In fact, the relationship between the main character and God is almost more important than the relationship between the main character and his wife. He starts out wanting to fix the second one, only to find he needs the first one if he’s ever going to fix the second.
Of course, that’s not a bad lesson to learn, and certainly one with which most Christians would agree.
The romantic drama, starring Kirk Cameron and Erin Bethea, doesn’t boast many plot twists and turns; in fact, the previews give the story outline in about 30 seconds. They fall in love and get married; years later life has taken them in different directions but operating out of the same house. He’s a firefighter who commands the respect of his men and the community but can’t say a word without starting a fight at home. She’s a successful public relations specialist for the local hospital who wants a way out of her loveless, abusive relationship.
The surprise comes with how overtly Christian the movie is. It isn’t preachy, except for the relationship between Caleb (Cameron) and his father, but plenty of Bible verses are quoted, and faith and trust in God become the theme of the movie.
The 40-Day Love Dare
Catherine (Bethea) tells Caleb early on that she wants a divorce, he’s more than willing to give her one. His father asks him to wait 40 days, the same amount of time Jesus Christ fasted in the wilderness, and try a love dare, an effort to save their marriage, that includes tasks such as doing something nice for his wife and not saying anything negative. He reluctantly agrees.
Twenty days in, with no reciprocation from Catherine, Caleb is ready to quit. He calls his dad and tells him he's done. His dad drives down and takes him for a walk through an old Christian summer campground. Here, in the backdrop of the quiet, secluded woods and a cross out by itself in a clearing, comes the turning point in the love dare; Caleb asks, “How am I supposed to love somebody who constantly rejects me?”
His father is leaning against the cross as Caleb asks his question. Here comes the climactic conversion, as Caleb understands the question he asked and how it relates to the role of Jesus Christ in his life. He rushes into work the next day to talk to his coworker about faith and recommits himself to the love dare, this time in it heart and soul.
Boats, Roses and Divorce Papers
Meanwhile, Catherine is flirting with a doctor and ignoring Caleb’s efforts. The viewer could be angry at her indifference if not for the knowledge of what Caleb has done to drive her away and how much pain she carries. She’s also struggling with her mother’s health and worrying about how to pay for the hospital bed and wheelchair her mother needs to live a better life.
Caleb, in the meantime, is overcoming his temptations and selfishness and suddenly finds himself truly in love with his wife and willing to do whatever he needs to do to win her back, in spite of her filing for divorce. Viewers don’t find out the extent of what he has done until the end of the movie, although it doesn’t come as a surprise to anybody but Catherine. The movie ends with the two renewing their vows at the cross as converts to the Christian faith.
Caring about the characters is easy; viewers will find themselves despising Caleb in the first 15 minutes but pulling for him by the end. One will cheer for Caleb as he proves his strength outside the firehouse and want to hug Catherine along as she cries to her mother and friends about her failed marriage. And even though the reconciliation is foreshadowed from the beginning when Caleb lectures a firefighter about never leaving his partner behind, the viewer may still feel concern when the flirting doctor seems to be winning.
But in the end, love, hope and faith win, as one knew they would. Christians will find a lot to cheer about when it comes to their faith, and non-Christians can still enjoy the story and will have something to think about if they’re interested in learning more.
Title: Fireproof
Rated PG
Produced by Sherwood Films in association with Provident Pictures
Released in 2008
Heidi Toth - BA in journalism, MBA from Texas TechI spent three years at The University Daily (now The Daily Toreador), the college newspaper, ...
