Christian "Entertainment?"

Let me begin by laying all my cards on the table: I have not seen the movie "Fireproof" recently released by Sherwood Pictures (the movie production "ministry" of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, GA) nor do I intend on seeing it. This is not a review of the movie, but rather an introspective on the intention of the filmmakers. 

Fireproof is a drama starring Kirk Cameron that tells the story of a man who spends his life rescuing the public from raging infernos but cannot save his own marriage from falling apart (this is what I have gathered from the trailer and movie website... I'm sure there's more to the movie than just that). Sherwood Pictures produced the movie following the immense success of Facing the Giants, a high school football film that scored with families on DVD. Fireproof was released on September 26, 2008.

Now, I have much more to say about the current state of Christian movies than would be relevant to this post, but what I will say is that I believe the greatest fault Christian filmmakers have made is ignoring the essential element of good storytelling: that the story should first and foremost be entertaining. Now, considering I have not seen Fireproof it would be silly of me to assume the movie was not entertaining. It has received many positive comments from friends of mine who have seen it. However, I remain skeptical; the one thing I do know is Christians are slow to criticize bad product that is labelled "Christian." 

Consider what the movie's own website calls its "Heart": Ministry will continue long after FIREPROOF opens this fall. Cast and crew understand they are ambassadors for the film's message of hope. The question I cannot help but ask is, did the producers approach the making of this movie with a good story or was the story created around this "message of hope"? I'm not at all opposed to a message of hope, especially a message of hope concerning marriages in a world that is increasingly hostile towards the institution. Here is what I believe: a good movie is made from a good story, and within that story lies a message (or multiple messages) that cannot be ignored. When a movie, or book or song for that matter, is written solely to teach a message it can often have drastic results. There is nothing wrong with allowing a movie to be entertaining as well as thought-provoking (did not the Creator create entertainment as He did everything else?).

I'll let you know if I ever decide to watch the movie.