After releasing so many Christian movies over the last few years, Hollywood seems to be hedging its bets with the upcoming release of 'Fifty Shades of Grey' next Valentine's Day. But thankfully for Christians looking for a relationship movie to help celebrate their love next year, the creators of 'God's Not Dead' are releasing 'Old Fashioned,' a faith-based romance to compete with the more worldly 'Fifty Shades'.
"I wanted to tell a love story that takes the idea of Godly romance seriously," Rik Swartzwelder, the film's award-winning writer-director and lead actor, said in a statement. "A story that, without apology, explores the possibility of a higher standard in relationships; yet, is also fully aware of just how fragile we all are and doesn't seek to heap guilt upon those of us that have made mistakes."
Old Fashioned follows a former frat boy and an adventurous woman trying to commit to an "old fashioned" brand of courtship in modern America. Moviegoers are promised to see chivalry making a comeback in the new film. The studio behind the project, Freestyle Releasing, recently gave us the surprise hit God's Not Dead.
'Fifty Shades of Grey' is based off of E.L. James' book that has been described as pornographic and exploitive.
According to The Independent and Freestyle Co President Mark Borde, Old Fashioned will be "the first faith-based theatrical release to specifically target the underserved Christian singles audience."
Filmakers have compared Old Fashioned's chances at going against Fifty Shades at the box office to the Biblical David's chance at dealing with the much bigger Goliath.
"They will have more screens, more money, more hype," Swartzwelder said in his statement, "but we're hopeful that we are not alone in our belief that there are others out there who desire more from love - and the movies - than objectification or domination".
'Old Fashioned' stars Swartzwelder as Clay and Elizabeth Ann Roberts (Heroes, House, Black Knight) as Amber. The film was shot on location in rural northeastern Ohio.
