Jesus Revolution

Even if you've assumed several different things about it, Jesus Revolution isn't what you think.
79/10043476
Starring
Kelsey Grammer, Jonathan Roumie, Joel Courtney
Directors
Jon Erwin, Brent McCorkle
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Drama
Release date
February 24, 2023
Overall Score
Rating Overview
Plot/Story
Visuals/Cinematography
Performance
Direction
Non-Wokeness
Rating Summary
Jesus Revolution is a relief to watch. It is almost unthinkable that a movie with a smart script, good production value, and good actors who give quality and moving performances can all exist in a film that unambiguously preaches the gospel.
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Based on the true story of the 1970s movement of the same name, Jesus Revolution tells the tale of the largest spiritual awakening in American history.

Jesus Revolution

I know that I’m a little behind on this one, but I’ve got a good reason. You see, I assumed that Jesus Revolution would be a heavy-handed and melodramatic piece of schlocky crap that sported embarrassing performances and worse dialogue all filmed by a first-year film student that would make Cocaine Bear seem like Citizen Kane. So, I chose to skip it, but I’m all caught up on the series that I’ve been reviewing, and nothing new has come out this week that I haven’t seen and reviewed, so I had a choice to make: watch Jesus Revolution or do my taxes.

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Telling the story of how three very different men heard God’s call, and how their willingness to listen planted the seeds for the largest of the four great awakenings in American history, Jesus Revolution stars Kelsey Grammer as Pastor Chuck Smith, the shepherd of a diminishing church in late 60s early 70s California, Jonathan Roumie as Lonnie Frisbee, a barefoot hippie and Jesus Freak who sparks the whole movement, and Joel Courtney as Greg Laurie, a teenage boy from a broken and troubled home who is looking for meaning. Together, the three would come to know the Lord in ways that none of them had ever dreamed of.

Unlike its namesake, Jesus Revolution isn’t perfect, and it probably won’t win over many converts, but its good, like really good. It boasts mostly excellent pacing and crisp and economical dialogue all delivered by good to excellent performers. The cinematography isn’t overly inspired, but it’s not an epic movie with the need for dramatic crane shots, and not every cinematographer can pull off The Fabelmans like Spielberg, who used his skill to elevate an otherwise fair film to Academy contention.

One of the film’s greatest strengths is its understanding of and its ability to articulate The Word with veracity and skill. Jonathan Roumie, who plays Lonnie, unequivocally shows why he is the perfect actor to play Jesus in Angel Studio’s The Chosen series. His peaceful sincerity borders on otherworldly, while Kelsey Grammer gives an equally earnest and nuanced performance. There are several moments in the film in which Grammer’s Smith so clearly expresses the nearly indefatigable heartbeat long flashes that many Christians are blessed to experience when we Know what God wants from us in that singular moment and we are receptive to it. We “hear” the Creator, and we know that he knows that we hear him, and it’s wonderful beyond all reason. Grammer nails it, which I’ve never seen on screen before.

As I mentioned above, Jesus Revolution isn’t a perfect movie. There are a handful of times when one of the three main characters’ story arcs feels artificially rushed to make certain that the film comes in at the 2-hour mark, especially the third act which gets a little muddled and uneven.

Furthermore, while it will almost certainly be an inspiring movie to those who already believe, I think that these rushed beats are enough to take the more secular viewer out of the moment and make Jesus Revolution seem a surprisingly well-done Jesus movie, but not a compelling enough argument to tip the conversion scales.

That being said, if you know someone who is on the tipping point of embracing The Way, The Truth, and The Life, Jesus Revolution has enough going for it that it may just bring them over to the winning team. In any case, it’s worth the try.

Ultimately, Jesus Revolution is a huge leap in quality for Christiany Christian movies, and it deserves our time and money. Fortunately, it’s good too. It’s an absolute relief to be able to mark it as 100% Worth It.

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James Carrick

James Carrick is a passionate film enthusiast with a degree in theater and philosophy. James approaches dramatic criticism from a philosophic foundation grounded in aesthetics and ethics, offering insight and analysis that reveals layers of cinematic narrative with a touch of irreverence and a dash of snark.

4 comments

  • marrok_starkiller

    August 27, 2023 at 1:33 pm

    2 out of 5

    Wasn’t the character played by Jess in the Chosen a gay hypocrite in real life?

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    Reply

    • James Carrick

      August 27, 2023 at 1:35 pm

      Yeah, he had all kinds of issues, especially after he left the ministry. Drugs will mess you up.

      Reply

  • N/A

    September 27, 2023 at 9:42 am

    2 out of 5

    I’ve never seen this movie, but the trailer I just watched seems like the equivalent of a pride flag hanging from a steeple. People should be welcome into the church once they repent and conform to high standards. They shouldn’t be free to defile the place of worship.

    Reply

    • Landon Wodash

      April 5, 2024 at 7:01 pm

      No Sin Is Greater Than Another. Jesus Hung Out With All Kinds Of Sinners, And He Did Not Judge Them. Homosexuality Is Absolutely A Sin. But A Gay Person Shouldn’t Not Be Welcome Because Everybody’s A Sinner. How Will They Learn About Jesus If They’re Not Welcome To Church?

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