Fireproof

Tonight we watched Fireproof (2008,PG) (ScreenIt! Review).  From ScreenIt!:

A firefighter begins an experimental, 40-day program to try to save his marriage.

Last weekend small groups at our church started the associated 6-week study.  We missed the screening of the film because we were in D.C., so we caught up tonight.

Let me first say that Christian multimedia has come a long way.  That doesn't mean this was a masterpiece, but it was decent.  It reminded me more of a TV movie than one for the theaters, but that's OK.  I thought it was strongest in it's dead-pan, humorous bits.  Caleb's dad's description of God's holiness was somehow particularly effective too.  With divorce as prevalent as it is, this is obviously a worthwhile subject.  We thought it was a little funny that the task of salvaging the marriage appeared to be entirely on Caleb's shoulders.  I also thought it was a bit strange that Caleb seemed to have so many positive influences while Catherine apparently had none (until the white-haired lady got all up in her business).  The black female characters were a bit too one dimensional ("Uh huhhhh! Oh no he dit-unt!"), but at least Caleb's pal at work, Michael, was strong.

I give it 4 out of 5 for effort.