Review of Fireproof

Fireproof is a heartwarming movie filled with good messages. For anyone who is married or plans to be, it offers many life lessons worth learning.

The movie begins with Caleb reprimanding one of the firemen at the station who left his partner during a fire. He said, "You never leave your partner." Then Katherine goes to see her parents. Her mother had a stroke a year ago, and she can no longer speak.

Katherine and Caleb get into an argument just being in the same room together. It is obvious that something is not right in their marriage. They argue about who pays the bills, who does the chores, who does the grocery shopping, and who has the harder job. Caleb starts screaming in Katherine's face to the point where she's scared, and they both say they want out of the marriage. They go to sleep in different rooms.

Katherine decides she is going to stay in the house. Her friends agree with her that she should stand her ground, that her husband is very insensitive. At the same time, Caleb is commiserating with his buddies at the firehouse. He is saying the same things that Katherine is, that the other does not know anything about respect. Michael, Caleb's friend, suggests that this is something that did not happen "all of the sudden."

Suddenly there is a car accident and Caleb is called to the scene. Again, he assures the victim that nothing is going to happen to her and that he is not going to leave her. He shows so much dedication to his work. Michael is almost hit by the train, but he is barely missed. He tells the rookie later that he is not afraid of dying, because he knows where he is going.

Caleb talks to his parents about the things that are going wrong. His mom tries to talk some sense into him about sharing the work around the house. Caleb's dad tries to explain that God has been there the whole time, doing work all around him, and he just did not realize it. Caleb says that faith is just not for him. His dad convinces him to hold off on the divorce for 40 days while he does something his father will send him in the mail.

Next, Caleb talks with Michael again. Michael says that Caleb's ring means more than that he is married- it is a lifelong covenant that he made. Caleb says that marriages are not fireproof; sometimes they burn. Michael argues that the fire may come, but that does not mean that they cannot get through it.

Caleb's father sends him a book that gives instructions on how to improve his marriage. Day one is to say nothing negative to your spouse. Each day has new instruction. Caleb does start trying these things, but he is not getting a positive or even cooperative reaction from Katherine. She suspects he is being nice just so he can get more out of the divorce settlement.

When Caleb sets up a candlelight dinner on day 18, Katherine responds by telling him she doesn't love him. He calls his dad, and his dad said that he is only half way there, that he has to keep trying. It appears, however, that Katherine does not mean what she said earlier, as the movie shows her crying in her bed just a little while later. Caleb's dad says the next day that the halfway-point was the most difficult time for his mother and him. His dad said Jesus was the most important part of his life and his wife's, and that they lean on Him, not as a crutch, but as faithful believers. He said he could not truly love his wife until he loved Christ.

Caleb decides to accept the Lord into his heart. He tells his friend Michael that "he's in." Michael reveals that he was married and divorced once before, but when he gave his life to God, he tried to fix the situation but it was too late. Michael encourages Caleb to take his vows to heart and really believe in what he promised to Katherine on their wedding day. Meanwhile, Katherine is flirting with a doctor at the hospital where she works. She is confiding her problems in him, when she should be talking to her husband.

There is a daring rescue in which Caleb risks his life to save a little girl trapped in a burning house. They barely make it out alive. Caleb is taken to the emergency room to treat some minor burns. The treating doctor is the one with which Katherine has been flirting. An awkward situation ensues.

Next Caleb has to deal with his addiction to internet pornography. A pop-up ad appears as he is looking for boats, and it is a struggle for him not to click on it. That day's instruction says that addictions and other parasites must be gotten rid of so that they do not ruin a marriage. Caleb takes his computer out into the yard and bashes it to pieces with his baseball bat. He replaces the computer with a dozen roses and a note for his wife. She seems to take this to heart more than she has his other advances, and she leaves a note for him- divorce papers.

The next day, Katherine goes to the medical supply store to pay on the wheelchair and hospital bed for her mother. She thinks Gavin did it, the doctor she's been flirting with. He takes the credit for it. Caleb finds a letter that Gavin wrote to her, and he pays a visit to and has a conversation with Gavin. After Caleb leaves, Gavin is shown pulling out a wedding ring from his desk, but then he puts it away rather than putting it on. He suddenly starts pulling away from Katherine, canceling a lunch date with her.

Katherine has lunch with a friend named Anna. She asks Katherine how her husband would feel if he knew how much she talked with Gavin. Katherine explains that Gavin makes her feel important, he really listens, and Caleb doesn't do that anymore.

Their lives go on and Caleb continues to pray, work, and do things for his wife. One day Katherine decides not to go into work. She is running a fever and Caleb gets her medicine and takes care of her. They finally start talking to each other. Katherine found the book of instructions he was working on, and she confronts him about it. He confesses that he is on day 43, even though there are only 40 days in the book. He admits that he did not want to follow that book at first, but halfway through, he finally understood what love was and changed.

Katherine says she is not sure she can trust him again. Caleb gets down on his knees and apologizes for not treating her right, for "loving other things when he should have loved her." He says that he's asked for God's forgiveness, and that he is praying that she can forgive him, too. She says she needs time, which he agrees to give her. The next day Katherine finds out that her husband paid for the wheelchair and hospital bed for her mother. She is shocked. She goes back home and puts her wedding ring back on, crying.

Katherine goes to the firehouse to reconcile with Caleb. She says she wants the same thing to happen to her that has happened to him. They finally hug and make up. Caleb takes Katherine to the place where he was saved. Caleb's parents come over and the men go for a walk. Caleb thanks his father for the book, and for not giving up on him. His father admits to Caleb that he rewrote the book, and that it was originally from his mother to him. Caleb realizes that he hasn't given his mother enough respect, and that he needs to treat her differently. He makes up with his mom, too.

The movie ends with Caleb and Katherine reaffirming their vows as a covenant under God, rather than as a contract as it was before.