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"Frequency is a time-bending thriller about emotionally wounded son who discovers he can speak 30 years into the past via an old ham radio to his deceased father. The tightly wound plot about time-altering has kept audiences returning for another look, and it has also impressed Christian critics. "The film is full of surprises that keep the audience wondering right to the end," writes World magazine, and Holly McClure of Crosswalk.com deems it "one of the truly more interesting, entertaining and enjoyable supernatural films that I've seen in a long time." Many critics appreciated how the story prompted questions that aren't often asked. "What if you could talk to your dad when he was your age?" asks PlanetWisdom. "What would you ask him? What would he tell you?" Peter T. Chattaway of ChristianWeek says it "made me appreciate the fact that God lets us make our choices and helps us to cope with the consequences, pro and con. It made me thankful I don't have to worry about the things that might have been." It had a parallel effect on Hollywood Jesus, who says Frequency reminds us that "today's actions can bring long-term consequences. My decision today to do a right thing can and does impact my tomorrows in a positive way." The movie also received praise for "the caring relationships in the Sullivan family," which Preview's John Evans says "make Frequency an exceptional movie going experience." Christian Spotlight guest reviewer Carole Stewart McDonnell agrees, saying "it preaches family values without being preachy. We see the effect of a broken family."

Christian critics were split on Where the Heart Is, which features a sweet story but some unsavory characters. Based on the Oprah Book Club bestseller by Billie Letts, the film follows pregnant and abandoned Novalle Nation (Natalie Portman) as she survives by living in a Wal-Mart and eventually makes friends with those who want to help her. "The developing relationships feel very realistic," says Debbie James, guest reviewer for Christian Spotlight, "and watching Portman's character grow into a young woman is a joy to watch." Crosswalk.com's Michael Elliott agrees, calling the film "a plucky tale with a central character who is so much richer than the handful of change that makes up her life savings." But others were turned off by the portrayal of some Christian characters. Bob Smithouser of Focus on the Family bristles at the portrayal of one character who "prays at mealtime, [but] believes reading too much of the Bible is a bad idea because it breeds confusion. And her grace always ends with a flip confession of the latest fornication committed with her elderly gentleman friend." Preview's Mary Draughon took issue with "an evangelical Christian couple [who] are shown as mean-spirited when they write a hate letter to the single mother." Movieguide finds the whole movie lacking a spiritual anchor, chiding the film for "an immoral take on premarital sex, some anti-Christian content, an uneven story, inconsistent acting, and spiritually confused characters." But Holly McClure of Crosswalk.com sees the characters' bad choices as an asset: "This would be a good movie for a mother and teenage daughter (and son) to see together because it deals with poor choices (promiscuous sex, pregnancy, poor dating choices) and the consequences."

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May (Web-only) 2000, Vol. 44