Before I review this film, I think you should know how I'm approaching this. I'm an Evangelical Quaker (basically, a Christian who believes that you can reach anyone by being understanding, compassionate, and loving without thumping their head with a Bible) and my father, at one time, was a pastor of a church plant. My faith, even though I abandoned it for about six months and became an Objectivist (an atheist who believes in individualism),has gotten me far in life. I suffer from Bipolar disorder, and if you know anything about that would know that having this illness is a truly horrible thing. God is the only thing in my life that has been constantly helping me out in times of crisis. I have seen and been in relationships torn apart by addictions. I also want to be a film director someday. On top of that, I write short stories and novels in my free time. I've studied the craft of good storytelling and I can recognize it when I see it.

Now... on to the review... To put it as blunt as possible: Fireproof is for Christians who are really well off in their faith and have not encountered anything truly wounding to them. It's not their fault, I know, but the fact that film makers are making money off of them for money really ticks me off. Christians are a really easy market to milk. Every artist knows that. Why? Well, make a mediocre movie that's politically correct, doesn't offend anyone, and put Jesus' name in it and you'll soon find out. People, especially Christians, are so easily mislead to believe that just because the people who made the movie share their beliefs that it must be good even though the film's clearly bad. I love the premise of it. The idea of sticking by your partner and helping him or her out because you know that it can work out in the end is really rare nowadays. But they deliver it so poorly that it's laughable. And if you think that I'm being somehow "anti-Christian" and that this movie is flawless, let me point out all the things in this movie that are flawed: 1) The conversations between the firefighters is so unrealistic. No curse words at a fire department filled with men? I mean... really? 2) If a guy found out that his wife was flirting with someone at the office with an intent on cheating, his first response should be to take a shotgun, go down where he works and stick it under his chin and say something like: "I'm going to blow your brains all over the wall if you touch her again." You do not show him your wedding ring and say, "Stay away from her or... or... I'll say something even more mean!" Whoo! You tell him, Mr. Firefighter! You tell that mean doctor! 3) You do not get over addictions instantly after being converted. It's a long and hard process. That is a myth that this movie is producing that I have a huge problem with. 4) People do NOT treat you with respect for getting religion of any kind. They will manipulate, mock, and even threaten you for your faith.

Every time Christians tell me this is one of the greatest movies ever made, I die a little inside. But when a truly Christian movie comes along (like Walk the Line or The Road),they ignore it because people say it isn't "Christian" enough. Nonbelievers clearly see the contradictions in that. These are the types of Christian movies that people should look up to instead of this trash:

Tender Mercies (1983) Deals with the theme that some people need to be polished with love in order to change.

The Road (2009) Deals with the theme of persevering in the harshest circumstances presented to you. This was marketed towards Christians to show how the world will be like when the church is next to non-existent. The father-son relationship is a metaphor for passing the torch on to the next generation.

I Am Legend (2007) Deals with the theme of losing everything in your life and then regaining it again and realizing God's love.

The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005) Asks the question of how people ignore God when they have seen the Devil.

Walk the Line (2005) Again, deals with the theme that some people need to be polished with love in order to change. Christians complained this wasn't "Christian" enough even though it clearly shows Johnny Cash's faith after he's gotten clean through his actions.

Signs (2002) Deals with the theme of losing everything and losing faith. In this case, a preacher losing his wife. If you hate M. Night Shyamalan a lot, ignore the fact that he made this movie. You'll thank me for it.

I could go on and on. The point? These movies were well done, had great quality, and produced a very strong Christian message. Churches ignored them because they weren't up to their impossible standard of being politically correct and non-offensive and still having good quality. It just can't happen. Why are Christians so afraid to show the brutality of life without God? It doesn't make sense to me... and it never will.

I could go on and on about this, but I think truly open-minded people, no matter what their faith, will get what I'm saying.

God bless, -HorrorWriter7493

One must give a solid amount of credit to the filmmaking duo of Alex and Stephen Kendrick whom, upon reading reports saying that films and cinemas had become more effective and inspirational than the likes of churches, went on to expand their megachurch Sherwood Baptist Church into its own production company, calling it Sherwood Pictures. The production company would then pride itself off of making wholesome, Christian entertainment, a sector that Hollywood seems to ignore and shortchange. The Kendrick brothers' films have been quite lucrative, with often modest theatrical releases churning record profits, cementing the fact that there is a market for wholesome family entertainment.

