A sampling:  On Day 1, resolve to say nothing negative to your spouse; on Day 2, do an unexpected act of kindness; on Day 3, buy something that says you’re thinking of your spouse. But while Caleb pursues Catherine, she’s pursuing a relationship with another man, driving Caleb to his most vulnerable point yet. When Caleb’s father tells his son that the secret to his own marital bond is a shared Christian faith with Caleb’s mother, Caleb is forced to confront his own need for inner strength and peace amidst the turmoil in his life and marriage.

Many of us have salvation stories that involve long resistance to God’s calling, with salvation coming only after we reach rock bottom. The Kendricks are seeking to tap into that widely shared experience in hopes that viewers will relate. The problem with such an approach is that the inner turmoil experienced prior to conversion is difficult to dramatize outwardly, and Cameron simply doesn’t have the chops to pull it off. He shifts between two modes as an actor—calm and screaming mad. Costar Bethea's performance is a bit more nuanced, but her work and the work of the other actors is hindered by a script that explains everything in the most direct fashion imaginable.

For a film that shows characters making so many honorable decisions, Fireproof is simply no more exciting than an episode of Seventh Heaven. It’s hard to say whether the importance of the film’s message and the sincerity of its creators outweigh the lackluster filmmaking. That is for viewers to decide.

Questions? Concerns? Contact the writer at crosswalkchristian@earthlink.net.

CAUTIONS:

• Language/Profanity:  None.
• Drugs/Alcohol:  None.
• Sex/Nudity:  None, but Caleb’s addiction to Internet pornography is alluded to a few times, and a scene of him looking at his computer includes a advertisement for a risqué site.
• Marriage:  The institution of marriage is honored as a covenant, not a contract; a married couple described their date night as a “hot date”; one character has divorced and remarried.
• Violence/Disturbing Imagery:  Some firefighting danger; a near-miss involving an oncoming train; two cars drag race; a practical joke involves someone drinking straight from a bottle of “Wrath of God” Tabasco sauce; Caleb takes out his anger on various inanimate objects behind his house.
• Religion:  Christianity and acts of kindness are shown to be the only way to salvage troubled marriages; a woman pauses to say grace before a meal; a man gives thanks to God after nearly dying; a man converts to Christianity; parents testify to their child of God’s work in their lives.
  

*Correction:  When first posted, this review of the film ‘Fireproof’ said that the budget for the film ‘Facing the Giants’ was $1,000,000. This was a mistake; the actual budget on ‘Facing the Giants’ was $100,000. The article was corrected to reflect the true amount. We apologize for this error.