This was actually listed as a comedy, but it was no such thing. There were a few funny parts about how these phone center employees were trained on how to answer with prayers. This was not at all a Christian movie...some foul language, sex, drinking, etc. I cannot handle sappy Christian movies because they're too fake and white washed.
The basic plot was a woman was doing community service after committing a crime and her father was a big shot attorney who basically got her off easy. She reluctantly has to work a prayer call center and hates every minute of it. But she unknowingly actually helps some people.
It was a slower paced movie, but it kept me engaged. Her crime slowly unfolds throughout the movie and it connects her to a few other characters. The film kind of pokes fun at Christians doing the "dial a prayer" thing (which is probably why it was listed as a comedy), but there is a moral to the story or at least an evolution of the main character.
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braddc-591-4695858 December 2019I saw a lot of drama. Comedy. Not. Good story though.
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caseypthompson12 June 2023I got excited in the beginning. This seemed to have a lot of potential in the beginning. It was funny, quirky and interesting. But then somewhere in the middle it just went flat. What was the purpose? What's the plot? What's the point? It's almost like the whole movie was one inside joke for only the crew and cast to understand. The ending was confusing. I feel like I got the idea of where they wanted to go but then they just went completely off road and we couldn't understand what the point was. So this woman goes through all of this spiritual growing only to do what? Why? Where? I'm so confused.
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Brittany Snow does a great job. She is not one of those nearly perfect Christians you would expect in a movie like this. In fact, there is doubt as to whether she is a Christian at all, for most of the movie. And there's nothing goody-goody about her, if you're concerned about that. Certainly not the sweet girl I remember from another role where she danced on "American Bandstand". She's just enough of a bad girl to attract those who would stay away from a sweet Hallmark type film.
William H. Macy is always good. This isn't one of his best roles, but he does a better job when Bill is serious.
Glenne Headly also does a good job as a woman who may possibly be disturbed. On the other hand, her character seems perfectly fine and a loving mother in other scenes.
The one other standout actor would be Kate Flannery as Cora's best work friend, who has some challenges of her own. Even she has to be cleaned up for TV!
People who would be scared away by perky goody-goody Christians might still not like the other workers. Although one of the worst offenders gets mad once and says, "What're YOU looking at?'
One expectation one might have in a movie like this is Christian music. What most Christian radio stations play. and what might be standard in a movie like this, I can't stand. But this movie has numerous Christian songs that are actually good! Fans of today's music will find this music hopelessly outdated. I wish the group had been identified on "Over My Head" because they were really talented. There's only one song (at least of the Christian songs, and I'm not even sure that's what that is) that has that type of quality, and I find that one annoying. There are other pop and rock songs I don't care for but Cora has most of those on in her car, and another is playing in the flashback that appears to precede Cora's offense. Also, the workers are dancing in one scene to something I don't like, but I couldn't tell whether it was Christian.
There are a couple of nice scenes with snow out in the country.
By the end, there appears to be a message of redemption that would make this a Christian movie teaching Christian values. Before that, even cleaned up for TV, it's not exactly family-friendly.
I do wonder why a bad boy drives a Camry. Isn't that about the most boring car you can drive?
It's still worth seeing if you can deal with the way the message is delivered. -
kierancomyn22 June 2016This is a movie with an obviously cynical view of prayer from the outset. The church show. In occasional take-backs appears to be Catholic, but the towns people who went to it do not. All of the "Christian" characters are played as if they were paste board mock-up of real people. All of the "Christian" characters show their ignorance at everything from relationships to Biblical facts, and lack genuineness in their prayer life and home life.
The only person presented with genuineness is the the faithless and miserable Cora, in search of truth and riddled with guilt. But her language, sexual behaviour, drinking and drug taking reinforces that this film is aimed at a general audience in a cynical time, to the exclusion of a Christian audience. It presents a clichéd atheistic view of poor, misguided believers.
The pace of the movie is very slow. Half way through my wife said that if it was any slower we should just turn it off. The only reason we watched it through was because we paid for the viewing. Generally an unsatisfying waste of money. -
planktonrules6 June 2015In the last year or so, quite a few films have debuted which have been targeted to a more conservative Christian audience, such as "Son of God" as well as "God is Not Dead". I assumed that "Dial a Prayer" is pretty much another one of these films, though despite its plot, it isn't exactly something that will appeal to many of the same folks who would have seen these other movies.
