This is the true story of one young hippie's quest in the late 1960's for belonging and liberation that leads not only to peace, love, and rock and roll, but that sets into motion a new counterculture crusade--a Jesus Movement--changing the course of history, inspired by a true movement, this tells the story of a young Greg Laurie (Joel Courtney) being raised by his struggling mother, Charlene (Kimberley Williams Paisley) in the late 1960's. Laurie and a sea of young people descend on sunny Southern California to redefine truth through all means of liberation. Inadvertently, Laurie meets Lonnie Frisbee (Jonathan Roumie), and Pastor Chuck Smith (Kelsey Grammer) who have thrown open the doors of Smith's languishing church to a stream of wandering youth. What unfolds becomes the greatest spiritual awakening in American history. Rock and roll, newfound love, and a twist of faith lead to Jesus Revolution that turns one counterculture movement into a revival that changes the world.
Others to round out the cast are Anna Grace Barlow as Cathe, Devon Franklin as Josiah, a journalist, Victoria Paige Watkins as Katy, Jean St. James as Kathryn Kuhlman and Jackson Robert Scott as young Greg Laurie.
This was expertly directed by Jon Erwin ("The Cross and the Towers" '06, "Alumni" (TV movie) .09, "October Baby" '11, "Fully Alive" '12, "Moms' Night Out" '14, "Woodlawn" '15, "Steve McQueen: American Icon" '17, "I Can Only Imagine" '18, "I Still Believe" '20, "American Underdog" '21, "The Jesus Music" (documentary) '21) plus TV, videos and a music video, and Brent McCorkle ("The Rift" '09, "Unconditional" '12) plus TV. I'm not sure why they felt a need to have two directors on this project, but the staging and pacing was seamless in its ability to have the production flow like water. Even though Erwin has the brunt of the experience here, McCorkle certainly was pivotal with his input. The emotions that the cast had emitted in such a realistic way that one felt they were watching and listening to regular people and not a film with actors. Its writing was written in a heartfelt way by Jon Erwin ("Alumni" (TV movie) '09, "October Baby" '11, "Moms' Night Out" '14, "Coffee Shop" '14, "Woodlawn" '15, "I Can Only Imagine" '18, "I Still Believe" '20, "American Underdog" '21, "The Jesus Music" (documentary) '21) plus videos, and Jon Gunn ("Mercy Streets" 2000, "The Week" '15, "I Still Believe" '20, "American Underdog" '21), based on the book by Greg Laurie and Ellen Vaughn. It was shot as a flashback, as a number of films has used similar formats, however with this film, it takes us back to a year prior and is amazing of all that transpired within that year between 1968 and 1969. The script was sequenced with amazing delineation and crispness, and allowed the two hour running time to move right along. The actors used in this were mostly actors that most people wouldn't recognize, but their presence made an amazing impact toward conveying the story. This screenplay was concise and cohesive which allowed the audience to follow easily.
If you are a Christian, you will obviously revel with this, however even if you're not, there is something to be learned from this. As said prior, this is an in-your-face film about Jesus and why he died for the sins of the world, but it is presented in such a compassionate, heartfelt and assuring way that it makes it very easy to take in and be able to ask yourself questions of where we stand as a people with God. This is a film for all to see and experience, especially in a world that has been totally turned upside down.
Out of 4 Stars: 4 Rated: PG-13 120mins.
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