text: Freestyle Releasing, which generated strong grosses for “God’s Not Dead,” is offering up a challenge next Valentine’s Day to “Fifty Shades of Grey” with faith-based romance “Old Fashioned.” 
   
   “I wanted to tell a love story that takes the idea of Godly romance seriously,” said Rik Swartzwelder, writer-director and lead actor. “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.” 
   
   Swartzwelder plays a former frat boy and Elizabeth Ann Roberts will portray a free-spirited woman. The tagline is “Chivalry makes a comeback.” 
   
   “Opening the same weekend as ‘Fifty Shades,’ there’s definitely a David v. Goliath comparison,” Swartzwelder said. “They will have more screens, more money, more hype . . . 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.” 
   
   “God’s Not Dead” topped $60 million earlier this year, representing by far the highest gross for any Freestyle release. Co-president Mark Borde asserted “Old Fashioned” is the first faith-based theatrical release to specifically target the “underserved” Christian singles audience. 
   
   Producers are Swartzwelder’s Skoche Films, Nathan Nazario of Motion Picture Pro Studios, Dave DeBorde and Nini Hadjis. The film also stars Dorothy Silver, Tyler Hollinger, Lejon Woods, Nini Hadjis, Maryann Nagel and Joseph Bonamico. 
   
   The announcement comes four days after Universal debuted the first “Fifty Shades” trailer, featuring several sex and bondage scenes with Dakota Johnson (pictured above). Fox is also releasing its “Poltergeist” reboot on Valentine’s Day weekend. ||||| 'Old Fashioned' is hitting theaters the same day as 'Fifty Shades'… and it's no coincidence. 
   
   A Faith-Based Romantic Drama Wants To Take Down 'Fifty Shades Of Grey' 
   
   There's a faith-based film about "old-fashioned courtship" hitting theaters on the exact same day as the sinful, S&M-filled; adaptation of "Fifty Shades of Grey." 
   
   And if you thought that was some sort of divine coincidence, you'd be wrong. This is a challenge. 
   
   Freestyle Releasing -- the studio behind the equally wholesome "God's Not Dead" -- is rather openly marketing "Old Fashioned" as the anti- "Fifty Shades of Grey," or -- as it words it on its website -- the David to "Fifty Shades'" Goliath. 
   
   The film, whose tagline promises that "Chivalry is making a comeback," was written and directed Rik Swartzwelder, who also stars in the film as a former frat boy who falls for a "free spirited woman" played by Elizabeth Ann Roberts. According the the film's synopsis, together they attempt "the impossible: an 'old-fashioned' courtship in contemporary America." 
   
   Translation: no sex. Not even a little bit. None. 
   
   Why, you ask? Well, according to Swartzwelder, "Old Fashioned" is about upholding a "high standard in relationships." 
   
   “I wanted to tell a love story that takes the idea of Godly romance seriously,” he said. “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" hits theaters on Valentine's Day 2015. Choose your side. ||||| Did you watch the Fifty Shades of Grey trailer and think "hmm. There's certainly enough soft core porn-y looking shots of people not having sex. But it definitely needs more Jesus"? Good, because there is a movie company that wants to fulfill your needs—not in that way though. 
   
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   The filmmakers behind faith-based romance Old Fashioned want to take on potential box office monster Fifty Shades of Grey. But they aren't worried about toppling box office records and taking down one of the most anticipated films of the year. Nope. They just want to provide a Christian alternative to a smutty film about people getting tied up and getting it on. Understandable. Via Variety: 
   
   "I wanted to tell a love story that takes the idea of Godly romance seriously," said Rik Swartzwelder, writer-director and lead actor. "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." Swartzwelder plays a former frat boy and Elizabeth Ann Roberts will portray a free-spirited woman. 
   
   "A free-spirited woman," so sort of like a Christian Manic Pixie Girl? The tagline of this film is "chivalry makes a comeback," which means we'll get lots of lessons on how romance is dead because us womenfolk are way to uppity with our careers and independence from men. We don't know how to let men be chivalrous because we're too "free-spirited," like all those witches they burned in Salem. But much like Aerosmith in the 80s, chivalry is making a comeback. Oh I can't wait. 
   
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   The filmmakers are no slouches when it comes to faith-based films. 
   
   "God's Not Dead" topped $60 million earlier this year, representing by far the highest gross for any Freestyle release. Co-president Mark Borde asserted "Old Fashioned" is the first faith-based theatrical release to specifically target the "underserved" Christian singles audience. 
   
   Good news, Christian Mingle users! Now you'll know exactly what to do on your first date, because this film comes out on Valentine's Day (the same day as Fifty Shades of Grey). 
   
   I have zero plans to go see Fifty Shades of Grey. But I am definitely not going to miss Old Fashioned. This is gong to be amazing. Thank you, Jesus. On a related note, I just watched Heaven is For Real and I highly recommend it for those of you who, like me, work a night shift and your entertainment choices after work are the Cindy Crawford beauty care infomercial or this film. (I DVR'd the infomercial.)
target: – If the new 50 Shades of Grey trailer was too much for your innocent eyes, studio Freestyle Releasing has just the flick for you come Valentine's Day: Old Fashioned. In case you couldn't guess by the title, the premise of the flick is "chivalry makes a comeback" (the movie's tagline) as a "former frat boy" and a "free-spirited woman" embark on a "faith-based romance," as Variety puts it. So hot, right? "I wanted to tell a love story that takes the idea of Godly romance seriously," writer, director, and lead actor Rik Swartzwelder says. "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." Or, as Jezebel puts it, "they just want to provide a Christian alternative to a smutty film about people getting tied up and getting it on. Understandable." In reality, the film's synopsis, per MTV News, describes a couple attempting "the impossible: an 'old-fashioned' courtship in contemporary America," so you're probably looking at zero sex scenes. Freestyle's co-president explains Old Fashioned will cater to the "underserved" demographic of Christian singles—an audience that helped the studio bring in $60 million with God's Not Dead earlier this year. Despite opening the same weekend as the far-smuttier 50 Shades, "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," Swartzwelder says.