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Fireproof (film)

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Fireproof
Fireproof
Directed byAlex Kendrick
Written byAlex Kendrick
Stephen Kendrick[1]
StarringKirk Cameron
Erin Bethea
Ken Bevel
Stephen Dervan
Jason McLeod
Alex Kendrick
Distributed bySherwood Pictures
Release date
September 26 2008
Running time
122 minutes
LanguageEnglish
Budget$500,000[2]

Fireproof is a 2008 American drama film from Sherwood Pictures. Stephen Kendrick co-wrote the film with his brother, while serving as a producer. The supporting cast is made up of volunteers from Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia, where the Kendrick brothers serve as associate pastors. The film features Kirk Cameron as Caleb Holt in his first theater-released movie since 2001's Left Behind: The Movie.

On May 21 2008, Sherwood Pictures announced that the film would open in theaters on September 26 2008.[3] It was given an MPAA rating of PG for "thematic material and some peril".[4] The Making of Fireproof special aired on the Trinity Broadcasting Network prior to the movie's release, following a special airing of Sherwood Pictures' first theatrical release, Facing the Giants. [5]

Plot

Fireproof is the story of a firefighter, Captain Caleb Holt, who lives by the old firefighter's adage: Never leave your partner behind. But, after seven years of marriage to his wife Catherine, their own relationship is failing. Neither one understands the pressures the other faces.[6] Caleb claims that Catherine is too sensitive and "doesn't show me respect." Whereas she tells her hospital co-workers that he is "so insensitive" and that "he doesn't listen to me" and "doesn't understand my needs." As they prepare to file for divorce, Caleb's father challenges his son to commit to a 40-day test called "The Love Dare." Caleb starts it, but more for his father's sake than for his marriage.

When Caleb discovers the book’s daily challenges are tied into his parents' newfound faith, his already limited interest is further dampened. Even though he wants to stay true to his promise, Caleb becomes frustrated time and time again. He finally asks his father, "How am I supposed to show love to somebody who constantly rejects me?" When his father tells him that this is the love God shows to people, Caleb makes a life-changing commitment to love God. And, with God's help, he begins to understand what it means to truly love his wife. But, he is unsure if it's too late to "fireproof" his marriage. [6]

Notes

In a scene towards the end when Kirk Cameron's character kisses his wife, it was shot in shadow, and the actress, Erin Bethea, was replaced by Cameron's real-life wife, Chelsea Noble, disguised to look like Bethea.[7] This was done because Cameron does not believe that as a Christian he should kiss any woman other than his wife.[7]

Cast

Production

Fireproof was filmed for 30 nonconsecutive days between late October 2007 and December 14, 2007.[8] The production was based on a budget of $500,000, which was an increase from the $100,000 toward Sherwood Pictures' previous film Facing the Giants.[2] Fireproof was shot in sixteen locations, all of which were donated. Craig von Buseck of the Christian Broadcasting Network said that the movie was "beautifully shot in and around Albany, Georgia, home to Sherwood Church."[9] The Albany Fire Department donated their fire station locations, trucks and even some of their crew for use during the filming.[2] Stephen Kendrick said, "We’ve never claimed that our movies are Academy Award winning [...] But we are trying to pursue excellence."[2]

Marriage views

See also: Fireproof My Marriage and The Love Dare

Fireproof is partnered with Fireproof My Marriage, an organization created to strengthen and heal marriages.[10] The Love Dare, a book written by Alex and Stephen Kendrick, is a major topic in the film, being one of the main points of the plot. Alex Kendrick said in an interview that this film would be "a drama/romance about marriage. Our goal is to reinforce God's intention for marriage."[11]

With 50% of all marriages in the United States ending in divorce,[12] Fireproof has been endorsed by many marriage-oriented organizations, including FamilyLife,[13] The Marriage CoMission, The Association of Marriage and Family Ministries,[14] Marriage Alive Communications[15] and MarriageToday.[16] The film has been uniting many other marriage advocates from across the United States.[17]

Reception

Positive reviews

Fireproof has received very positive reviews from Christian groups since its most early viewings. Michael Foust of the Baptist Press said that, "I walked into the theater without any expectations, but walked out after the closing credits believing I had just seen perhaps the most convicting and inspiring film I had ever viewed. Fireproof isn't just a great Christian movie. It's a great movie. Period."[18] Mitch Temple of Focus on the Family said that, "This brilliantly produced film radiates messages of authentic determination, faith and hope, even for those of us who have felt like giving up on our marriages."[19]

