Fireproof

Fireproof was a movie was played in church last Sunday. It remains to be one of the most inspiring movies I’ve ever seen. Despite being a low-budget film, it reveals almost nothing unprofessional and managed to gross millions of dollars in the United States alone. Fireproof is one of the most highest-grossing independent films so far. Equipped with a passionate pastor-director, Alex Kendrick from Sherwood Baptist Church and a famous Hollywood actor, Kirk Thomas Cameron, this movie soars high above the ground.

The cast and crew of the film were all volunteers and this was really unexpectedly surprising. They are not paid a single cent at all. Impressive.

The wife, Catherine, portrayed by Erin Bethea was rather “fake” at first in the beginning of the movie. The acting between her and the receptionist clearly indicated how inexperienced and amateurish the actors were. But as the story unfolds, Bethea settles down more comfortably and her character naturally becomes more believable.

The story (as you know) is about a chief fireman, Capt. Caleb Holt who lives by the motto: Never leave your partner, especially in a fire. At work, he lives by this motto; but at home, it’s a completely different story. Both husband and wife were at fault. His wife, Catherine Holt nags him and drives him to the edge, complaining about every single thing he hasn’t done and claims he doesn’t appreciate her. While he neglects his wife and her sick mother (who is in need of a few medical equipments that cost a bomb).

The movie is infused with a couple of hilarious scenes that left me laughing uncontrollably. Caleb’s fellow firemen (who are people with no acting experience) have such great chemistry. The way they tease and trick each other was undeniably funny. Then there’s Caleb whacking the rubbish bin and computer with a baseball bat.

As the war rages on, he couldn't take anymore of her painfully annoying nagging and finally shouts at his wife. Catherine subsequently files for a divorce. He was initially fine with it as he wanted “peace”. Until his father challenged him to a “dare”. He was given a book called “The Love Dare” and was to follow its instructions one at a time for 40 days.

It was unbearably tough at first when he pours coffee for her, buys her flowers etc when she rejects him constantly. Despite the excruciatingly painful rejection, he continues in hopes to salvage the marriage. So you see, as a fireman, he saves lives and puts out fires, but when his marriage is in pieces, will he watch it burn to the ground?

By the help of his father, he turned to Christ, and found the true meaning of love. According to his father, “you can’t give someone something you don’t have.” Because love comes from Christ alone. He gave up his addictions to pornography (which explains why he whacked his computer) and became more committed, caring and considerate even though Catherine tries her best to ignore him.

This movie is especially suitable for married couples. My dad was (surprisingly) tearing, so were all the aunties at the back. You could hear them sniffing and sobbing when Caleb knelt to the ground and begged for his wife’s forgiveness. Most of us cried, including me, because the way he delivered those lines was so heart-wrenching.

When his skeptical wife sent him the divorce papers, he wept. But he never stopped, even after finding out that his wife had an “almost-affair” with a colleague called Gavin. This time, he truly loved his wife. She finally came to her senses when she realized it was Caleb who paid US$24,000 for her mother’s medical equipments and not that pathetic, wife-stealing Gavin.

Of course, the story had a happy ending with the happy couple re-marrying to reaffirm their marriage in Christ.

This movie not only manages to spread the gospel effectively, but also reminds married couples that marriage is a commitment for life. Through trials and tribulations, they must stick together at all costs. Learning more about each other, and mostly, learning to forgive.

Juicy bits: Kirk Cameron (Caleb Holt) is a renowned Hollywood actor. Starring in advertisements and sitcoms like Growing Pains as a kid, and then becoming a heartthrob who appeared in countless teen magazines like 16 and Teen Beat, the 39-year-old actor (a former atheist) is the most passionate Christian I’ve ever seen. He rejects roles which require him to utter disrespectful remarks, and states that he will only kiss his (real) wife alone. In an interview with Today, he says: "I have a commitment not to kiss any other women."

In the ending where Caleb kisses Catherine, the directors had to work around his “demands” by dressing up his wife, Chelsea Noble (who acted with him in many shows. They currently have 6 kids, 4 of which are adopted) as Catherine and then film them kissing in the shadows.

He later explained by saying: “The reason this movie was important to me personally is because I love my wife dearly,” he said. “We’ve been married for 17 years … and we have six children. So marriage is a very special and sacred thing to us. In a day and age where marriage is falling apart, we want to make movies and projects that really uphold and have a high view of that which is beautiful and wonderful in our culture.”

Many people scorn his beliefs and decisions, some even laughing at him, calling him a crazy “nutbag”. Yet, he continues to stand firm in his path and influences so many people. May God bless him for being such a brave, committed and faithful husband, man and servant of the Lord.


The writer wants to punch Catherine in the face. Because even after Caleb took the time to cook and make a candle-lit dinner, and yet she could say, “I don’t love you.” That was definitely a stab in the heart for Caleb.


-- Jeana Joy Tan