While watching Fireproof last night, I sat next to a distinguished fifty-year old man who wiped away tears more than once. Everyone else in the theater seemed equally affected by this story of the redemption of a marriage. Of course, I was crying off and on through the whole thing, but I'm always the biggest crybaby in any movie theater, so the testimony of the other weepers may be more revealing!
It's really a movie for Christians, because the application of Christian belief to marital love is very explicit. I don't think many non-Christians would be comfortable with the overt statements of faith in the film.
Fireproof is surprisingly entertaining and funny as well as inspiring. It's the story of a fireman and a sucessful PR executive whose marriage has gradually deteriorated in the seven years since their wedding. By the time the movie opens, they are ready to split up.
The same team that made Facing the Giants made Fireproof, but Fireproof is far more professional and the script is a hundred times better. The acting occasionally contains touches of amateurism, but not to the extent of the first movie, and the script is so tight, suspenseful, and clever that it easily carries some of the less-experienced actors. Kirk Cameron plays the lead, which may interest those who know that he gave up his acting career after his massive success as a very young actor in the 80's. He apparently couldn't find enough roles that were compatible with his Christian beliefs. I was impressed by the quality of his work in this film: he's come a long way from Growing Pains.
There were many memorable lines, but the one that stuck with me was: "You have to love her whether she deserves it or not." Other strengths of the movie include the racially-mixed cast and the older character actors who really look and talk like people we know rather than Hollywood's versions of people we know. It's refreshing to hear real Southern accents, for once, instead of that strange and usually unconvincing film version that sounds like Foghorn Leghorn.
I highly recommend this movie for Christian audiences. Go see it and bring all your friends.
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6 comments:
I've heard mixed reviews of this movie, so I was glad to read your take on it. Our small-city movie theater isn't likely to get its hand on it, so who knows when I'll get to see it.
The vast majority of what I've heard is similar to what you've said. However, I was a disappointed to read what one major Christian publishing agent had to say. You may have seen that blog post, too. He couldn't stand the movie. That's fine--everyone has an opinion--but his comments teetered on meanspirited. If I understand him correctly, he feels that since it's not up to high-dollar Hollywood film snuff, it shouldn't have been attempted and is a low-quality embarrassment. He does see some redemptive value in it, but very, very little.
To me if we as Christians want to get to the highest quality possible in Christian filmmaking, we need to be supportive of the steps along the way. And it sounds like we can celebrate how God is using those steps in people's lives.
Hey! I hate typos - just had to delete my previous attempt at this comment. I think said agent is a good guy, from what I've read of his blog in the past. I do think he had a bad moment in the extremity of that review. ;-) I left a response - go check it out, if you like.
Interesting - I *thought* I left a response, but it's not showing up now, and I'm too lazy to go re-type it.
I agree about him being a good guy having an off moment. He formulated an intelligent argument (although I still disagree with some of his points), but was having an off day as far as the expression of it. I do want to give him the benefit of the doubt and not be mean spirited myself!
I just got back from watching Fireproof... it was great to see such a different-flavored movie on the regular, big screen
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