20th February, 2009

CHOE BRERETON

Fireproof

In A Word: Instructive

I admit that at first I was sceptical about Fireproof. The thought of watching another unrealistic story of a rocky romance come good was excruciating. The undeniable truth however, is that the movie hinges more on a message of true love than romance, and you too may find yourself caught off guard by the amusing scenes and solid values that plait through a very believable plot and an unexpected sense of encouragement. This, despite the unshakeable B-movie feel to the reel - a factor which, by the way, no longer becomes an issue when you realise that all 1,200 of the cast were church volunteers.

OK, so I found it a little humorous, if not a tad trite, that fireman Caleb Holt - played by Kirk Cameron - is a strong capable leader to his motley crew of four, yet behind the walls of his own home he is unable to prevent his marriage from burning to the ground. I guess that is the whole point of the story though - that it is possible to be a hero to everyone except your wife. Still, I am not a fan of predictable story lines. Bar this, the amateurish acting is another inescapable chink, as are the very Christian analogies to marriage that are...well...very Christian - look out for Michael's salt and pepper anecdote just before he glues the two shakers together.

That said, however, Fireproof is engaging from beginning to end, thanks to a plot that emulates the difficulties and triumphs of love in a very real and relatable way.

The story runs an intricate course. Michael is captain of the Albany Fire Department and effectively the boss of four able firefighters. In their midst and in the midst of disaster, he is clued up, confident and sharp as a tack, but at home where it matters, he is a man who has lost control. The plot orbits around Caleb and Catherine his wife - played by Erin Bethea - and their extremely troubled marriage. The points of contention are numerous but the source boils down to only a few things; he feels disrespected and she considers him to be incredibly selfish and insensitive. A blow up in the kitchen leaves Catherine in tears and she decides at that point that the marriage is over.

Caleb, angry enough to kick a dog, confides in his father, who we quickly find out is a Christian. As any good father would, he attempts to broach the subject of salvation with his son; tries to tell him that he once used to be where Caleb is now, in a marriage he thought was not worth saving, until God changed things around. Predictably he is met with the uninterested response of, "It's good for you dad, but it's not my thing". Refusing to let the opportunity slip by, Caleb's father sets him an unusual task; to hold off the divorce for 40 days during which he is to read a love diary that will set him one selfless task to do for his wife each day. A gift from father to son, and to Caleb, a last ditch attempt to save his marriage.

What essentially unfolds over the next 40 days is a wrenching lesson in the cost of saving something that seems stubbornly damaged beyond repair. That, and what it really means to love unconditionally. Tacked between the main story line are a handful of all rounding subplots; the potentially damaging affair that slowly encroaches in the form of a love interest for Catherine; her mother who has recently suffered a stroke; and, Caleb's clear irritability and intolerance towards his own mother for a lie he has always believed to be true. It all matters, it all adds something to the story.

Granted that there are a few cheesy moments, like when Caleb accepts Christ in an instant of profound revelation and looks up to find his father leaning against a strategically placed wooden cross. I did wince a little but quickly got over it.

Yes, Fireproof is about how Christ can change a man's heart to make him a completely different person, and yes, it's also about the horrible, prickly things that can happen in marriage. But for all of us who have at one time or other felt helpless in our relationships, neglected, or forgotten by another's oversight, selfishness or inconsideration, Fireproof offers a Biblically-based alternative to loving your spouse deeply and unconditionally in a way you must have once loved them before all the hurt and anger became too much. And I will confess, as much as I love my husband, I still bought the Love Dare book after the movie. Because if you don't think you can love your spouse any more than you already do, the principles of Fireproof's 'Love Dare' can certainly show you how to love them better.

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