Freestyle Releasing, which generated strong grosses for âGodâs Not Dead,â is offering up a challenge next Valentineâs Day to âFifty Shades of Greyâ with faith-based romance âOld Fashioned.â
âI wanted to tell a love story that takes the idea of Godly romance seriously,â said Rik Swartzwelder, writer-director and lead actor. âA 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 doesnât seek to heap guilt upon those of us that have made mistakes.â
Swartzwelder plays a former frat boy and Elizabeth Ann Roberts will portray a free-spirited woman. The tagline is âChivalry makes a comeback.â
The next few months will be packed with all sorts of discussions about S&M in relationshipsâwe've already gotten one press release from a morality-obsessed organization trying to boycott the 50 Shades movieâbut I think it's fair to say that Old Fashioned is not going to do 50 Shades-style numbers on Valentine's Day weekend. Sex outsells God every time.
That said, I kind of love the idea of Christians trying to launch their own Hollywood, with a mockbuster to counter every blockbuster on opening weekend. Imagine the worst movies of this summerâTrans4mers, Hercules, Sex Tapeâonly written from a Christian perspective and produced on a shoestring budget. The cheese level would be even higher than movies produced by The Asylum. Hell, I'd rather watch the Christian Sex Tape than the real Sex Tape. The Christian Sex Tape might make me laugh once or twice.