One of the more successful faith-based films of recent years has been this year’s “Jesus Revolution.” It is the true story of Pastor Chuck Smith and the beginnings of his Calvary Chapel movement in Costa Mesa, California, in the late 1960’s. The church was floundering until he reluctantly began to partner with charismatic hippie preacher Lonnie Frisbee, who brought his friends into Calvary Chapel.
The result was not only Calvary Chapel’s amazing growth but was also the beginnings of the so-called Jesus Movement that overflowed into other churches across the country and even around the world. Calvary Chapel’s growth was also part of a larger evangelical and charismatic church revival of the 1960’s and 1970’s.
Director Jon Erwin, who also at the helm of the very successful “I Can Only Imagine” (2018), did a very good job in giving the project good production values and an attractive, well organized storyline. Erwin co-wrote the screenplay with Jon Gunn, adapted from evangelist Greg Laurie’s 2018 autobiography of the same name. Laurie is also a major character in the film, along with Smith and Frisbee, as it shows his and his wife’s conversion to Christianity.
The ensemble cast does an outstanding job, especially Kelsey Grammer (Frasier Crane of “Cheers” and “Frasier,” 1984-2004) as Smith, Jonathan Roumie (Jesus of “The Chosen,” since 2019) as Frisbee, and Joel Courtney as Laurie. Other actors include Anna Grace Barlow as Cathe Martin, Julia Campbell as Kay Smith, and Ally Ioannides, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, DeVon Franklin, Nicholas Cirillo, Nic Bishop, Jolie Jenkins, and Shawn Weiss.
The very watchable and inspirational “Jesus Revolution” has been a successful motion picture at the box office for Kingdom Story Company and Lionsgate Films.
Jesus Revolution (2023)
cinema
My Review
One of the more successful faith-based films of recent years has been this year’s “Jesus Revolution.” It is the true story of Pastor Chuck Smith and the beginnings of his Calvary Chapel movement in Costa Mesa, California, in the late 1960’s. The church was floundering until he reluctantly began to partner with charismatic hippie preacher Lonnie Frisbee, who brought his friends into Calvary Chapel.
The result was not only Calvary Chapel’s amazing growth but was also the beginnings of the so-called Jesus Movement that overflowed into other churches across the country and even around the world. Calvary Chapel’s growth was also part of a larger evangelical and charismatic church revival of the 1960’s and 1970’s.
Director Jon Erwin, who also at the helm of the very successful “I Can Only Imagine” (2018), did a very good job in giving the project good production values and an attractive, well organized storyline. Erwin co-wrote the screenplay with Jon Gunn, adapted from evangelist Greg Laurie’s 2018 autobiography of the same name. Laurie is also a major character in the film, along with Smith and Frisbee, as it shows his and his wife’s conversion to Christianity.
The ensemble cast does an outstanding job, especially Kelsey Grammer (Frasier Crane of “Cheers” and “Frasier,” 1984-2004) as Smith, Jonathan Roumie (Jesus of “The Chosen,” since 2019) as Frisbee, and Joel Courtney as Laurie. Other actors include Anna Grace Barlow as Cathe Martin, Julia Campbell as Kay Smith, and Ally Ioannides, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, DeVon Franklin, Nicholas Cirillo, Nic Bishop, Jolie Jenkins, and Shawn Weiss.
The very watchable and inspirational “Jesus Revolution” has been a successful motion picture at the box office for Kingdom Story Company and Lionsgate Films.