The faith-based movie, which focuses on America's last major awakening of faith, hits theaters this weekend.
One half of the Erwin Brothers filmmaking duo, together with elder brother Andrew, Jon Erwin is co-writer and co-director of this period piece about the so-called Jesus movement in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Entitled Jesus Revolution, it is based on a book by the same name that was written by one of the participants of the movement: now pastor Greg Laurie, who came to faith at the time.
Two of the leading figures of the revival, which started in Southern California counter-culture circles, were pastor Chuck Smith and hippie street preacher Lonnie Frisbee, portrayed by Kelsey Grammer and Jonathan Roumie, respectively. The picture's narrative follows the 17-year-old Laurie - played by Joel Courtney - as he comes to Christ together with thousands of other young people.
In a social media promotional clip, Laurie - who now shepherds a large church in Riverside, CA - describes this as a "laugh-out-loud" and "shed-a-tear-for-sure" film that also presents a "gospel-infused story of redemption." Jon Erwin, a devout Believer himself, appears in that same clip and states that this is the first time he's worked on a film "where the audience cheers with the movie." He also says he is hopeful it will profoundly touch the hearts of moviegoers.
"We're just praying that revival would happen again, and what happened in that generation would happen in this generation. I think we're already seeing the signs of it."
That, of course, is a reference to recent revival-like events at Asbury University in Kentucky that have since spread to other Christian colleges. The timing of the release of this film, right on the heels of those rumblings of potential awakening, strikes us a potentially divinely orchestrated confluence, so we shall see if God answers the prayers of Erwin and many, many others of us about revival in today's America.
Jesus Revolution is already playing in a limited number of theaters, but it releases everywhere on Friday, February 24th. This link to the movie's website will allow you to find a venue in your area and purchase tickets.