The film is about a surly young lady, Cora (Brittany Snow). She's got attitude, that's for sure...and you know that she's been sentenced to do community service for some sort of crime, though for much of the film you have no idea what she's done. As for her community service, she works for a Dial-a-Prayer service--an odd choice for community service considering her attitude about life as well as what crimes she committed. Oddly, however, despite being an angry, lost soul, through the course of the film, she comes to develop a sense of purpose and begins to shed some of her anger and hopelessness.
"Dial a Prayer" has a lot going for it. Snow's performance is exceptional, as she played troubled and angry quite well--so well that it was difficult liking her character for much of the film. This is a major plus. Additionally, it sure didn't hurt that the nice minister who ran the center was played by William H. Macy--a guy who just make everything look so easy and natural. I also like the notion that ACTING good, after a while, makes you good-- something fundamental to many philosophies and branches of psychology. The film also really was nice because it was very unique and there isn't anything else like it that I've seen in a very long time.
But, the film also has a huge problem which will easily impact its marketability. For the traditional Christian audience, while most of the story will make them quite happy, the cursing and sex in the film just don't fit in with their values and it's hard to imagine them not being offended. As for others, there are also a lot of folks who have no interest in a film about spirituality--and they'd never see such a movie in the first place. As a result, while it's a very good film, I just don't know if it has much of an audience, though it is worth seeing. -
crvierra10 August 2015This movie came very close to being an excellent offering. It has effective character development, good use of setting/scenes, a few well-thought out plot twists, and mostly effective dialogue. It was obviously not a glitzy production done on a huge budget, but that just adds to the charm of the film. So why not a higher rating? Too Cora-centric.
Of course, she is the main character, so it's no surprise that she's in the middle of just about everything that happens in the movie. But that's not the problem. Everything is portrayed from Cora's viewpoint. The other workers at the Dial-A-Prayer center where she must perform community service after vandalizing a church are not really shown as people, but as the caricatures Cora sees. The only one that seems to approach actual personhood is the woman in the next cubical who soon begins to commiserate with Cora's discomfort over the center's purpose and structure, let's her go for a secret smoke, and uses profanity.
Cora's father is shown as distant and her mother initially as repulsive(because she is living in denial about the marriage while tossing out platitudes whenever necessary to make it seem like everything is just fine) then as a pitiable woman. Even Chase (who tracks Cora down after speaking with her on the Dial-A-Prayer service) is portrayed at first as a creepy stalker-type, next as an insensitive creep, and finally as the guy that she's gonna be alright with because she believes in herself and him and somehow, someway, they're going to make it work! Sadly, many people will find this message inspiring without recognizing it's insidious nature. Truth is, we CAN NEVER learn enough, know enough, become skilled enough, or whatever to make our lives anything but a shambles. It's only when we get the focus off ourselves and onto the One who IS wise enough, powerful enough and compassionate enough that there exists any hope for any of us. So while Cora became a bit less self-absorbed toward the end of the movie, the hope that it tries to imply of a better tomorrow due to the burgeoning relationship with Chase is a cruel mirage. It's just another result of living a me-centric life -
dansview15 August 2015Anyone who reads my reviews knows that I always beg for more character development and back stories. I loved this movie, but I needed to know a bit more about the supporting characters.
William Macy plays a wonderfully animated boss of a Dial-A-Prayer business. But we never hear how he got into the field or why. Also, no one ever identifies what church the girl's family, the call center, and the town identify with. Is it Catholic? Interestingly, there is practically no mention of Jesus, except when the funny boss says that he parted the Red Sea.
Therefore, I think a non-Christian could feel comfortable watching this without feeling bombarded by J.C.
The film is not really about religion. It is about second chances and turning one's life around. There is good usage of the Fall and Winter Midwest landscape. One could see it as either bleak, or starkly beautiful, depending on attitude. There are some clever references to that. The final scene shows a couple quietly beholding the glory of a blank snowy setting.
Do prayers make a difference? Our protagonist keeps asking this question. Of course they do, but the film focuses only on the aspect of making people feel better. It doesn't mention any metaphysical effect on the world at large, or the idea of praying for world peace and messianic redemption. People are only praying for themselves and their family to deal with domestic and health issues.
Casting is so essential to a character-driven film. This one aced the test. I don't know who Brittany Snow is, but her no-makeup sadness came through the screen with genuine sincerity. Macy phoned it in, no pun intended, but in his case, he phones it in beautifully. Glen Headly, the mom, fit the profile to perfection. No one here is great looking or flashy. They are ordinary people in a working class Midwestern town trying to make it through life the best way they can.
