Fireproof Movie Review - A Triumph for the Gospel and Kirk Cameron

I just saw Fireproof and loved it. I DID NOT CRY . . . it was just that my eyes got teary when I pulled out a few nose hairs - that's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

I heard one criticism recently about how repentance wasn't mentioned in the movie. It's kind of like the book of Esther which doesn't mention God's Name but God's sovereign Hand is everywhere in the book of Esther. Repentance is not mentioned in Fireproof but it is written all over the movie and it comes across loud and clear. One of the strongest themes I think.

I must confess to always being bugged by how the majority of "Christian" movie projects employ actors who are not Christians. This is not the case with Firproof which employed a cast of volunteers from Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany Georgia and Kirk Cameron who is best known for his roles as Mike Seaver in Growing Pains and as Buck Williams in the Left Behind series. I count myself priveledged to know Kirk Cameron and am well aware that both he and his wife live out authentic Christian lives. They are the real deal and a short amount of time with them reveals how precious Jesus Christ is in their lives.

Here are some positives and negatives in an attempt to be even handed.

Negatives
1. I did think when that when Kirk's character was explaining becoming a Christian that saying "about your faith . . . I'm in" was a pretty corny and vague way of articulating the born again experience.
2. The idea of decisional regeneration seemed to be coming across in the first half of the movie (maybe I notice that as someone who accepted Calvin into my heart). However, I was glad to see the emphasis of God doing a transforming work of regenerating a sinful human heart later in the movie.
3. The movie should have contained a warning for sensitive viewers alerting them to several scenes of gratuitous violence inflicted on trash cans (but wow that must've been fun smashing that computer monitor, I envy Kirk for that scene).

Positives
1. The theme of repentance came across real strong.
2. The movie explained why God is angry at sinners.
3. The issue of pornography was handled clearly but discretely - that was really well done.
4. It did not preach "life enhancement" - just the opposite.
5. I loved how it showed that Caleb (Kirk's character) was not capable of changing until God changed him half way through the "love dare". It really shifted the emphasis away from the "love dare" and focussed on man's need for God's supernatural transforming work.
6. Chick Fil A product placement - gotta love that.
7. I was genuinely surprised by the stunt where they move the car just in time and the train knocks the guys helmet off. Was that real? That scene was seriously better and more realistic than action scenes in high budget movies.
8. The movie was loaded with some really powerful, profound, and well written scenes - these included:
(a) where Caleb sits there complaining about his wife ignoring his love as the cross looms in the background - loved that
(b) where the computer (where Caleb viewed pornography) was destroyed and replaced with flowers and the note "I love you more"
(c) when Caleb's father opens Caleb's eyes to his own depravity
(d) Romans 5:8 at the start of the closing credits
9. Those long closing credits - loved them, thanking everybody who helped in so many ways really spoke loud to me about the Church being the Church
10. Ray Comfort got his hands on the script - so obvious

Special Award for Outstanding Acting as a Stunt Double goes to:
Chelsea Noble Cameron (Kirk's real life wife) for the kissing scene. . . . or maybe it wasn't acting.

Please go and see this movie and learn something about the sanctity of marriage, Christ's love for His Church, and send a message to Hollywood that there is a large market for projects that advocate Christian values and biblical truth.

Fireproof Opens Today

Fireproof, by the makers of Facing the Giants, is a great film about real life, marriage, and God's intervention. I encourage everyone to see it this weekend (Friday, Saturday or Sunday) in that opening weekend numbers will drive how long it stays in theaters and whether or not theaters will show more films like this in the future.

There's been quite a bit of publicity about this film recently. Articles have appeared in USA Today and yesterday Dr. Phil's show was about marriage and featured firefighters, police officers and the star (Kirk Cameron) and producers (the Kendrick brothers) of the film and the pastor of Sherwood Baptist Church.

Also, the Love Dare, the book featured in the film is on it's fifth printing (and it hasn't even hit stores yet) due to demand.

Here are some things to look for in the film:

Look for actors from Facing the Giants to turn up again

The place kicker is driving the car that leads to a wreck

The coach of the winning school in FTG shows up at the end of the film, but not as a coach

One of the dads from the FTG football team helps move the car off the railroad tracks

The opposing coach with the lollipop in Facing the Giants is back (with a lollipop)
Look for the Lollipop Shop in a clip that is owned by the opposing coach from FTG.
I think the car lot from the Kendrick's first film, Flywheel, is in the film as well. Not too sure about that one.

Both Kendrick brothers are in the film, as is their father. He's in a wheelchair. They were all featured in a past issue of HomeLife magazine.

Also, years ago Kirk Cameron stated that he would never kiss another woman other than his wife, even if in a movie or television show. There's a scene where he kisses his on-screen wife and we all know Chelsea Noble did not have a part in this film. So what gives? Well, the Kendricks and the folks at Sherwood Pictures have also said they would never have non-married couples be intimate or kiss in a film. This is what they did. They flew in Kirk's wife, Chelsea, put a dark wig on her and adjusted the lighting so you couldn't tell. When Kirk's character kisses his wife, it's actually Kirk kissing Chelsea.

So, get your tickets. Seems that Fandango.com has listed this film as the best selling movie for the weekend through their site. That's great! Don't miss out and don't miss the film.

