Highly Overrated But Still Good

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

it is the rare 'crazy' movie that actually has something to say.

Blistering performances.

One vote is far too much for this idealistic piece of sugar laden propaganda. It acts like all you have to do is commit to and follow Jesus, and everything will work out just hunky dory. Lies!I used to be a Christian, and walked away from the church because I got sick of being walked all over because "that's what the bible says to do". I hate the guilt trip that Caleb's father levels on him when he asks him why he is so frustrated with Catherine. Caleb has ever right to be upset with Catherine, yet Caleb's father turns the accusatory finger on him. Those two should have gotten a divorce, then Catherine could have wound up with that lowlife cheating doctor, and Caleb could have bought his dream boat instead of sacrificing it for his invalid mother-in-law.This is a movie on why not to be a Christian, and avoid getting bamboozled by some ridiculous guilt trip.

This movie might be one of the most boring and senseless movies I've ever watched. And that it is a Christian movie - I'm a Christian myself, by the way - does not mean that it should not be critiqued. The plot is painfully predictable, and those people who claims that is a realistic and accurate portrayal of how it is to live in an abusive relationship, has quite frankly not any idea of what a real abusive relationship is. (SPOILER) Caleb was not abusive. Yes, he was an egoistic brat, bot abusive? No. He did not hurt Catherine in any way, and Catherine might possibly be the most weak female character I've ever come across in fiction. She does not get what she wants, and her reaction? Senseless, childish crying and wimping. She does not stand up for herself. She does not defend herself. She lets Caleb shout at her, and when he calls her an ungrateful woman - a scene which was unintentionally hilarious because Kirk Cameron just clenched his hands tight to show his anger, and even though he is an unbeliever, he does not utter a cuss or swear word once, which is very very unrealistic - she cries out that she "want's out." She does not even say "I want a divorce." No, just wants out. That scene was just unrealistic, badly acted and more funny and hilarious than tense and serious, which again shows the lack of talent from the Kendricks team. It would be way more realistic and shocking if he said "b**tch" instead of "woman," but oh no, then the movie would just be godless filth condemned straight to hell. Which is why American evangelicals can't make movies, nor should, because they don't even know how to write a good, realistic portrayal of the world in which we live. The couple is not christians, as far as I know, so a cuss word or two would make it far more believable. They act as very devout believers. That's just not believable, and if you think otherwise then frankly you don't have any clue as to how the real world works and are too enclosed in your evangelical Christian bubble to even begin to understand the outside world. What Catherine did was just as bad as Caleb's actions. I mean, she cheats on him by flirting with a doctor? She does not have any feelings left for Caleb, and she does not reciprocate or thank him once, so for what I've seen, I would say he is entitled to be angry at her. He complains in the movie that Catherine does not respect him, and he is right. She does not respect him once! Nor twice! And the fight scenes between the couples is just, God ... That is the most unrealistic representation of marital discourse I have ever seen. I come from a divorced home, and my parents had often fought, and I can assure that it was way more tense and way more harsh than what is represented in this movie. It is too watered down and that destroys the redeeming qualities, because it gets too sugarcoated and unrealistic, and all the scenes which is meant to be taking serious, just falls flat as dumb and childish.This is a great movie for christians already enclosed in their bubble isolated from the rest of the world. But the rest of us demands far higher artistic standards than what this movie has to offer. Don't go see it. It is a waste of both your time and your money.

Fireproof is a perfect example of why American Christians go in droves to see modern Christian movies. Why they prepare Bible study books based on the film. Why modern Christian films get so much hype at church. It is a triumph in modern Christian filmmaking...which is unfortunately not saying much. Like almost all Christian films, it is well intentioned. As a Christian myself, I see good possibilities in exploring cinema as a medium for evangelism and correcting societal evils. But this film will only preach to the choir. It is well shot by modern Christian standards. There is a certain levity to the film which makes for some amusing comedic moments (the hot sauce scene). The "Love Dare" plot device is an interesting vehicle for encouraging selfless love to our spouses. But the focus here is clearly on the message, and not the medium. See Passion of the Christ by Mel Gibson if you want to see a film which gets both message and medium right.It is to be expected that churches will not have the budgets to finance professional actors. It is to be expected that churches will not have the budgets to produce a slick film (not compared to Hollywood standards, at least). But the church should be wise enough to concentrate on good scriptwriting. The film is a collection of modern evangelical church platitudes. While true that believers have the potential to have better marriages and deeper love than non-believers because of the power of God, the working out of it is complex. Near divorce situations require sound remedies that take Biblical truths and apply them to each specific couple's problem. What we get in this film are speeches by the characters that are so generic that they could apply to anybody. While that may give the viewer an inclusive feeling, it also leaves him/her without a real feeling of how the solution can be applied to them. The film is full of modern day church platitudes that are like "sound-bite" Christianity. They take the depth of Scripture and run ram-shod over it with a band-aid patching.I do not recommend this film for non-Christians unless they are really wanting to become Christians. What this film IS good for is preventative maintenance or at least helping when the marital decay is in its formative stages. This is a feel-good, sit back and relax with a cup of coffee kind of movie to enjoy with a Christian men's group, Christian women's group, Christian couple's night, or with your Christian spouse. And if it does add strength to your marriage, then, Amen! May the Lord continue to bless you!

This may contain a spoiler or two. I've see a lot of "God movies". This one stands out as one of those that is so well written, so sweet that it deserves a watch. You don't have to be a believer to enjoy this film. Anyone who enjoys watching LMN for example will see a variety of movies that may or may not contain faith in God. But, the storyline is so much a contemporary situation namely a young married couple who have drifted apart. Different goals in life, different levels of faith (or none at all) and of course limited financial resources to satisfy both of their needs and desires. Kurt Cameron is spot-on in this role, no one could have been better. The actress playing his wife does a great job as well. I believe in this crazy mixed up world this movie sends a strong message to the believers and the unbelievers that married people should always consider counseling even if it's only one of the two that's committed to saving the marriage. As with AA, folks are encouraged to see the help of a "higher-power" and that makes perfect sense to me.