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. 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. 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).
– 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.