a story arc beyond stringing together anecdotes -- it's endearing to watch the farm-fresh main character slowly adapt to island life."
Hollywood Reporter: "The episodic tale... Instead of developing characters or conflicts, the film adopts a pattern of natural disaster striking and the white missionary coming to the rescue...
United Press International (UPI): In adapting Groberg's autobiography, Davis stuck a little too close to the sporadic reality. Near the equator, apparently, stuff happens -- storm, famine, concussion, lockjaw -- but all rather randomly. While each episode is entertaining, the movie never builds much dramatic momentum.
Salt Lake Tribune: "Davis plods through the episodes of Groberg's mission experience, including several obvious fish-out-of-water cliches (tasting strange cuisine, mangling the language, etc.)"
Daily Herald (Utah County): The blame for the lack of dynamics is shared between Davis the writer/director and Gorham the actor. The script is episodic, moving from one event to another with little sense that any of them are having any lasting effect, and no sense of building toward something in particular, plot-wise.
CitySearch.com: "...the drama feels manufactured. Told episodically, conflicts arise every 10 minutes or so, and then are systematically overcome."
OneGuysOpinion.com: just one episode after another, presented in a random order that might reflect chronology but creates no effective dramatic arc
Orlando Weekly: Most of the story's potential is undone by Davis' treacly characterization and plotting. Will an audience of nonelders wait the 46 minutes it takes for a serious conflict to rear its head?
Detroit Free Press: This highly episodic movie presents obstacles that Groberg can't help but overcome.
Box Office Magazine: Most of the film, from this point forward, is episodic in nature... One feels, at times, the veneer of an old-fashioned '60s melodrama in the proceedings with more than a few passing similarities to James Michner's "Hawaii" thrown in for good measure
Arizona Republic: The problem is that the movie never quite develops as a drama. It has some pleasant episodes, but they don't pull together to create a single narrative with tension and resolution... And the plot of the movie is just one episode after another: Missionary brings dying boy back to life; missionary survives having his feet gnawed by rats; missionary survives typhoon, survives being tempted by beautiful island girl and, later, survives church bureaucracy.
Kansas City Star: After that the movie becomes increasingly episodic, and it's apparent that Davis simply filmed events from Groberg's book without giving them flow or context. There's not much tension because all potential conflict is casually brushed aside.
Austin Chronicle: His travails on the island are told in an episodic fashion, skipping easily from hurricane to death to comic language-barrier sketches to some beachside baptism, and while the material is certainly interesting, Davis doesn't do full justice to the gravity of these events. There's little dramatic tension in the piece, never any real sense of danger even in the face of unimaginable calamity.
Kalamazoo Gazette: The episodic story is tied together by Groberg's correspondence with his girlfriend Jean...
Gospelcom.net / Preview Family Movie & TV Review: ...the film suffers a bit from episodic and seemingly disconnected scenes...
CultureDose.com: Add to this defect a script that seems more written for television, where you can easily insert commercials to add a sense of climax. The haphazard pacing of Groberg's steps to manhood would be excusable... if every plot point wasn't solved so swiftly.
The Arizona Republic: Except for the particularities of Mormon missionhood, our hero might be an adherent of any of a dozen other religions.
Utah County Journal: The fact that he is a missionary for the "Mormon" Church is incidental, and is not even mentioned until nearly halfway through the movie.
United Press International (UPI): Although "The Other Side of Heaven" downplays the distinctiveness of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, making the Mormons look like just another Christian denomination...
Las Vegas Review-Journal: Speaking of overt spirituality, it's a blessing to see a movie that focuses on religious issues without resorting to heavy-handed proselytizing. Groberg happens to be a Mormon missionary, but he could be representing any group trying to spread a specific version of the Gospel.
Washington Times: "...edifying biopic -- although not all that enlightening on the fine points of missionary service and Mormon doctrine."
Austin Chronicle: ...director Davis takes an even-handed approach to the film's spiritual message... In fact, I can't recall a single overt mention of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The preaching here is of a more generic nature, and more palatable, too -- at least, to a general audience (John urges the locals not to drink, not to have premarital sex, and the like).
St. Louis Post-Dispatch: "Cynics might say that "The Other Side of Heaven" could use some more friction. For instance, we never learn why the other Christian minister would disapprove of Mormon doctrine.."
About.com: My only complaint was that, unlike God's Army, at times the film tried to downplay some of the religious aspects of the story being told in order to be more "accessible" to a broader audience. In my mind, the depiction of blessings and prayers is what makes these kinds of movies genuine and refreshing.
OneGuysOpinion.com: Most importantly, though, when all is said and done, Mormon doctrine seems to have been virtually neutered in the making of the picture. The many peculiarities in the church's belief system have simply been suppressed, and the creed reduced to the most basic, general Christian principles. Perhaps it was felt that this sort of simplification--or homogenization--was a price that had to be paid for mainstream acceptance, but it's really a cop-out. And it seems especially incongruous when considered alongside one of the major subplots in the script, involving the animosity that a native mainstream Christian minister on the island--one of the community's most respected members--bears toward John. The hostility doesn't make much sense unless a viewer fills in a lot of the doctrinal blanks himself, and the outcome of the quarrel--in which the old man gives Groberg his share of food during a famine caused by a hurricane, essentially deferring to the missionary because of the sanctity that's shown forth in him--comes across as hollow self-promotion.
