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Thirteen Days, a recounting of the Cuban Missile Crisis based on declassified government documents and first-hand accounts, gripped Christian critics with its deft balance of personal, political, and historical intrigue. "Its dramatic level is simply off the chart," raves Michael Elliott of Crosswalk.com. "Watching a group of 'smart guys' (RFK's description) brainstorming ideas that might prevent World War III from happening is far more exciting than any testosterone driven shoot-em-up action/adventure film." Movieguide was impressed by how it refrained from "leaning too much on Hollywood drama," and found "especially notable … the personal relationship between the Kennedy brothers, enhanced by Steven Culp's fine performance as Bobby Kennedy." Preview, too, liked how the personal angle gave "the viewer some perspective on the emotions involved at the magnitude of decisions the leaders face." Movie Reporter Phil Boatwright found the historical focus made it "a real nail biter. These actual events come candidly and frighteningly to life with David Self's enthralling script and the perceptive performances of the film's splendid cast." The Phantom Tollbooth's J. Robert Parks singles out Bruce Greenwood, who plays John F. Kennedy, as "the real linchpin of the movie. … Despite the filmmakers' attempt to beatify Kennedy, Greenwood keeps his feet firmly on the ground with a sharp and understated representation." Holly McClure of Crosswalk.com says it surprised her that a history lesson could be so gripping. "I went to this movie with reservations, thinking it would be boring and uneventful. … Boy, was I wrong! Going back in time to revisit an event that was surrounded by diplomacy, suspense and dramatic thrills was like seeing this story for the first time."

The title of Double Take isn't its only indecipherable aspect; Preview says audiences "will leave the theater exhausted from chasing fast-paced plot changes." In this identity-swapping buddy picture (or, as Focus on the Family's Bob Smithouser calls it, "a whole bushel of Hollywood formulas [tossed] into a thresher"), a wealthy businessman (Orlando Jones) trades places with a streetwise thief (Eddie Griffin) to escape detection after being framed for murder. "This premise affords some pretty hilarious dialogue with a number of clever, creative lines," writes Movieguide, but concludes that "its convoluted, tedious plot" and "two stereotypes for the price of one" ruin any enjoyment. (Smithouser adds "harsh language and a significant body count" to the list.) Michael Elliott of Crosswalk.com says "the audience is kept guessing as to who is doing what to whom, [but] the plot line is so far-fetched and problematic that we really don't care to give that much thought to the film."

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January (Web-only) 2001, Vol. 45