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Fireproof (2008) Movie Review
Lindsay Hayes
DBMF 400-D01: Marriage and Family Systems: Foundations, Models and Techniques
School of Behavioral Sciences, Liberty University
Professor Kenneth Warren
March 28 , 2022
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Fireproof (2008) Movie Review
I chose to do my movie review on , starring Kirk Alex Kendrick’s 2008 film, Fireproof
Cameron and Erin Bethea (Kendrick, Kendrick, & Nixon, 2008). In the film, Cameron acts as
captain of the Albany Fire Department as Caleb Holt, who silently suffers from his secret addiction
to pornography. While Bethea plays Caleb’s emotionally distant wife Catherine, who works at the
Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital as a public relations director, who is frustrated by Caleb’s
addiction and selfishness and is stressed by th medical bills. e bills from her mother’s
The Review
Early into the film, it is clear to the viewers that marriage is in a desperate need of Caleb’s
fixing, as there is a huge argument between him and Catherine over them both feeling disrespected
and undervalued in their relationship. They both confess that they would rather end their marriage
than continue with the way things are going between the two of them. During a visit from his
parents, Caleb is convinced by his father to hold off on going through with the divorce for forty
days so he could give the Love Dare Challenge in a desperate attempt to help his son save his
failing marriage.
During the forty-day challenge, you can see Caleb struggle through each of the daily
challenges, as Catherine blows off all efforts being put forth by Caleb. As Caleb continues his
challenge, , Dr. Gavin Keller, who is Catherine is busy getting close to the hospital’s head doctor
played by Perry Revell. Soon, Caleb discovers his soon- affair with Dr. Keller to-be wife’s secret
after being admitted for a stay at the very hospital Catherine and Keller both work. Catherine soon
comes to the realization of the effort Caleb has been putting forth when she discovers that her
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mother’s medical expenses had been taken care of, to her surprise, by Caleb. They soon make up
and decide to renew their wedding vows, instead of going through with the divorce.
Breakfast Without Ca b Scene le
One of the es that spoke out to me the most happened early in the m. Caleb and scen fil
Catherine are in the kitchen. It appears as if Catherine is getting ready for her day and getting ready
to leave the house for her morning commu , while Caleb is just getting back home from his te
twenty-four shift at the fire department. Caleb is upset because Catherine has not had any time to
make it to the store to stock-up on groceries and an argument breaks out. Catherine tells Caleb that
simply that he has more time on his hands to do the household errands, such as picking up the
groceries instead of browsing the web looking at pornography and dreaming about his $24,000
boat that he has been saving for. Th scene ends with Catherine angerly making her way out the e
door and off to work, leaving Caleb home.
“I just want out” Scene
The next scene that really spoke to me, was again in the kitchen with Catherine and Caleb.
Caleb is upset that Catherine did not save him any dinner, which was the beginning of what seems
to be the end of their marriage. Things start to get heated, as they are both screaming back and
forth at each other about their feelings of unappreciation that they both have towards h other. eac
Catherine trembling, backed up against the door frame, crying as she tells Ca b, le “I want out, I just
want out, to her surprise Caleb agrees and storms out of the house. ”
Therapeutic Implicatio ns
The two scenes that I chose to point out, both are clearly full of frustration, anger, and
resentment from both characters.
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References
Kendrick, A., Kendrick, S., Nixon, D. (Producers), Kendrick, A., Kendrick, S. (Writers), & Kendrick,
A. (Director). (2008). [Motion Picture]. USA. Retrieved from Fireproof
https://app.pureflix.com/videos/266816038649/fireproof?recommended=q%3Afireproof
