Wonderful character development!

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

at first sigh, a Mitch Albom. the message, the implication in film made, the poetry of things who define people in profound sense are few arguments. convincing, powerful and good as reason to see/ignore it. but the second motif for discover this film is Jon Voight, who did a remarkable job. his character vulnerability, emotions, memories, meets, words and truth , his sadness and joys and tears are more than ingredients from a sentimental /motivational drama who risks to become pathetic. and this is the first step for give few attention moments to a film about yourself, delicate, beautiful, not far by the novel but provocative for the effort of a great actor to explore the nuances of his character.

Mr. Mitch Albom is the author of one great book ("Tuesdays with Morrie")and a few good books,of which "Five People..." is one.The same concerns the screen adaptations:the former (starring the incomparable Jack Lemmon)is a great one , though much, much underestimated by critics and audience;the latter is just a decent effort to illustrate the book.The difference is obvious: "Tuesdays" is a true story of a real life, wonderfully ( and simply) written, wonderfully ( and without that cheap Hollywood sentimentality) and simply put on the screen, while "Five People" is a piece of fiction with quite a bit of sentimentality, which was (quite naturally for Hollywood!)made into a tear-jerker.True, the acting is good (just good ),the colours are disgustingly bright and suggestive (believe me, the audience are not all fools to be reminded every minute , which part is Heaven, which is the good old Earth,etc),the plot line is not broken, the characters are more or less recognizable ( compared with the book),but there is always an after-taste of something inappropriately sweet that has been swallowed, and this diminishes the otherwise good work of the team of true professionals.While"Tuesdays with Morrie" was in many ways an eye-opener ("Wow, we still have great teachers of life among us!","What a magnificent life lived!","What a wonderful lesson of complete self-sacrifice!"))and a challenge to all Hollywood clichés,"Five People" deals with a pretty banal idea of interconnection of all things and people in the Universe and - as a film version - follows all the traditions of the Hollywood melodrama.And yet,in our age of extinct kindness and sympathy, such books and films should be more than welcome- just as a reminder that we still belong to the human race.

Eddie (Jon Voight) is an old man who has spent his whole life doing maintenance at the Ruby Pier amusement park. Today, one of the rides malfunctions and threatens a child's life. As he rushes to save her, he is whisked to Heaven where he meets five people from his past - people he loved and hated, and even one he didn't know at all.I expected this movie to be sappy and maudlin and in a way it was, but it was so well done I was quite moved by it. Eddie's trip to Heaven is much like Scrooge's in "A Christmas Carol," but instead of three ghostly guides, Eddie is met by five people who touched his life or who were affected by his and who ease his transition to the great beyond. It's a fantasy world with frightening war scenes and innocent love scenes, and while I watched I couldn't help but think of my own life, quite ordinary like Eddie's, but who knows how many I have affected for better or worse? I tear up easily at sad movies, but this time I went far beyond sobbing; I wailed the whole time. The movie really got to me. We're all going to find out what death is like someday and I'm more than curious. Also, as I've aged and lost dear ones, I long to see them again. This is a thought-provoking, tender tale that really touched my heart.

I substitute teach at a woman's prison and saw "Five People You Meet In Heaven" while there. I watched the movie 4 times in a week when the girls watched it. I liked it so much I bought it and then had to buy a DVD player. It is the first DVD I have owned. I watched it again since then with a friend and she enjoyed it very much. I have told our youth pastor he need to get it and show it to the youth. I know I will watch this movie many more times. I see something I didn't see the first time each time I watch it. I have been trying to think of five people I would see when I get to Heaven. I hope one of them will be my husband of 30 years. He has been gone 20 years.