‘Frequency’ Is The Ultimate Dad Movie

Let’s talk about what makes something a “Dad” movie. Usually when you hear the phrase, you think “sports” or “beer” or “a human being who provided half of his genetic material to create a smaller human being.” That last one doesn’t really work for movies, but the first two are the go-tos. That’s why you’ll see Field of Dreams on most Father’s Day lists… But there’s one movie that doesn’t really focus on sports, or beer, or even genetics, yet it’s still the ultimate Dad movie. That movie is the 2000 Dennis Quaid/Jim Caviezel sci-fi thriller Frequency.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: what was the deal with all that stuff about genetic material? But we’re going to ignore that for the moment, and instead focus on why a movie that only grossed $68.1 million at the box office is the greatest movie to watch with your father of all time.

First, a little recap of the plot. Caviezel plays John, an NYPD detective who somehow manages to talk to his dead father (Quaid) thirty years in the past through the aid of a magical ham radio. Though they aren’t ducks, they do manage to solve a mystery and rewrite history.

The rest of the cast is great, too: Andre Braugher, Elizabeth Mitchell, Peter MacNeill, Marin Hinkle, and even a young Michael Cera before he grew up and got super annoying.

So that out of the way, why is this the ultimate Dad movie? There’s the light sci-fi elements, which Dads all love. Sorry, Dads who aren’t into sci-fi, I recommend checking those birth certificates because those babies ain’t yours. Once you have a kid, you A) lose the capacity to process hard science fiction with its complicated concepts and alien races, and B) start liking sci-fi, regardless. If you do not like sci-fi, technically and legally, you are not a Dad.

Second of all, there’s the father/son bond. This movie is completely hooked on the relationship between Quaid and Caviezel, and it works. This is Quaid at his rock solid best, and Caviezel at his least weird, so it works wonderfully.

And third of all, it’s not sappy. There’s action, there’s romance, there’s a great mystery that needs to be solved. But mostly it’s all about a father and son trying to save each other, and what’s better than that?

Also: I lied, the movie ends in a baseball game. Spoooooorts.

Anyway, point being, if you have a Dad, are a Dad, or just want to watch a movie that’s mostly about radios (Dads love radios), watch Frequency on Prime Video or HBO Go today.

Where to stream Frequency