Mar. 1, 2009 - A movie review for a change.
So, Mr. Wonderful and I watched Fireproof last night. I am really
glad we watched it prior to our small group discussions starting at
church next week. We were both crying at the end...me in my open
girly type way and Mr. Wonderful in one surreptitious wiping of the
eye.
One hopes that the fact that it was the top grossing indie film
of '08 will help attract more $$ to the Christian film industry.
They apparently could really use it if the acting caliber and
production values are any indication. Kirk Cameron was decent and
his sidekick buddy at the fire station outright good, but the "cheese
factor" proved a definite negative throughout.
Still, I think it an important film about how one person can change a
marriage, how doing the right thing can produce the right feeling
(these two themes alone will prevent many who could benefit most from
seeing it) and I think it deals very honestly with the issues many, if not most marriage face--a wife not feeling loved, a husband not feeling
respected, attractions to other people, internet porn, thinking the
other person is the problem in a marriage, etc.
Worth seeing despite the cheese factor and not a message on marriage
that either our culture or Hollywood values much any longer. I like that they also include a character who failed at marriage and had been given a second chance in a remarriage. That shows both grace and growth while at the same time made it clear that even after the first divorce, the guy went back and tried to reconcile. That desire was sparked by spiritual renewal, but I wish the film had tackled more head on the easy-believism and cheap grace so prevalent in our churches today. Too often, it's not those outright rejecting God but those who claim him, if only in words, who are divorcing. Still, if you're a counter-cultural rebel, see this movie.
Blessings, Holly
