Movie Review: Fireproof
Liberty University
PACO 615: Marriage and Family Counseling
Dr. Elias Moitinho
February 1, 2025
Movie Review: Fireproof 3
The Review
For the Christian couple movie, I chose Fireproof (2008). I happily chose this one, which
has been on my watchlist for years. It portrays the positive and challenging aspects that many
married couples must deal with during times of crisis. It was evident in the first ten minutes that
Caleb and Cathrine Holt do not like, respect, or love one another. In those ten minutes, we see
the married couple scream at one another, argue with one another, complain about each
other’s actions, and ultimately, Cathrine admits that she wants out. The rest of the movie is
Caleb taking on “The Love Dare,” a journal from his father, to start serving and loving his wife
sacrificially.
The scene that caught my attention the most was after Caleb gave his life to Christ. His
whole mind shifted: his actions, his thoughts, his motives. Everything changed. That is the
theme that should be noticed by any viewer, which is the transformation in Caleb after he gave
his life to Jesus. While Cathrine had her issues that she was bringing into the marriage dynamic,
her flirting with a co-worker, and the lack of love on her end, it was Caleb who needed to
change first. As her husband, he is the one who is meant to lead. So, the scene where he gives
his life to Christ is pivotal because that is when the real change begins! No longer is he selfish
and trying to gain favor; he is selflessly loving his wife.
Every subsequent scene following his transformation leads the audience to understand
that Jesus can also change their lives. By the end of the movie, Caleb’s life had been
transformed. This transformation leads his wife to find her wedding ring, slam it on, and find
Caleb. At the firehouse, in a lovely dress and makeup that she struggled to put on through the
tears, she tells Caleb that she wants God to do what He has done for her. Solidifying the theme
of transformation. Therefore, that simple scene where Caleb gives his life to Jesus is the most
important scene that can be used to point others to where true hope lies: Jesus Christ.
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Therapeutic Implications
The movie shows a lack of intimacy between Caleb and Cathrine. In one scene, on day
eighteen of the Love Dare, Caleb makes a candlelight dinner and is prepared to ask his wife
questions to get to know her. In a burst of outrage, Cathrine tells Caleb that she does not love
him anymore. He snuffs out the candles and goes outside to call his dad, exclaiming that it is
over. After a talk with his dad, Caleb gave his life to the Lord after realizing that his motives
behind the Love Dare were for selfish reasons. Their lack of communication, coupled with his
selfish desires, was what made all his efforts up to that point fruitless.
The implications of this come in when Caleb was willing to try to love his wife selflessly
and not for his own selfish gains. He destroyed his computer because he saw pornography as
the parasite that it was. He let go of his savings to purchase a boat and instead used it to buy
equipment for his mother-in-law. Of course, it would have helped if Caleb had communicated
that he had done this sooner. Not that he would be buying her love, but just to express that his
love for her was more important than his love for a boat.
Communication is key. Whether it is who is buying the groceries that week, what the
other needs at the store, expressing when one is not feeling well, or spending thousands on
new medical equipment. In The Dream House, it says, “Effective communication is the key that
will unlock your spouse’s heart and bring you together.” (Moitinho-Moitinho, 2024, p.73).
Proverbs 18:2 says, “Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their
own opinions.” (ESV). I think it was safe to say that Caleb was more willing to air his own
opinions and not wanting to understand who his wife was or her needs. It was when he learned
to listen to and love God that he was able to be the loving husband that he needed to be so God
could save his marriage.
Personal/Professional Implications
I am not married, but I love God dearly with all my heart. I try to base my morals, ethics,
and values on what God deems moral, ethical, and valuable. I have my issues and addictions,
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and after watching this movie, it makes me want to fight for my future marriage. It was a
blessing that Caleb’s dad gave him the Love Dare, and even more fortunate that Caleb had the
fire within him to try it out. The difference between Caleb and I is that I have no spouse, but I
can start taking the steps to be in the right place before I get there.
In my town, there are so many broken homes. So many of my students come from
homes that have addiction, divorce, and abuse. So much so that it is overwhelming. I do not
want to have a family or marriage that matches the homes of my town. I want a family and
marriage that can point others to Christ. In the meantime, I am so thankful that I can step into
these students’ lives and point them to Christ. I am grateful that I have the opportunity to enter
into their parents’ lives and show them where true hope lies for themselves and their kids.
This is what Caleb’s dad did for him. He loved his son enough to give him the truth. In
the process of the truth, he steered his son to Jesus. Out of everything in the movie, this is what
I agree with the most. No matter how complex or impossible the problem seems, I have found
that directing a student, their parents, or even myself to Jesus. I recognize that I cannot fix any
problems, but Jesus can. His methods are the most tried and true and consistently lead others
to success.
This ties into what I have believed to be true about marriage. It is selfless, sacrificial, and
needs to have Jesus at the center. If Jesus is at the center, everything else tends to fall into
place. Loving becomes easier, caring becomes simpler, and even the hard days are become
much more bearable.
References:
Moitinho-Moitinho (2024). The Dream Home: How to Create an Intimate Christian Marriage.
Kendall Hunt Publishing – Custom Wholesale.
https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/books/9798385150977
