The classic Hollywood ending: Bride and groom kiss, minister pronounces them husband and wife, credits roll. The End implies "and they lived happily ever after."

That's the way it used to be.

In many of today's movies, such an ending might simply imply the end. As in "the end of the adventure."

And so we've had a rash of romantic comedies where the lovers ride off into the sunset, unmarried, happy and sexually satisfied. At least for now. Though their future together is murky, the implication is that the adventures will continue.

The old way left us wondering what happened once the marriage was underway; the new doesn't even bother to say, "I do." Fireproof (which appears in theaters on September 26) promises to break both molds — the happily ever after cliché as well as the notion that once the wedding is over, so is the fun. In a departure from the chick flick formula, Fireproof shows that after the wedding comes the real work of making a marriage strong enough to succeed.

Fireproof tells a gripping tale about fire captain Caleb Holt (Kirk Cameron) in a life-saving job who is hero to everyone but his wife, Catherine (Erin Bethea). On the job, he lives the fireman's motto — never leave your partner behind.

At home, it's a different story. Catherine, feeling the neglect of his distraction — fueled primarily by his online porn habit and desire to save enough overtime pay to buy a big, fast boat — wants a divorce. She's done, both emotionally and practically — she's in the beginning stages of having an affair with a handsome young doctor at the hospital where she works. Though letting his marriage fail would be a blow to his pride, Caleb's not sure it's worth fighting for.

Enter his parents. Especially his dad. This is where things veer from what you'd expect from the movies. Rather than agreeing with Caleb that the marriage is beyond redemption, he reveals that some years ago his own marriage to Caleb's mom had nearly collapsed. Speaking from painful experience, he challenges Caleb not to proceed with the divorce for just 40 days and promises to send him something in the mail. When it arrives, the "love dare" begins.

This third film from Sherwood Baptist Church and brothers Alex and Stephen Kendrick shows that with a little money (especially relative to what blockbusters cost) and a lot of creativity, passion and perseverance, you can make good movies that get a lot of play outside the regular system. To date, Facing the Giants, their second film, has generated over $10 million, including DVD sales topping 2 million, with 13 foreign-language translations. Not bad for a production budget that would cover what big studios spend on catering. The films' successes have been a surprise to everyone, not least the Kendricks, who give the credit to a God who wants to be glorified in our weaknesses.

During a quick lunch with Alex following his appearance on The Boundless Show, he talked about all the ways God showed up to provide, making their micro-budget stretch to cover costs. The hospital gave them access to a whole wing for a week of shooting, for free. The fire station loaned them their best trucks, for free. They even had free access to a train and engineer for a day of shooting a car wreck scene. Examples abound. And none of the actors charged for their time.

Everyone involved in the film was so committed to the story — and the potential for spreading the gospel — that they were just glad to be part of the project. In an interview with Plugged In magazine, Alex attributes it to God's blessing. "We believe Psalm 127:1, that unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it. Unless the Lord produces the movie, they labor in vain who produce it."

What will critics of the film say? They might pick on the regional Georgia accents or the shortage of marquee actors. More likely they'll say it's too Christian, that some subjects are just too personal to appeal broadly to audiences. That would be unfortunate, especially in a media climate where seemingly nothing is taboo.

Thankfully, this is no schmaltzy 80s-style witness film. "We want to have a solid gospel message so intertwined in the plot that it never feels like we're pausing the movie to preach to the audience," Alex told Plugged In. "We want it to come through in natural conversations, lived out in everyday ways." Their approach works. It's Caleb's realization that loving someone who doesn't deserve to be loved, someone who constantly rejects him, that provides the spiritual, and relational, turning point in the movie.

It's a fun movie to watch. In addition to the suspense provided by Caleb's firefighting are moments of characteristic humor interspersed with the intense relational and spiritual themes. And it's a delight to see the Kendricks' craft come so far. Still, professional critics and aficionados will probably always find flaws regardless of how much these guys improve. While visiting Focus on the Family, Stephen Kendrick said he gets a laugh out of reviews that say Sherwood's movies aren't Oscar worthy. "We'd be the first to tell you that," he said.

But they're working where there's a need, engaging essential issues and connecting with audiences at a deeply personal level. Any critic that camps out on the film's flaws, without appreciating the value of taking on these important themes, will miss the point.

And so in the midst of a production that inevitably provides reminders of its modest budget, audiences can't help but get caught up in the story. There are some rewarding feel good moments and more than one guy (including my husband Steve and Boundless editor Ted Slater) told me they were glad the theater was dark to help cover some tear jerking moments.

For a generation scarred by divorce, but hopeful they can make their own marriages work, Fireproof provides much needed modeling of what it takes. Many 20-somethings readily admit that without seeing commitment honored in their own homes, they're not sure what to do differently — especially when things get difficult. If you're wondering how you can make your marriage (or future marriage) work, seeing Fireproof is a good place to start.

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Fireproof's groundbreaking treatment of the issue of pornography will surely encourage some viewers to seek help in breaking free from their own personal struggle. Focus on the Family's Website Pure Intimacy (www.pureintimacy.org) offers great direction for recovery (for both men and women) as well as a vision for healthy Biblical sexuality.