Arguably their most known and renowned film is Fireproof, which has undoubtedly gone on to inspire many different people and lead struggling couples down a more righteous path in order to avoid an ugly divorce. The film seems to have had quite the ability to initiate a strong reception among the faith-based sector of the public as well as communities. The film has the power to ignite something of a gathering amongst believers and those of a strict faith and, for that, I respect it.

That doesn't mean I like the end result; Fireproof may have some serious insights about how to save a marriage, the struggles that can ensue, and the frustration, anxiety, and uncertainty that can plague a looming divorce, but the film can't avoid the typical pitfalls of Christian cinema. Such pitfalls are lacking any conception as to how people who do not live a faith-based life think and act, emotional manipulation, incredibly mawkish and hamfisted themes, and a disturbingly basic storyline for an issues as complex as a crumbling marriage and divorce.

The film centers around the unhappily married couple Caleb and Catherine Holt (played by outspoken Christian and evangelist filmmaker Kirk Cameron and Erin Bethea). Caleb is the captain at a local firehouse, who implores his men to "never leave your partner, especially in a fire." How prophetic, because right now, Caleb and Catherine are in a figurative "fire" in their relationship. Caleb works one twenty-four hour day before having forty-eight off, spending most of his time looking at internet porn (a term the film seems so fearful of using, only emphasizing more unrealistic events) and lying around the house, while Catherine feels unappreciated and constantly at odds with her husband.

After the umpteenth argument, only this time, one that turns halfway violent, Catherine states "I want out" to Caleb, who is disgusted and overcome with emotion. Caleb reaches out to his loving parents, where he feels his mother is always against him because she takes the side of Catherine and his father feels that there is still life in their marriage. He loans him a book that saved his own marriage entitled "The Love Dare," a book that involves doing nice, caring things for your significant other for forty days in a row.

At first, Caleb does this reluctantly, cutting corners, taking the easy routes, etc, until he realizes that won't cut it. "The Love Dare," like marriage, is a commitment and that if you really want to save your marriage, taking short cuts on the process won't do it. Caleb persists with "The Love Dare" to middling results, often winning little else besides the cold shoulder from his wife, who coldly claims after he prepares a warm, elegant dinner, "I don't love you anymore." Fireproof is annoyingly obvious and basic with how it handles its dialog, themes, and characters. Every emotion is worn on the sleeves of its cast, every obvious line of dialog has to be blatantly stated rather than hinted or quietly implied, and, like with many films of this industry, it can't be a Christian film unless the name "God" or "Jesus" is heard at least once or twice in nearly every scene. It also doesn't help that the film's acting is rather mediocre, and with a film about divorce, fights in relationships, and contention at home, good acting is like the glue that holds these films and their believability together. Fireproof is held together by very weak glue in that department.

Give Fireproof credit for effectively launching the careers of the brothers Kendrick, as well as prompting millions of couples to reevaluate their marriage by using "The Love Dare," which was later published by both the brothers. In addition, the Kendrick brothers also make Caleb's process at winning Catherine back a grueling one, one that takes time and pacing to build, which at least mirrors how it is for many in the real world. Yet, the film and the book's Christian slant make it seem that the only way one could have a strong bond with their significant other that will ensure a lifetime of happiness and satisfaction is if God is involved in some way, which is a horribly ignorant thing for a film to suggest. In a way, that's almost more offensive than any misstep Fireproof makes.

Starring: Kirk Cameron and Erin Bethea. Directed by: Alex Kendrick.

I am a born-again Christian. I am also somewhat of a film snob who counts movies among his favorites that are decidedly R rated (I have no problem with sin being presented in movies as long as it's not presented as something good),and some of my favorites are over 100 years old. Just to let you know where this review is coming from.

With "Fireproof" the Kendrick brothers have matured. Their first film, "Flywheel," was a wonderful story with almost no budget, and amateurishly done. Then came "Facing the Giants," which was pretty good but ultimately forgettable. "Fireproof" finally puts together solid production values, mostly topnotch acting, and a very nicely written script that includes some clever plot twists.

Yes, it is explicitly Christian in its message. Yes, it upholds the sanctity of marriage and celebrates a man fighting for all he's worth to win the love of a wife who's filing for divorce. Yes, there are two or three moments where the sentimentality goes just a bit over the top.

If any of these statements about "Fireproof" close your mind to it, that's your loss, but God bless you as you pass on this one to go see something lighter or edgier. But I promise you, I was very pleasantly surprised at just how good this film is.

Highly recommended for anyone old enough to appreciate the opposite sex.