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AWOE ONSCREEN MOVIE REVIEWS
HOW DOES A MARRIAGE BREAKDOWN?
If you’ve been wondering that then Fireproof is the movie to see. Fireproof is about a breakdown of a marriage that started right with two people who loved each other with the new house, two cars and successful careers. How could the perfect life turn out to be so cold and hollow?
Well, Caleb (Kirk Cameron) and Catherine (Erin Bethea) Holt give us a good picture of how the breakdown of a marriage begins. In one of the first scenes between the Holt’s begins with them barely speaking in their kitchen. When they do speak it quickly turns into a heated argument. It’s in the heat of one of their arguments where Catherine has had enough. She tells Caleb through tears that she wants a divorce.
It’s in that moment that the audience realizes that Caleb’s anger from his wife’s disrespect and Catherine’s bitterness from feeling rejected is because of her husband’s unspoken addiction has ruined their marriage.
THE UNSPOKEN ADDICTION
Caleb’s addiction is connected to the internet. Which is only alluded to in the movie by Catherine’s talking about the computer and at one point a pop up of a females face on Caleb’s computer. It’s obvious that his addiction is the root of the problem, but Catherine’s attitude makes it even more evident that he’s not the only problem.
THE BROKENESS
On Catherine’s side, she has problems of her own. She's faced with financially supporting her father and sick Mother. Then she's angry with her husband because he isn't assisting her with her family. On top of all of that she compounds their already strained marriage by sleeping in a separate bedroom and she’s openly hostile. Yet, she’s respectful and caring at work, but she’s disrespectful and bitter at home. In search of emotional fulfillment she begins to confide in a male doctor at the hospital about her sick mother’s needs.
Fireproof makes it hard for the audience to really choose whose the worst spouse because their both in the wrong. Caleb is in the wrong with his addiction and Catherine is wrong because of the way she treats him because of it. While their both problematic, you can't help but to feel their suffering. Their two good people that's gone down a bad road.
WHERE IS GOD?
If your wondering where God is in all of this, well the Holt’s are also unsaved.
It’s another brilliant angle to Fireproof. The Holt’s are just two very real people with real problems that any married couple could battle. However, God is integrated into the film first through Caleb’s friend, Lt. Michael Simmons (Ken Bevel) and then through John Holt (Harris Malcom), his father.
Simmons is the first person we see Caleb turning to after he and Catherine have their first huge argument. It’s revealed early on that Simmons is happily married Christian man. Where Caleb is putting all the blame on Catherine, his friend tells him to consider her needs too.
As a friend, Simmons takes the indirect approach to encourage Caleb to make things right in his marriage, while John Holt takes an interactive approach by challenging his son to fight for his marriage through a 40-day experiment called The Love Dare.
Caleb takes on the challenge half-heartedly for the sake of his father at first, but as each day goes by he begins to see that love isn’t just about being loved, but about giving it.
Fireproof is a film that goes behind the closed doors of every married couple that's facing the end of their marriage and in search of real love. By the end of this film don't be surprised if you see the men breaking out the tissues too. Fireproof is a movie that hits home for both men and women.
It’s a movie about giving your love even if it breaks your heart.
MORE THAN JUST DRAMA
Even though Caleb and Catherine's marriage is the center of the movie, it's not all tears and anger.
In fact there are a few comical scenes that features recognizable faces from Facing The Giants and several new faces that will make you laugh. There's also some intense action scenes with the firefighters too.
IS IT SAFE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY?
Surprisingly enough, yes. Even though it's obvious of what Caleb's addiction is in the movie the word is never spoken by any of the characters.
The most questionable thing about the film is the dangerous scenes that includes Caleb and his team saving people from various fires. Also there's an outstanding scene between Caleb and Catherine that gives you chills that love could turn so cold. But everything is family friendly much like Facing the Giants, but with a more adult theme to the storyline.
Must See!
*****
Not Yet Rated
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