Fireproof (2008)

The leaders of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia continue to lead the way for independent Christian films. Starting small with the wonderful, yet ultra-low budget flick called Flywheel and then following that up with the popular Facing the Giants, Alex and Stephen Kendrick have made another sweet, effective movie in Fireproof.

The Sherwood formula is this... pray, write, get volunteers and do the best you can with what the Lord has provided you. Every film for them is a testament to their faith.

In Fireproof, Kirk Cameron volunteered his efforts as the lead character, fire chief Caleb Holt, who finds himself in a disintegrating marriage with his wife, Catherine, played by Erin Bethea. With prayers and support from his father, Caleb engages in the 40 day Love Dare to try to repair his damaged relationship and save his marriage.

The pros and cons of Fireproof are the same as all of the other Sherwood Baptist efforts. The message is wonderful, the production earnest and the effect, overwhelmingly positive in spite of inconsistent acting performances.

The most frustrating aspect of watching new talent on screen is the inconsistency of their performances. Like in The Genius Club, the new actors can hit an emotional moment one scene and not hit a similar pinnacle the next. Unfortunately, each one of these misses pulls you from the total impact the film could have on you.

Thankfully, Cameron is able to nail his performance as Holt. This is the first Sherwood Pictures film that writer/director Alex Kendrick has not also donned the role of lead actor. Kendrick, who is so wonderfully sincere in his performances in Flywheel and Facing the Giants, stays behind the camera and gives the lead reigns to the capable Cameron.

The challenge going forward for Sherwood is that, with each success, the expectations rise. I think it would be wise for them to look to pay for quality actors in lead roles in the future as this would greatly improve the overall delivery of their divine messages.

But, who am I to criticize? Sherwood Pictures has proven nothing is impossible with the Lord. Their $25,000 Flywheel, intended to be a film for church members only, has become a critical and financial success. Facing the Giants, made for $100,000 has already taken in over $10 million and Fireproof, costing $500,000 has almost $35 million in box office revenue.

Their formula works.

My personal preference is that they would remake Flywheel. The script is magical and, with a little bit of funding, could be their best, most complete film yet. The current low-budget version works in spite of serious production issues that come with such a small budget. I'd love to see $500,000 thrown at that script.

In any event, if you liked Sherwood Pictures previous efforts, you'll get more of the same with Fireproof. And that's a good thing!

These guys have tapped into something special and uniquely their own. The ripple effect of their work with audiences and fellow filmmakers will be felt for decades to come.