Film Review - Fireproof, Based on The Love Dare Book
Review of Must-See Film by Stephen and Alex Kendrick
May 11, 2009
Recently released and already widespread, Fireproof, starring Kirk Cameron and Erin Bethea, is not just another movie about marriage. Featuring the best-selling book, The Love Dare, by Stephen and Alex Kendrick, Fireproof tells the story of a failing marriage and the struggle to save it.
The Story
Caleb Holt has let his work as a fireman and his own life get in the way of his marriage, while his wife, Catherine, has given up on keeping the marriage alive. When his father gives him advice in the book, The Love Dare, and dares him to learn to truly love his wife, Caleb starts a journey that not only teaches him to love his wife, but changes his marriage and his life.
The Challenge
Stephen and Alex Kendrick wrote The Love Dare for the benefit everyone who ever struggles with love and marriage. They produced the film Fireproof, which demonstrates the book in action. Based on the advice given in The Love Dare, Fireproof challenges preconceived notions of what marriage is and what it is about. The movie also challenges what is considered the norm and dares the audience to rethink normal actions and attitudes.
Fireproof not only challenges the audience’s ideas about marriage, but demonstrates a life in need of change and the fight to uphold that change for the better. Through Caleb’s walk with The Love Dare, the movie shows the trials that come even while working toward self-improvement. The movie shows that even after finding God and trusting in Him, life can still be hard, but it is not impossible. It shows that considering the concepts explained in The Love Dare can not only help change one’s marriage, but change one’s entire outlook for the better. For more on The Love Dare, read The Love Dare – A Must-Read.
The Movie
Produced by Sherwood Baptist Church, the makers of Facing the Giants, and put together mainly by volunteers, Fireproof is evidence of the determination to create an uplifting, inspirational film. It is well made, and full of action and drama that is accompanied by excellent music.
In spite of being a drama, the movie maintains a good amount of comic relief interwoven with its serious aspects. This comedy lightens the mood in an otherwise tear-jerking story, and makes the movie entertaining as well as thought-provoking.
Fireproof encourages the audience to good attitudes. It demonstrates a book that can help change lives if its readers are willing. Unlike many films that show marriage as broken and fallen apart, it shows marriage as something worth fighting for, not against.
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