Jesus Revolution

Like much of the Christian drama genre, Jesus Revolution suffers from lots of stilted, VERY on-the-nose dialogue that prioritises getting the message across over sounding natural.

But unlike most of the Christian drama genre, the film is shockingly well-focused, prioritising it's characters and their stories just as much as it's religious messages that do admittedly preach to the choir.

There's a lot of care put into this movie; it's shot and acted with plenty of artistic prowess, and the story is refreshing in how it is purely centred around its flawed human characters as they work on their broken lives, bad habits, and strained relationships.

The familial element of religion is what helps them find the purpose they're looking for, and it's refreshing to see a Christian film that really tries to tell a compelling story about fleshed-out characters rather than just peddle a message without a beating heart and visible soul.

Although the film is too long-burdened by repetitive scenes that don't add anything new to the story-and the dialogue is often clunky and unintentionally silly, I was impressed with how much this does right when it comes to filmmaking and storytelling. It's infinitely better than most in this subgenre.

A pastor in Costa Mesa (Kelsey Grammer) is concerned about the counterculture's obsession with drugs and loose sex, but also his dying church that isn't connecting with the youth. His daughter (Ally Ioannides) brings home a hippie "Jesus freak" (Jonathan Roumie) and he sees that he's genuine and gifted. The team-up sparks a movement that spreads for the next several years.

"Jesus Revolution" (2023) is a well-done account of the Jesus Movement in SoCal between 1968-1971. It's made in such a way that anyone who's interested in that era and the social upheaval that was going on will appreciate it, similar to "Forrest Gump" except with more overt spirituality. For instance, there's Janis Joplin, Timothy Leary and several iconic songs, e.g. "Free Ride," "Listen to the Music" and "War."

While I'm somewhat familiar with Greg Laurie and his ministry, I wasn't aware that he got his start in the Jesus Movement, nor was I familiar with Chuck Smith or Lonnie Frisbee, the latter of whom "backslid" and died of AIDS at the premature age of 43 in 1993.

Grammer and Joel Courtney are effective as the main male protagonists, Chuck Smith and Greg Laurie respectively. Meanwhile the lovely Anna Grace Barlow is a winsome revelation as Cathe, Laurie's potential girlfriend.

While not as inspiring as "War Room" (2015), it's arguably superior to "Do You Believe?" (2015), "God's Not Dead" (2014), "God's Not Dead 2" (2016) and "Overcomer" (2019). It's at least on par with any of 'em.

The film runs 2 hours and, was shot in Fairhope, Alabama, which is just southeast of Mobile, with several other scenes shot on-location in the coastal Los Angeles area.

GRADE: B+/A-

Anyone who knows me, knows I really hate most Christian films, as the scripts are horrible, the storyline horrible, the acting horrible. This however, is none of that. This was actually a great movie; objectively speaking.

Where I had a problem was that this movie didn't actually share the Gospel that actually started that revival - which I was surprised, given this is based on Greg Laurie's book. I know all about Calvary Chapel, as that was my home church for over a decade. A great, Bible expository teaching, gospel centered church. But you got none of that here. What you got, was essentially the "American Gospel." - which is, come to Jesus for your drug addiction, brokenness (broken over what? They never say).

Before someone can truly repent and be "saved", they must know what they are being saved from. That we are sinners, a target of God's wrath, condemned eternally to hell. God, knowing we can't save ourselves, died in our place and took that wrath upon Himself. We come to Him because we are broken over our sin - that's why we're broken. Sure, Jesus DOES help with drug addictions, or anything else.

But before He can do that, we need to have a relationship with Him - which we can't have without first accepting His penal atonement for our sins. Only after our sins are covered can we enter His presence and have a relationship, and find healing for everything else.

I was truly surprised this was absent from the film, and they opted for the "it worked for you, maybe it can work for me" type gospel, as if Jesus is a free trial, and not the eternal Judge and Savior of your soul. I've been to Greg Laurie's church, read his books, been to his Harvest crusades, and he always shares the true gospel - so why was it absent here?

I don't know. I just wish it was present, because so many people may watch this movie. Sure this will point people to Jesus and encourage people to seek the truth, but they won't have clear gospel presentation that can save their soul.

I watch a lot of Christian movies, I found this one to be the least cheesy christian movie out there. I appreciated the Humor and the message of repentance and love.

I love Calvary Chapel, I enjoyed the constant moving of the story and I never felt it was boring or preachy at parts. I appreciated the realness of the movie and I think anyone regardless of their background can see this movie and enjoy it! I liked that it showed the flaws in everyone and it was a raw movie.

I did not give it 10 stars cause there was some historical inaccuracies in the movie itself.

Overall I recommend this movie and think it is a wonderful movie!

This is how you make a Christian movie.

This is how you make a movie that makes a person think and feel a certain way when you leave the theater.

Like i've said many times, i rate movies by what they are suppose to accomplish and not the other hyped up things that dont matter.

This movie hits the nail on the head perfectly (for me anyways). It preaches to ALL audiences saved or not, and makes you think and makes you FEEL what the writer wants to say without hitting you over the head with a bible and losing 99% of the audience.

Very well written.

Very well acted.

Great sound track.

Awesome cinematography.

Didn't feel intrusive or too 'preachy'

It was a little preachy, but not in the same way most christian movies are.

I didn't know coming into this that this was also about Greg Laurie and his beginning. It didn't affect anything for me. Actually, it fit perfectly for me.

Watch this. You will NOT be disappointed.