Fireproof Review, Part 4

Continuing the riveting list of the good with respect to Fireproof...

9. Fireproof rightfully makes the point that men must lead. I don't need to explain to you that this idea is God's idea. So I was delighted to see this made plain on film. On the other hand, this was undermined a bit when they revealed that Caleb's mom was actually the one who did the love dare on his dad (and probably the reason they added it into the plot). Now it is abundantly clear that marriage is a partnership and that sometimes women are more to blame than men (see Gen. 3). But that does not make men any less responsible. And that idea seemed to come across in the movie.

10. It was so powerful to see a husband win back his wife. It wasn't some crappy tale of a woman finally leaving her awful husband and finding true love with some other guy. It was the display of the power of loving reconciliation. That is romantic. And it made the climax scene that much more touching.

11. I thought the writing and directing was much crisper in the second half the movie. Caleb's transformation was written extremely well.

12. For the most part the film was a balanced portrayal of real life. Some Christian films don't get the "world" at all and, rather than trying to understand it, make a mockery of it. Not so with Fireproof. Caleb was not surrounded by a bunch of Christians. He clearly worked in a non-Christian environment. Michael, it seems, was the one alone in his faith.

13. The scene with the destruction of the computer was especially poignant because it was an application of Matthew 5:30: "And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell." He was doing what was necessary to live life in accordance with the Spirit and, accordingly, to save his marriage. I cheered in my heart at this scene and half-expected Catherine to come back right then.

14. Divorce is so rampant and accepted today that most people, when they hit rough spots, immediately believe that divorce is the only answer. Fireproof rejects this idea out of hand and says that all marriages are not only worth saving, but are able to be saved.

15. If I haven't been clear yet, the overarching point of this movie is that the gospel must be central to our lives. To see that displayed so well in a movie was amazing. Sadly, this biblical notion is not just a contrast to the world; it is a contrast to some preaching we hear today.

16. Kirk Cameron is undeniably hot.

As I have been writing this review I thought of some other good "Christian" films: The Passion of the Christ, The Nativity Story, Chariots of Fire. These films, as well as the others mentioned, are great flicks. Fireproof, I would say, stands with those films, at least in its distinctive genre. I know of no other film that displays the gospel in contemporary life so well.

On the other hand, it wasn't perfect. But for that matter, what film is? And why do I get the feeling like some people chastise Christian films just because they are imperfect? Yes, the substance of Christian film has everything to do with what we are about here and in eternity, but, goodness, let's give them a break. When their goal is to make plain the gospel and produce good art, I say "here, here!" and hope they continue their work. May God bless them.

Check out a few other good reviews of this movie: here and here.