Fireproof Movie Review

Caleb (Kirk Cameron) and Katherine (Erin Bethea) Holt have been married for seven years and both have sunk into the pattern selfishness and that is slowly destroying their marriage. Busy Fire Chief Caleb's refusal to help with his share of household duties and hospital PR person Katherine's lack of respect for and communication with her husband fuel the fires of countless arguments until Katherine finally tells Caleb that she wants out. Shocked, angry and hurt, Caleb turns to his father for advice, not knowing that following that advice would change his life forever.

Although Caleb refuses to listen to his father's repeated attempts to tell him of his faith in Jesus Christ as the reason for his own saved marriage, he finally agrees to hold off on the divorce for 40 days. During that time, Caleb must follow what his father calls "The Love Dare"-40 days of instructions, advice, and Bible verses designed to rebuild a failing relationship.

Extremely skeptical, Caleb gives a half-hearted attempt for the first several weeks of the "challenge." Katherine, still mired in hurt and anger and fueled by the advice of her nosey, but well meaning co-workers, refuses to acknowledge anything that Caleb does for her and assumes that his sudden change in behavior is his way of "buttering her up" for more money in the divorce settlement. All the while, she is enjoying the attention and flattery of a handsome young doctor at the hospital.

By the middle of the challenge, Caleb is beyond the point of frustration and calls his father to say tell him he gives up. When his father encourages him to keep trying even when he does not "feel" love for Katherine, Caleb blurts out, "How can I love someone who has rejected me over and over again?" Caleb's father smiles a knowing smile and asks in return, "How indeed?" and reminds Caleb that he has done the same thing to God, who loved him enough to die for his sins and yet Caleb has rejected Him repeatedly. Beneath a large wooden cross on a park ground, Caleb finally realizes his own need for forgiveness and salvation and asks Jesus to be his Savior.