The faith-based movie hit theaters ten years ago and remains as compelling and relevant today as it was then.
Written by the brother team of Stephen and Alex Kendrick, and directed by Alex, Fireproof tells the story of Caleb Holt, played by Christian actor Kirk Cameron, a fire captain in Albany, Georgia. Brave and dedicated, he is a man who knows his business.
In his marriage, on the other hand, he is lost. The relationship is riven by self-centeredness, sniping, neglect and internet pornography, and Caleb and his wife Catherine, played by Erin Bethea, fight constantly. Early in the movie, in the midst of one of their battles, she tells him she wants a divorce.
Caleb's father steps into the breach, encouraging his son to save the marriage by trying the Love Dare, a 40-day program designed to strengthen relations between husband and wife. Caleb agrees and that program serves as the undergirding that moves the plot forward throughout the rest of the film.
Catherine, however, remains unmoved by his efforts, even beginning a flirtatious relationship with a doctor at the hospital where she works. Caleb, seeing he is getting nowhere, decides he has had enough. It is at this point of hopelessness that his father is able to lead him to Christ, telling him that he can't really love Catherine because he can't give what he doesn't have himself.
Fireproof is the third movie by the Kendrick Brothers, who are pastors at Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia, and it represents a qualitative step forward in their filmmaking (despite the fact that it was still staffed mostly by church members just like their first two movies, Flywheel and Facing the Giants). Fireproof also proved a major commercial success, bringing in $33.5 million at the box office and, as of March, 2017, more than $58 million in DVD sales. Those are incredible numbers considering the movie was shot on a budget of just $500 thousand.
With a strong Gospel message about the redemptive love and forgiveness of Christ, this film has timeless appeal for believers, be they married or single. You can find Fireproof on Amazon, or likely check it out from your local library. If you haven't seen it, Christian Film Blog encourages you to do so. If you have, watch it again: you won't be disappointed with an encore viewing.