Review: 'Highway to Heaven' is an elevated movie

Posted Friday, March 4, 2022 at 5:02 PM Central

by John Couture

I remember watching Highway to Heaven as a kid and given that I wasn't a teen, the spiritual side of the series didn't really connect with me. I saw it purely from a child's perspective where Angels are as real as Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny.

I suppose the passing of time and experience simply proves that sentence to be correct - just from a different perspective. Perspective is a funny thing. As I've gotten older, I have developed a more esoteric view of the world that is hard to describe.

Of course, it doesn't help that I was raised Catholic. But that's a conversation for another day. And besides, I can't pay all of you for therapy.

Needless to say, I was rather well-versed in the original Michael Landon show, so this movie hit a bit differently. But sometimes different is good.

Inspired by Michael Landon's beloved, classic '80s TV series, LIFETIME®'s original HIGHWAY TO HEAVEN movie reboot follows Angela Stewart, played by GRAMMY® winner Jill Scott (TV's "First Wives Club"), who is an angel sent back to Earth in order to help people in need. This story finds a junior high student struggling with the tragic loss of his mother as he and his dad drift apart. Angela takes a temporary job as a school counselor working alongside principal Bruce Banks (Barry Watson, "The Loudest Voice") to bring the broken family back together, and help them find the light in each other's darkness.

There has been no shortage of inspirational films and TV shows lately and certain actors have certainly made a living in this cottage industry. I'm looking at you Kirk Cameron. For most, it's a chance for them to share their deeply held spiritual faith with a larger audience. For others, it's simply a paycheck.

While not overtly pushing any sort of agenda, Barry Watson did make his name on the wholesome TV series 7th Heaven. Despite the show's moniker, there wasn't a heavy-handed helping of spiritualism in each episode. Instead, it was mostly wholesome programming with teachable moments that probably helped to raise an entire generation of kids.

But Barry is a recognizable face in this arena, so having him as co-lead in Highway to Heaven certainly lends a certain amount of credence to the movie. But the real star here is Jill Scott.

I was mostly unaware of her work before sitting down to review this movie, but she simply blew me away. She commands attention and really does do justice to Michael Landon's down-to-Earth portrayal of an angel tasked with helping those going through a rough time to find their spiritual path back to God.

Sure, there is a certain amount of preaching going on between the lines, but the performances from Jill and Barry elevate the matter and help to make it feel less like a Sunday sermon and more like an entertaining way to learn more about faith and spirituality.

The best part is that this is a film that you can easily sit down and watch with the entire family without worrying about any inappropriateness. In today's world, it's practically impossible to even watch the news without worrying what your children might accidentally see.

Don't get me wrong, Highway to Heaven isn't for everyone, but it has a surprising general reach that may surprise you. Sure, your mileage may vary, but it's a very entertaining and uplifting watch that will have you wanting more.

The good news is that Lifetime is planning on making more of these one-off movies to continue the Highway to Heaven line. It's not a full-blown series like its predecessor, but in some ways, this is the best decision for the brand. It truly allows them to focus on the story and that's the secret ingredient of any successful movie or TV series.

Highway to Heaven is now available on DVD.