Courtesy of David Tarkington at "Get Real"

Kirk Cameron is Back and Mike Seaver is Dead

FIREPROOF CINEMA RELEASE TOMORROW
To all my friends living stateside. A terrific Christian movie with an overtly clear Gospel message hits the big screen tomorrow.



Please support this movie on opening weekend. Opening box office takings play a big factor in how many more theatres will pick up this movie. People will get saved through the clear gospel proclamation in this movie.

It stars Kirk Cameron who I've had the great priveledge of meeting. Kirk is the real deal as far as being a true disciple, faithful husband (unlike his character in the movie), and devoted father of six. Kirk was made famous by playing Mike Seaver for seven years in the hit sitcom "Growing Pains". Mike Seaver will be long forgotten after seeing Kirk's performance in this film.

The movie is produced by the Kendrick Brothers who brought us Cinema surprise packets "Facing the Giants" and "Flywheel".



Please support this movie. If it does well enough we might even get to see it in Europe.

Coming to a Cinema Near You - A Movie Actually Worth Seeing

I am envious of you folk living Stateside for there is an excellent movie opening next month which I encourage you all to see. It's called "Fireproof" and stars Kirk Cameron and is brought to us by the people who made the Christian themed surprise packets "Flywheel" and "Facing the Giants". This is a movie that is not only devoid of expletives, sex scenes, and grotesque violence, but is also a film that is completely unambiguous in giving a sharp and biblically sound presentation of the Christian Gospel. Please support this film so that it might make it to Europe!



Below I have pasted Tim Challies review of the movie. Tim Challies has one of the best Reformed blogs on the web and has reviewed most books you can find in a "Christian bookstore". He is a very hard marker with sharp biblical insight so I read his review with great interest.

Fireproof is a product of the team who brought us Facing the Giants, a film produced with a budget of merely $100,000 that went on to gross $15,000,000. In this new film Kirk Cameron plays Caleb Holt, a fire chief in Albany, Georgia. While he is loved by the men who work for him and regarded as a hero in his town, Caleb struggles in his relationship with his wife, Catherine. After seven years of marriage it seems that the relationship is growing cold. Caleb finds solace in looking at pornography on the Internet while Catherine finds herself in a growing relationship with a colleague. As the couple begins to steel themselves for a divorce, and as they begin the process of ending their marriage, Caleb’s father presents him with a book and challenges him to begin a 40-day experiment he calls “The Love Dare.” Caleb decides to give it a shot, though he does so more to respect his father than to salvage his failing marriage. Struggling to show love for his wife even as she continually rejects him, Caleb calls his father and asks, “How am I supposed to show love to someone who constantly rejects me?” This gives his father an opportunity to share the gospel with him and, armed with the reality of a new love, Caleb sets out to win back his wife’s heart.

I can be excused, I think, for entering the theater somewhat apprehensively. After all, Christians do not have the greatest track record when it comes to combining great spiritual truths with sound art. But in the case of Fireproof I was pleasantly surprised. The film, though produced with a limited budget compared to most of what we see on the big screen, is very well put together. There are really no occasions where I feel a bigger budget might have improved the film, and this despite a couple of extended action sequences where I would almost expect to see quality compromised by budget restrictions. This is clearly not the case.

This is not to say the movie is without blemish. There are a few occasions when the dialog becomes just a bit stiff or stilted and this is especially true in the film’s opening moments. There are a couple of times when I feel that portions of the script could have done with just a little bit more tweaking or when a scene could have benefited from just one more take. Also, I feel that a handful of the minor characters are too weak, either through lack of development or through sub-par acting. But these are really the only downsides worth mentioning. (Is it worth mentioning that everyone in the town has a good Georgia accent except for Caleb? How is it that his father and mother both have that southern drawl and he doesn’t?)

Kirk Cameron is very solid in the lead role and was a great choice for it. He is strong throughout and at key moments, when given the chance to shine, is outstanding. Erin Bethea, who plays opposite Cameron as Catherine Holt is also very good, and this despite Fireproof being her first major movie role (and only her second role overall). Caleb’s father is excellent as a wise, loving, pastoral father. The prominent characters develop well and I found myself genuinely drawn into the story. While the movie deals with difficult and serious themes, it does not take itself so seriously that it cannot pause for a few laughs now and again.

One thing I like to evaluate in Christian movies is whether the film inserts faith themes subtly or blatantly. In the case of Fireproof the person who watches this film will walk away with absolutely no doubt that it is a Christian movie. Faith figures prominently and the gospel is clearly presented. Sinful actions and decisions are shown to have negative consequences and are eventually rebuked. While “The Love Dare” is used to draw Caleb back to his wife, it is clear that this is merely an instrument used by God to do His work. This movie is Christian by any measure. It sweeps to an ending that is powerful and emotional, stirring to tears at least several of the people in the theater with us.

I enjoyed Fireproof and am excited to know that, come September 26, a film with such a good message will be debuting on hundreds or thousands of screens across America. It is a refreshing film with a refreshing message that speaks boldly to a culture infatuated with immorality and convinced that divorce is freedom. I am grateful for this film and pray for its success.