Published: September 20, 2008 10:19 pm      

'Fireproof': Church-sponsored film focuses on marriage

The makers of the inspirational high school football movie “Facing the Giants” are hoping movie fans will say “I do” to their latest venture, a movie about marriage called “Fireproof.” It premieres at the Carmike theaters in Dalton Friday as part of a nationwide release.

“It’s a faith message, but covers problems that all marriages encounter,” said Jim McBride, executive pastor of Sherwood Church in Albany, which has formed Sherwood Pictures. “It’s also about relationships, which we all have — and most of us will be married at some point. It’s a message that’s across the board.”

Fireproof is rated PG because of the intensity of some of the firefighting scenes.

Actor Kirk Cameron, known for his role in the “Growing Pains” sitcom, agreed to star in the film without pay. The other members of the cast are church members. Cameron’s character’s rocky relationship with his wife, played by Catherine Holt, is the focus of the movie. But interspersed with their seeming path to divorce are harrowing firefighting scenes and also a fair amount of humor.

“Facing the Giants’ opened on 440 screens across the country, while “Fireproof” is opening on 800. Family Frameworks, a local marriage ministry, helped bring the film to Dalton.

“We’re promoting it heavily throughout northwest Georgia,” said Family Frameworks director Kathy Schleier. “It’s set for a two-week run, but we’re hoping there will be a surge of people coming to see it and they’ll see the benefit of showing it longer.”

Family Frameworks will have materials in the theater lobby showcasing its services of premarital counseling, marital conflict counseling and marriage enrichment. The organization will also have copies of the book “Love Dares,” which figures prominently in the movie, for sale in the lobby.

Carmike manager Brian Latour said the movie is set for a two-week run initially.

“We haven’t received too many promotional materials, but there will probably be some coming from the corporate office in Columbus,” he said. “We’ve had some advance ticket sales, but whether it stays past the two weeks depends on how well it does and what else is coming out.”

For information on tickets, call Carmike Cinema 9 at (706) 226-1322 or visit www.carmike.com