A Review of Jesus Revolution by Nick Olszyk
Distribution Service: Theatrical
MPAA Rating, PG-13
USCCB Rating, Not rated at the time of this review
Reel Rating, Four Reels
The Jesus Movement might be
little known by my generation, but this cultural landmark was highly
influential for Protestant Christianity in the late 20th century. The
Christian Post even called it “the
greatest spiritual awakening in American history.” Like many other social
experiments, it burns brightly at first, high on its emotional appeal and
novelty, yet in the background, reality is waiting. Jesus Revolution certainly
revels in the highs but also has the courage to examine the fallout, hoping this
will make something lasting – and it does.
Jesus Revolution starts
in the summer of love and follows two interconnecting threads. The first features
high school cartoonist Greg (Joel Courtney) who leaves a prestigious military
academy to join an artsy school in pursuit of his future wife Cathie (Anna
Barlow). Together, they fully embrace the counterculture, descending rapidly
into a vortex of drugs, sitar music, and bell bottoms. Meanwhile, Chuck Smith
(Kelsey Grammar) is a 50-something pastor of a dying church. His daughter
Janette (Ally Ioannides) believes he is out of touch with the world. “Well,”
he responds gruffly. “If you find a hippie, bring him home. I’ll talk to him.”
Janette accepts the offer, introducing him to Lonnie Frisbee (Jonathan Roumie),
both a recent convert to Christianity and former citizen of Haight-Ashbury.
Lonnie, who deliberately grew
out his hair and threw away his shoes to look like Jesus, believes young people
are desperate for God but “looking in all the wrong places.” He wants to create
a place where flower children can express their desire for peace and community
in a Christian context. Intrigued, Chuck reinvents his church as Calvary
Chapel, enticing the youth with folk music, powerful testimonials, and large communal
baptisms on the beach. Greg and Cathie, wounded by the world, find a love and
peace there that LSD could never give them. Soon Greg is leading his own Bible
study and will eventually become one of the most successful evangelists in
American history.
Watching this movement fifty
years later, it’s tempting to dismiss the Jesus movement as reckless and felting.
So much of the early enthusiasm was wrapped up in naïve emotion which is
ultimately unsustainable. Like Jesus’ parable of the good soil, many loose
their way quickly. Some drop out as soon as the high is over. Others – most notably
Lonnie – believe themselves unique instruments of divine power. “This would be
nothing without me,” he yells at one critic. Fortunately, he has the good sense
to back off and work on his own issues. Otherwise, he could’ve easily turned Calvary
Chapel into another People’s Temple. Greg and Cathie also have an argument that
threatens to split them apart, but their relationship is saved by humility and
forgiveness. Mainstream Protestantism may have lacked good communication and
flexibility, but it also provided the structure needed to continue through
difficulties.
Jesus Revolution never
touches on Catholicism, but the Jesus movement certainly influenced the Church
in America. It seemed perfectly timed to fit with 2nd Vatican
Council and the Novus Ordo. My own parents, married in 1979, had both Woody Guthrie
guitar music and four-part hymns in Old Church Slavonic at their wedding. These
innovations had both positive and negative effects which are still being worked out to
this very day. Yet this should not cause alarm. Historically, it takes
around a century for a major council to fully settle comfortably into the
faithful. Christ has promised us “the gates of the Netherworld will never prevail.”
Revolutions come and go, but
Jesus always remains. As a work of cinema, Jesus Revolution has a
compelling story with fantastic acting. Jonathan Roumie didn’t even need to
change makeup from his previous job. The
picture demonstrates when the focus is on Jesus, then our efforts will be affectious,
long after we – or our movements – have gone.
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