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Dial a Prayer
By Tracy Moore,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Somber meditation on belief, redemption has heavy themes.

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Dial a Prayer
Community Reviews
Based on 1 parent review
Deserves a better ending
What's the Story?
Cora (Brittany Snow) is a troubled 20-something who's working at a prayer call center to fulfill community service for a crime that escalated far beyond her intentions. Now she's surrounded by prayer enthusiasts, including her plucky, determined boss Bill (William H. Macy). Soon she learns her prayers are actually helping people, and she must grapple with her own guilt about her crime and lack of belief among those who now see her as a natural in the prayer mentoring world.
Is It Any Good?
This is a somber film with complex themes that imparts positive messages without singing to the rooftops about any of them. In part it's about being the odd woman out on religious beliefs, but it neither lampoons religion nor celebrates atheism. Rather, it begins with a woman who could not be less connected to the tenets she's about to have to espouse, and it shows her slowly grow more at ease with them, even if she never quite signs up for membership. Still, it leaves viewers with a sense of the importance of community for everyone, particularly that having faith in people is a good thing, even if that faith isn't traditional religious observance.
Acting from Brittany Snow and William H. Macy are what make this film work, as their characters struggle to reconcile their distinctly different perspectives on life. This isn't a slam dunk for either camp when it comes to religious belief, but for open-minded Christians and fans of indie films without too tidy resolutions, it's a well-acted, provocative look at what it means to redeem yourself and the often uneasy coexistence our deepest personal beliefs can create with our fellow humans.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Dial a Prayer's meditation on redemption. Is Cora redeemed? Why, or why not?
How are believers portrayed in this film? Are they stereotypes or accurate portrayals? Why?
What messages does the film offer about belief and its ability to comfort? Do you agree with them?
Movie Details
- In theaters: April 10, 2015
- On DVD or streaming: May 26, 2015
- Cast: Brittany Snow , William H. Macy
- Director: Maggie Kiley
- Inclusion Information: Female directors, Female actors
- Studio: Vertical
- Genre: Drama
- Run time: 97 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, brief strong language, some drug use and suggestive material
- Last updated: June 19, 2023
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