What I loved the most was the way they structured dialogue scenes. The characters would say just the right amount of words to each other, without overdoing it or milking the scenes for manipulative effect.
I could have done without the few dream sequences and the schmaltzy music toward the end, but the photography was first rate. -
deannamullins14 September 2015Don't know what I expected, but this wasn't it. I thought perhaps the movie would end up being a cheesy B rated comedy, but the plot was searching for depth it never found. The main character is troubled, but the peace that she looks for is not going to help her. I would think any non-Christian, atheist, or agnostic could comfortably watch this. I do not think, however, that after seeing the desperate problems the characters are facing, a person could leave satisfied with the pretense of well-being that is portrayed in the end. As she wrestles through her life problems, the main character never comes to an understanding of who Jesus really is or what can truly change her life to one of peace and joy. She is bombarded by religious looking people, who for the most part show no understanding of God. She looks for truth, and is confronted with platitudes. She looks for love and is given a parcel of unfulfilled desires. She wants freedom, but she doesn't realize that the power of believing is only as great as the power believed in.(http://christiansareus.com/2015/02/11/guilty-yet-free/) If we believe in our own fallible selves who are clearly mortal, our own faith is fallible and mortal to. So again, sadly disappointed with this theme and plot.
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masonnett4 March 2017I liked this little film. A good and decent little film. The story, the script, the directing , the acting and the cinematography. A well packaged little project. I liked the idea that just when you thought that William Macey's character was evil, you end up realizing that he is not. Also, I liked the idea that believing and disbelieving in anything could change in any minute when your perception changes .
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aliceolsen21 July 2015Firstly, this is not just for religious people, as a atheist, I really enjoyed this film.
Brittany Snow displays such emotional depth and a great character. She told the story so beautifully, I, a usually emotional robot, was brought to tears.
The score, also, so wonderfully aides the telling of this emotional roller-coaster.
Deeply relatable, anyone may see a part of themselves in one of the characters. Even if just slightly, with themes of guilt, love, depression and that human need to feel good.
A superb film that is heart warming and wrenching at the same time.
I think that there is room for a sequel, further analysing Cora's family breakdown and the effect of his mother's injuries on Chase.
Everyone involved with the project should be applauded.
Slight criticism is that it is short, this may be budget but it is still a great film. -
Brittany Snow is one of my favourite actresses, and this movie is a great reminder why. She delivers incredible scenes and portrays Cora in an amazing way. The movie itself is good, but the title and premise of the movie kind of makes it seem like a movie that is going to convince a girl who's gone off-track to find faith in god, however that isn't what the movie is about at all. My automatic thought is that this is a movie for religious people, but i don't think religious people would enjoy this movie all that much, and non-religious people wouldn't think about picking it up because of the title and premise of the movie. Still, however, it is a great movie.
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TxMike13 October 2020The story is not told exactly linearly, we see snippets of flashbacks that eventually all add up to what happened in the backstory of Cora.
Brittany Snow is 26-yr-old Cora and the first scenes has her showing up for an assignment with the local Detroit "Dial A Prayer" hotline. Everyone else there is happy and enthusiastic but it is clear she would rather be just about anywhere else. But she had gotten into some pretty serious trouble and her high powered lawyer dad managed to get her to do restitution by working the prayer hotlines.
William H. Macy is always good and here he is good as Bill, the leader of the prayer office. The story arc is Cora figuring out that her life up to that point, and the friends she hung out with, might not be the best trajectory and she has to figure out a better path.
The movie works because Brittany Snow is so good and authentic in the role of Cora. I found it on Youtube streaming free movies (with a few ads thrown in). I found it worthwhile viewing. -
bellino-angelo201416 July 2023I am not exactly one who binge-watches Christian movies but I watch some from time to time if they star actors or actresses that I like. And since DIAL A PRAYER stars one of the actors of the group of which I have to complete all their movies, I knew that I had to give this a try, and it was ok.
Cora (Brittany Snow) is a troubled young woman that works in a prayer call center and every day she answers lots of calls by people with any problem you can imagine, and she feels that is reconciling with her troubled past helping other people and also bringing faith to the others. One day she falls for Chase, a young man that spent some jail time just like Cora that has committed some crime and they feel to have lot in common despite she thinks that is not fair that a woman in her job falls for one who answers her calls. How it will unfold, it's best if you see it for yourselves.
