Film is Pwn

I have not yet seen Fireproof yet, but I was reminded of my admiration for this little movie that could when I read an article at nationalreview.com more on the movie’s success than the movie itself.  You can check out the article here. 

For those unaware, Fireproof is a family friendly movie made by Christians with a positive message about seeing a marriage through tough times.  Other than Kirk Cameron, no one in the cast is an experienced or trained actor.  Everyone, including Cameron, volunteered their time for the movie which was filmed on a shoe-string budget.  

Despite being dismissed by most critics (the same critics that love utter crap like Benjamin Button and Babel, so what do they know?), Fireproof came from outside the studio system blew away expectations at the box-office grossing approximately $33 million.  Every person I know who has seen the movie (and there have been several) give it a hearty recommendation, and on their behalf I endorse it as well.  I’ve never written a blog to praise a film I haven’t seen, but the fact that Fireproof’s success is a testimony to the financial viability of bonafide family – if not outright Christian – films.  Hollywood can finance Mike Myers’ the Love Guru but not one mainstream film designed to appeal to the enormous religious portion of the population?

Being unmarried and unattached I couldn’t bring myself to go to see Fireproof in theaters – it’s not exactly the kind of movie you go with the guys to see on a Saturday night.  I’m not even sure if I can muster the courage to rent the DVD in order to give it a review – there’s something sad about a guy watching a movie about marriage without, you know, a wife or girlfriend.  I’m hoping one of Film Is Pwn’s married bloggers, JMZ, Lawrence Oso, or Tom Stephens will take the challenge and give the Little Movie That Could a proper review on these pages.  (It’s a longshot that Tom Stephens will be writing on this or any other movie in the near future, as he is devoting himself fulltime to the legal defense of embattled Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich at the moment.)

I am proud to say that I did my part to support the cause, one weekend purchasing a ticket to Fireproof . . . and then going into an adjascent theater to see Eagle Eye.  I’m a stinker, I know. . .

–Daniel J. Roos realizes he just recommended a movie he hasn’t seen.