A million thoughts swirl through my head, but I knew I had to be the one to review Jon Erwin and Brent McCorkle’s feature film, Jesus Revolution, based on the book by Pastor Greg Laurie. When I became an Evangelical Christian in the late 70s and lived in Southern California at the tail end of the Jesus Revolution, I’m very familiar with the main players in this film.
For all intent and purpose, Jesus Revolution is the origin story of one of the largest Christian churches in Southern California, Calvary Chapel. Kelsey Grammer plays its longtime pastor Chuck Smith, who passed away in 2013. Jesus Revolution starts with Chuck Smith’s humble beginnings in Orange County, California, leading a small flock in a dwindling church.
After a fight with his daughter, Janette (Ally Ioannides) storms off in a rage and runs into a hippie named Lonnie Frisbee (Jonathan Roumie) with a message of Jesus Christ that she had never heard before, especially from her father. Lonnie’s message was simply that Jesus loved the sinner, and no matter how much you think you ruined your life (particularly through drugs), there is hope in Jesus Christ.
Jonathan Roumie as Lonnie Frisbee in Jesus Revolution. Photo Credit: Dan Anderson
“…starts with Chuck Smith’s humble beginnings in Orange County, California, leading a small flock in a dwindling church.”
Chuck decides to give this hippie a chance by allowing him to preach at his church. Frisbee brought an unorthodox, casual, heartfelt message to the congregation and a full folk band—Lovesong—to bring modern worship music to replace the hymns of old. Let’s just say that Lonnie didn’t impress the church’s old guard, who threatened to leave the church penniless…how much do hippies make?
Jesus Revolution is also the story of Greg Laurie (Joel Courtney). A straight-laced 60s teen on his way to the military academy at his parents’ behest. Before entering the academy, Laurie meets Cathe (Anna Grace Barlow), who would change Greg’s life with her hippie lifestyle and ample supply of hippie drugs. After the near-death of their close friend, Greg and Cathe give Jesus a chance after attending one of Chuck and Lonnie’s services.
I have mixed emotions about Jesus Revolution, and it’s all personal in nature. Suffice it to say, Jesus Revolution brought me back to a time in history, including my own, when the spirit of God was moving through the young folk of Southern California, and Chuck Smith was one of those figureheads at the time. So there’s a spirit and message of love and redemption in Jesus Revolution that I miss and haven’t felt in a long time.