Critical reception

However, the movie has been given mixed reviews from film critics. Scott Tobias of The Onion's A.V. Club gave the film an "F," saying that "Fireproof gets hung up in a lot of Promise Keepers hoo-hah about reaffirming marriage as a covenant with God rather than a contract filed at City Hall." Tobias continues "[Cameron's character] acts like a childish jerk, even in the reconciliation phase [of the marriage], and the underlying reason is that he—and the movie—hates women."[20] Hannah Goodwyn of the Christian Broadcasting Network said "the acting in Fireproof is less than stellar in a few cases, which is somewhat expected since the entire cast is basically volunteers from the church." But she also stated that it did have better acting than Sherwood Pictures' previous film, Facing the Giants.[21] As of October 10, 2008, the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that 46% of critics rated the film positively based on 13 reviews.[22] Metacritic reported the film had an average score of 28 out of 100 based on 6 reviews — indicating generally negative reviews.[23]

Box office

Fireproof's advance sales accounted for 40% of all Fandango sales from Friday morning. In the week prior to opening, Fireproof had pre-sold more than $1 million in tickets, far above predicted blockbusters, such as Eagle Eye.[24] Fireproof was released on September 26, 2008 in 839 theaters.[25] In its first weekend, Fireproof grossed over $6.8 million, putting it in fourth place at the box office.[26] As of October 15, 2008, Fireproof has remained in the top 10 films nationwide and now has an estimated domestic gross of $18,925,000,[27] surpassing the lifetime earnings of its predecessor, Facing the Giants, and moving it into the top 10 Christian films by earnings.[28]

On its second weekend, Fireproof had a net gain of 13 theaters, bringing it's total theater count to 852.[29] On its third weekend, Fireproof added new theaters that brought its total count to 875, with an additional 90 theaters to be added by the end of the week.[30]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Writing credits for Fireproof". IMDb.com. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
  2. ^ a b c d Kendrick, Stephen. "Stephen Kendrick Interview" (Interview). Interviewed by C.J. Darlington. Retrieved 2008-09-02. {{cite interview}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |program=, |callsign=, and |city= (help)
  3. ^ "Fireproof Opening Date: September 26". ChristianCinema.com. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
  4. ^ "MPAA ratings: June 25, 2008". The Hollywood Reporter. 2008-06-25. Retrieved 2008-09-02.
  5. ^ "Making of Fireproof". TBN.org. Retrieved 2008-09-20.
  6. ^ a b "Fireproof Your Marriage" (PDF). Retrieved 2008-09-02.
  7. ^ a b "Devotion keeps actor Kirk Cameron centered". VenturaCountyStar.com. September 26, 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-06. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ "That's a WRAP (Part 2)". Fireproof Production Blog. 2007-12-14. Retrieved 2008-09-03.
  9. ^ "Kirk Cameron is Fireproof in New Movie". blogs.cbn.com. Retrieved 2008-09-02.
  10. ^ "Fireproof, Support the Movie". Fireproofmymarriage.com. Retrieved 2008-09-03.
  11. ^ "Featured Filmmaker: Alex Kendrick". ChristianCinema.com. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
  12. ^ "The current U.S. divorce rate". Religioustolerance.org. Retrieved 2008-09-03.
  13. ^ "Fireproof You Marriage". FamilyLife.com. Retrieved 2008-09-03.
  14. ^ "The Association of Marriage and Family Ministries". AMFMonline.com. Retrieved 2008-09-03.
  15. ^ "10 Great Dates". MarriageAlive.com. Retrieved 2008-09-03.
  16. ^ "News Release from Fireproof the Movie". Christiannewswire.com. Retrieved 2008-09-03.
  17. ^ "Christian Newswire - Fireproof". Goodnewsdaily.net. Retrieved 2008-09-03.
  18. ^ "'Fireproof' a Big League film". Baptist Press. Retrieved 2008-09-02.
  19. ^ "Fireproof". Family.org. Retrieved 2008-09-03.
  20. ^ "'Fireproof' (Review)". The AV Club. Retrieved 2008-09-29.
  21. ^ "Fireproof Review by Hannah Goodwyn". Retrieved 2008-09-30.
  22. ^ "Fireproof Movie Reviews, Pictures - Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2008-10-10.
  23. ^ "Fireproof (2008): Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 2008-10-10.
  24. ^ "Samuel Goldywn Films' Fireproof Ablaze". biz.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2008-09-30.
  25. ^ "Fireproof Arrives!". Fireproofthemovie.com. Retrieved 2008-09-26.
  26. ^ "Weekend Box Office Results for September 26-28, 2008". BoxOfficeMojo.com. 2008-09-28. Retrieved 2008-09-29.
  27. ^ "Daily Box Office". BoxOfficeMojo.com. 2008-10-14. Retrieved 2008-10-15.
  28. ^ "Christian movies". BoxOfficeMojo.com. 2008-10-05. Retrieved 2008-10-05.
  29. ^ "Theater Counts". BoxOfficeMojo.com. 2008-10-03. Retrieved 2008-10-03.
  30. ^ "Theater Counts". BoxOfficeMojo.com. 2008-10-10. Retrieved 2008-10-15.
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