Variety Review: ...on a fundamental level, "The Other Side of Heaven" is one of those soft-peddled, "A Beautiful Mind"-style biopics that takes a remarkable true-life story and proceeds to file down its sharp edges and splash light on its murky, gray areas until all you have left is pretty conventional Hollywood fare. As presented here, the very green Groberg meets with only a modicum of resistance from the native Tongans, quickly ingratiating himself by performing one miraculous good deed after another. The film then becomes repetitious, with each new scene presenting some dramatic malady (wounded children, lockjaw, et al.) befalling one or more of the villagers and Groberg coming to the rescue. Pic always seems at a distance from Groberg. Despite the daunting challenges he faces --- including having his feet chewed open by hungry rats and nearly starving to death in the aftermath of a hurricane --- we never see him let his guard down or doubt his faith. Problems are partly due to the condensing of a long, complex biography into a two-hour film. But in adapting Groberg's own "In the Eye of the Storm," writer-director Davis has glossed over most of the quieter, incidental moments of Groberg's experience that might have brought viewers closer to the character. The focus here is on rousing, sensational events with little sense of what Groberg was really like as a person, in all his foibles and insecurities and doubts. Gorham's performance, however, almost makes you forget how shallowly his character has been conceived.
Daily Herald (Utah County): Groberg (played here by Christopher Gorham) does not appear to change or grow over the course of it. He is friendly and righteous and rather non-descript to begin with, and he's that way at the end, too.
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops: ...viewers may feel something missing from his character development: his personal insights, his insecurities, his foibles, his quiet moments of doubt about God -- particularly when faced with starvation after a deadly hurricane. These revelations would have gone a long way in helping an audience make a personal connection with Groberg.
Chicago Tribune: ...Groberg's character... could use some humanizing. Even Jesus experienced temptation, but Groberg -- although likable - comes off so squeaky-clean that he's difficult to identify with. He's not sexually tempted by any of the natives, although they throw themselves at him, and he learns little from the cultural exchange... With such an intense light focused on his spirituality, his humanity disappears. He's cast as a religious Superman figure shipped to the... Tonga islands to heal children and rescue babies.
Detroit Free Press: "...the character is one-dimensional in a Norman Rockwell kind of way -- no doubts, no crisis of faith. Even Jesus was allowed second thoughts. This highly episodic movie presents obstacles that Groberg can't help but overcome."
Fresno Bee: [The movie] plays out as if Groberg were standing to the side during the filming, making the producers extra careful to portray him as a saint without a trace of human fallibility.
Arizona Republic: The missionary comes to the island and does good. He comes to love the islanders, but then, he never disliked them to begin with. He becomes more competent as he progresses, but he doesn't evince any inner growth.
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: For all of his considerable sincerity, writer-director Davis doesn't bring spiritual zeal to life. He needed to study "The Nun's Story" (1959), the most mature study of religiosity, for cues on building a drama that trusts us to appreciate lapses into doubt, frustration and isolation... moviegoers in search of a fully satisfying drama about a good man will find instead an illustrated homage to the sort of life we no longer grasp on faith alone.
Seattle Times: None of this fazes young John Groberg... intent on delivering his message without undergoing any significant transformation himself. In the film, Groberg is a superhero. Saving children from death by massaging them overnight! Learning the language by reading the Tongan Bible against the English one -- in four days! Able to fend off elephantiasis and attempts to abscond with his prized white-man seed!... All of this is based on Groberg's actual memoirs as an Idaho farm boy who went on the mission in the 1950s. But I submit that if Ron Howard can take liberties with John Nash's life in making "A Beautiful Mind," director Mitch Davis can surely insert some gripping conflict. The lack of it makes getting through to "The Other Side of Heaven" a journey not worth undertaking.
Kansas City Star: Mormons often have been stereotyped as bland, and this movie won't dispel that image. John is so strait-laced that his tie doesn't even move during a hurricane.
New York Post: "Obstacles are too easily overcome and there isn't much in the way of character development in the script..."
Hollywood Reporter: The movie also shies away from the sexual attraction between John and a native woman... Whatever the relationship of the movie's events to the actual experience, they fail to dramatize any inner conflict within the main character. Does he never experience any doubts, say, when near starvation follows a hurricane or when a dear friend dies of blood poisoning? Gorman gives a sturdy performance, but the character is written without much depth.
Entertainment Weekly: ...if Groberg ever ran into much resistance from the natives or experienced any humanizing moments of doubt, they didn't make their way from his memoir into the movie; the resulting absence of dramatic tension...
Reel Movie Critic.com: Based on some true events and real people, the standard disclaimer at the end that some events have been dramatized made me laugh out loud. It is not only that the young Elder Groberg evidentially recalls himself as a savior with an inside track to the favors of God (he prays all night over a young island boy near death from an accident and viola! in the morning the boy the boy is well).
CitySearch.com: "...the character comes off a bit too heroic to generate any true empathy. His unshakeable faith, not to mention his recuperative powers, is nearly superhuman."
MovieMom.com: Through all of this, John never questions his role, so he never really learns or grows.
CultureDose.com: The protagonist is the epitome of spotless humanity from beginning to end, the love interest pure and unchallenged, the dilemmas encountered solved within five minutes time... The people you watch for just under two hours never change, are never shown reflecting on the difficulties they endure... Groberg encounters some controversy, speaks his perfection, and the resolution follows right behind. He barely has to work at the accomplishments he achieves, which makes those strides less worthy of respect.