Old Fashioned- The Movie, the Book and the Devotional Review and giveaway!

Do you ever have times when expectations are exceeded with reality?  When you think you know how something is going to look, and then it surprises you and is completely different?  Or times that your kids just KNOW a movie is going to be bad, and then begrudgingly admit that it was, after all, good?  (That one I like!)

Yep, that is exactly how things turned out with the movie Old Fashioned.

I thought it was a movie about courtship.  It is not.
The kids thought it might be poorly made.  It definitely is not!
The kids thought it would be sappy and boring.  It was neither.

What it is, it turns out, is a story of God's grace.  And love.  Written by and starring Ric Swartzwelder, it is a story about a man named Clay who led a pretty colorful college life, turned his life around, and decided how things were going to look different from then on out.  He came up with some "theories" and built his life and his behavior around them.  Unfortunately, somewhere in the midst of trying to follow the letter of the law, he forgot the spirit of the law.  He held himself up to such drastic standards that even he could not make himself happy.  Clay had some great ideas of how he should treat women, the issue became how he treated himself.

Then he met Amber, a free spirited wanderer who drifts into town and captures his heart.  Through time, she sees her need for God's love and grace and he sees his need for letting go of perfection. And that's when the romance starts.  Well, after a few interviews with a book and lots of personal questions.  Trust me, you will like those parts!

Quite simply, Old Fashioned is a good movie.  Though there are some sweet, romantic moments in it, it is not sappy and isn't too predictable.  There are a few scenes that are for a slightly more mature audience which earned it a PG-13 rating.  I watched with with 4 teens and our 21 year old and it sparked a good conversation afterwards.  Funny how movies can get a conversation started.

The Book- Written by Rene Gutteridge and based off the movie, this 303 page novelization did a good job of sticking to the original story plot pretty closely.  There were a few extras added, but on a whole, you won't see many differences.  It is a fairly quick and easy read- I would say the perfect vacation book.

The Devotional- This 40 day, 222 page devo, The Old Fashioned Way, goes along with the movie but can be used without having seen it.  I do like that most days begin with a quote from the movie since some of my favorite lines were quoted!  Each of the 40 days begins with a 1-2 page devotion on various topics and then ends with Bible verses and prayers. Sections titled "things to consider" and "things to journal" make it interactional and cause you to think about how you feel on the many varied topics. Topics include Respect Yourself, Beyond the Dating Life, Chivalry is Not Dead and How Compatible Are You.  Each day, author Ginger Kolbaba walks you through what it looks like to "reclaim the lost art of romance" in an easy going, conversational tone.  The pages are full of Bible verses and examples without being judgmental or talking down to you.  While you may not agree with everything you read, I assure you it will give you some things to consider.  I love how they advertise it-

Contrary to popular opinion, being "old fashioned" doesn't mean you're dull or unromantic.  In fact, a true old fashioned relationship can be more exciting and romantic than anything you've ever experienced!  So what does it mean to do things the old fashioned way?  Sure, it means opening doors, holding out chairs, and taking things slow.  But a true old fashioned romance goes much, much deeper than that.  Inspired by the motion picture Old Fashioned, this book will show you how to reclaim the lost art of romance by introducing you to romantic love as God intended it.  Regardless of your past mistakes, where you've been, what you've done, or where you are now, you can find and create a love that will last a lifetime! 

In a day and time where our theaters are filled with trashy movies and many books boarder on filth, it is refreshing to be able to watch a Christian movie or book that is not only written well, but tells a story worth telling - that chivalry is still alive, that romance is still alive, and that God can redeem our pasts and make our futures beautiful!

Fly By Productions and I would love to give one of our readers a copy of the movie Old Fashioned, the novel, and the devotional!  Just leave me a comment and tell me what your idea of a fun date night with your significant other or group of friends looks like! A random winner will be chosen on Tuesday, 23rd.

Old Fashioned can also be purchased from CDB for $15.95.

You can also find Old Fashioned on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OldFashionedMovie and

Twitter: @OldFashionedVow

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

 Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”