Well-meaning movie will bore younger kids

| Original Score: 3/5 | Jan 2, 2011

The quality of the film doesn't quite match the loving care placed into it.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Dec 5, 2003

A flimsy, overcomplicated little comedy that--despite the title--is hardly a gift to audiences, divine or otherwise.

| Original Score: D- | Nov 11, 2003

Like manna, the movie is sweet but a little thin.

| Original Score: 2.5/5 | Nov 5, 2003

You can tell what Manna wants to be -- a light-hearted-yet-profound, feel-good flick in the same vein as It's a Wonderful Life -- but it falls woefully short.

| Original Score: C- | Oct 23, 2003

The movie's cloying cuteness and homespun sanctimony make the low production values even harder to forgive.

| Original Score: 1/4 | Oct 17, 2003

You may pull a muscle trying not to cringe as such long-time screen veterans as Shirley Jones, Cloris Leachman and Frank Gorshin embarrass themselves with over-the-top performances.

| Original Score: 2/4 | Oct 10, 2003

Manna from Heaven is labor of love that may not be the best film of the year, but at least you'll come away smiling.

| Jun 14, 2003

There's a calculated stab at 'feel-good' afoot here, but, more often than not, the film just feels tired.

| Apr 26, 2003

It's shot like a Lifetime-influenced student film, and the overall artlessness makes the spoony dialogue all the more glaring.

| Apr 8, 2003

Too cute by half and at least a half-hour too long.

Full Review | Apr 7, 2003

A bit amateurish, but wholesome and achingly sweet.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Apr 4, 2003

The five sisters responsible for the old-fashioned fable 'Manna From Heaven' have a lot of plates spinning in the air -- but even their 10 hands aren't enough to overcome the hokey, overstuffed plot and a messily hand-stitched, often illogical script.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Apr 4, 2003

This clumsy comic fable, which mixes Catholic themes, family infighting and a flurry of lame wisecracks, is no gift from God.

| Original Score: C | Apr 4, 2003

While it would be easy to fault its lack of technical polish, somewhat discursive script and uneven performances, it is also refreshingly sincere, gentle and good-natured.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 3, 2003

The Burtons' hearts are in the right place, but they need to get more tough-minded.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Apr 3, 2003

It would be better if it weren't quite so sitcommy and if it didn't outlast its ideas.

| Original Score: 2/4 | Apr 3, 2003

Though its heart is in the right place, this would-be feel-good sensation never puts the other pieces together.

| Apr 3, 2003

Manna from Heaven is a creakily old-fashioned screed about Christian selflessness and charity, staged and shot like a Lifetime movie-of-the-week.

| Original Score: .5/4 | Mar 19, 2003

Like a hand-knitted sweater, it's a little lumpy and ill-fitting, but it has a wonderful texture and attractive color and is just fine for making you feel warm and cozy.

| Original Score: 2.5/5 | Nov 3, 2002