Fireproof Redux

I went to see FIREPROOF this weekend.

I’m happy to say the movie lived up to my expectations and then some.

I wish every movie could be as inspiring, romantic, funny, and thrilling as this one. The brothers Kendrick have outdone themselves.

I honestly believe this movie could teach Hollywood a thing or two. I’ve written several screenplays myself and this one is polished and entertaining from start to finish. The storytelling is spot on and the plot structure is pretty much flawless. During the movie, one part of my mind was in awe of the pacing and the perfect placement of scenes that kept the story humming along. Character dramas like this one can be tricky, but Fireproof came through with flying colors.

The characters are engaging and real and very relatable. I loved the way Caleb hit bottom in his relationship, even as he’s attempting to follow the Love Dare, a last ditch effort he's only undertaking because of his dad. Only when all hope is lost can he finally see his need for God’s help to fix things and even then, the situation with his wife goes from bad to worse, just like it so often does in real life. Turning to God doesn’t mean the Almighty is going to wave a magic wand and fix everything that instant. I also like the way the film makers didn’t hit the viewer over the head with this aspect of the film. It’s a fine line to walk when you want to attract a general audience. They didn’t hide the gospel message either, but portrayed it in a moving and realistic manner. The ending is powerful and emotional and very satisfying in the best Hollywood tradition, but with a Biblical heart that you know means this marriage will go the distance until death do them part.

Ted Baehr’s MOVIEGUIDE magazine had this to say: “Fireproof may be a small movie in terms of budget, but it’s got a gigantic, well-produced Hollywood heart.”

Fireproof took in six and a half million dollars at the box office over the weekend and came in fourth with the second highest per screen average. This is good news indeed. Not only has it already earned back its diminutive $500,000 budget and then some, it’s well on its way to the kind of success FACING THE GIANTS had.

Even better than all this is that these guys (who are also pastors) have a great shot at helping marriages throughout this country thanks to the movie’s Love Dare which is now out in book form. The Love Dare is the 40 day program that Caleb undertakes to save his marriage and it’s based on Biblical principles like patience, thoughtfulness, and putting your partner first. It was wonderful to see these virtues at work in the movie, but it will be even better if word gets out and they can have a positive effect on the pitiful state of marriage in our society.

I can’t wait to see what Alex and Stephen Kendrick tackle next.