The acting by Snow was good and it was nice seeing William Macy (an actor that looks natural in nearly everything he does) as the minister. However, few things prevented me to give it a higher score. First, it's never made clear what is the crime Cora did, nor that it's even hinted to it. Second, the acting at half way became stilted but thankfully improved and if there wasn't the sweet ending, it would have never improved.
Not to be missed if you are into Christian movies, and as for the others, it's just decent and harmless entertainment. -
Around Thanksgiving season in suburban Detroit, a troubled 26 years-old woman (Brittany Snow) evades jail by working for a prayer hotline, but she can only connect with those who need help when she stops following the script. William H. Macy plays the pastor of the ministry, Glenne Headly her mentally ill mother and Tom Lipinski a man drawn to Cora.
"Dial a Prayer" (2015) is a drama and spiritual exploration that also satirizes Christian religion as a business in the first half. While it's not what is known as a "faith-based" film, it's also not necessarily anti-God, anti-Scripture, anti-faith or anti-spirituality. For anyone who argues that it's completely anti-spiritual, someone clearly receives a healing through prayer and the laying on of hands, which are biblical concepts.
Yes, so-and-so commits fornication, but the Bible shows God using mighty Samson even though he visited a prostitute (Judges 16). The flick is only against go-through-the-motions Christian religion (notice I said religion).
I'd put this in the same category of "The Preacher's Daughter" (2012) even though that one lacks the satire angle. It's just no where near as good because there's a little too much ambiguity, especially in the weak ending.
The movie runs 1 hour, 37 minutes, and was shot entirely in the Detroit area of Michigan, including Royal Oak, Ferndale and Troy, all of which are 6-12 miles north of the city.
GRADE: B-/C+ -
Minor Spoilers Dial a prayer follows the story of Cora, who must work at a faith-based call service after attempting to burn down a church. Overall, I really like this movie. It's not your typical church movie where some supernatural force magically fixes everything, and you're supposed to walk away knowing God is real. Instead, this film provides its viewers with a thought-provoking perspective about both the good and bad of religious life without specifically commenting on if it is real or not. And as someone who grew up in a religious home, it's honestly nice to see a film that highlights a lot of the problems that "church" culture can have. Also, Brittany Snow's performance is amazing. She is one of my favorite actors, and she kills it in this movie. Cora is such a well written and complex character, and the way she interacts with her family and co-works was so relatable. Also, you could really feel the pain she was in at the start of the film, and the changes that happened to her made sense (except for her love life, which I will get too). Honestly, this is one of her best performances a long with Pitch perfect and Bushwick. It left me wanting more Cora in my life! With all that said, this film does have a few flaws. One, we don't really ever fully understand Cora's background or what happened at the church. Two, there are also times it is hard to know what is real and what is not. I think If they wanted Cora to have day-dreams, they should have made that clear and explained why she has them. Finally, and most importantly, the romance Between Cora and a man who I am not sure is even named is totally unnecessary and even cringe-worthy at times. The guy they got to be the love interest is an awful actor, and even Brittany Snow's great acting can't make you think they have chemistry. Also, why would she be in too him? He is a total creeper. And what is his motivation? The whole "You hurt my mom, but we banged so its good now" what?!? Who thought this would be a good message to send to women? If you are cute and fun, men will forgive you and want to be with you? It doesn't fit at all with the rest of the movie. And why should we want them to end up together? I think it would have been better if Cora was a strong independent woman who don't need no man at the end of the movie. In the end, the good way out ways the bad and the story of Cora is very interesting. I just think a few rewrites, no love story (or very limited), and a better ending would have made this a great movie. Nevertheless, Cora is a great character that I can see my self revisiting in the future.
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Kirpianuscus30 June 2016a film about faith. not great but decent. same option of drawing of fundamental transformation, search of life sense, family tension, a love story and the success who change existences and give the second chance. its best part - the dialogue. because it is the inspired option to escape from the sin of sentimental story. and gives to it coherence and some credibility. a film about the fight against past errors. and the reconciliation with yourself. sure, far to be perfect. and not always convincing. but a beautiful story. touching in few scenes, realistic in the others. useful as advise for dark state who is not unknown for many of us. more important, a nice try. to define the faith in not usual manner. to propose a character who reminds many other similar cases from every day media.and that does it a real useful show.