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Manna From Heaven

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 10, age appropriate for kids over 12; suggested age 12.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Well-meaning movie will bore younger kids

Why We Rated This on for Ages 12 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Honesty is a big theme

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Not an issue.
  • Sex:

    Not an issue.
  • Language:

    Occasional moderate explitives
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Manna From Heaven was written by Liz Perle

Parents need to know that one of the main characters is a saint-like nun who defies authority. There is occasional cursing, gambling and some of the characters are scam artists. This movie doesn't have much to grab younger kids' attentions.

Families Can Talk About

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • Families can talk about what they would do if they were in the same situation and found lots of money. Another good discussion might being by asking kids what they make of the affectionately portrayed the scam artist couple.
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More on Manna From Heaven

What’s the Story?

When a bucket of money falls out of a truck, young Theresa convinces her family that the money is a gift from heaven to split up. Years later, Theresa, who has become a nun, decides that it is time to pay the money back, so she calls the eccentric group back together to repay the "loan." The problem is, nobody has the money, nobody wants to give back the money, they don't know to whom it belongs, and most of them can't stand each other. Theresa has some tall talking to do to get this querulous group on board, but her gift was always to see the best in everyone, and she eventually wins them over. Each one of them starts doing it for selfish reasons (Bunny and Ed are con artists who think they'll take the money and run; Inez, a hard-nosed casino card dealer is going to have no part in it until she starts falling for a secret service agent...) -- but in the process, get caught up in their community and something larger than themselves.

Is It Any Good?

Sweet as treacle, this very sincere and well-meaning comedy begins when a bucket of money falls out of a truck and flutters down on a close knit family (and friends) in a lower middle class neighborhood in Buffalo, New York. What follows is an witty, intelligent, feel-good comedy about rediscovering hope at any age. MANNA FROM HEAVEN's cast is excellent and all star (including Jill Eikenberry, Shirley Jones, Louis Fletcher, Austin Pendelton, the late Frank Gorshin, and an almost unrecognizable Shelley Duvall. None of the dialogue rises to the talents of the actors although the movie maintains a charming, easy pace.

Movie Details

Studio: MGM/UA, Directors: Gabrielle Burton, Maria Burton
Run time: 120 minutes
Theatrical release: 7/12/2005, DVD release: 7/12/2005
MPAA Rating: PG for language and sexual references

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