I decided to do an extra post this week to review the movie Jesus Revolution for two reasons. The first is the obvious connection between the movie’s featured group and my new book, Hippie War: Battle for the Harrisonville Square, which should be available for pre-order with the week. The second is that it is a good film with a great message, while not beating the viewer over the head with the message.

The movie, stars Kelsey Grammer as the pastor of a struggling church in California. (The part was originally to be played by Jim Gaffigan) The church is transformed from a conservative, dying, church to one that welcomes anyone, including hippies. The transformation comes about through the partnership of Grammer and a stranger that his daughter brings home after picking him up hitchhiking. I’m not going to spoil the story, but that is the basis of the movie, which is based on a true story.

After researching the hippie era extensively for my book, I couldn’t help but think of the contrast between the hippies in my book and the ones in the movie. Those in the movie represent a faction of the hippie movement that embodied the true message of the hippie movement. Peace and Love. “Hippie War” is about a violent event that somehow was born out of the same peace and love movement. Too often we think of the hippies from that era as only interested in drugs, sex, and anarchy. While that was true for some, this movie shows that there was another faction of the hippies that practiced what they preached.

There is certainly a faith-based component to the movie, which may turn some people off. I think the film does a good job of making the discussions of faith a part of the movie rather than the main theme of the movie.

I laughed. I cried. I thought it was an excellent movie and I highly recommend it.

Watch for the pre-sale announcement for Hippie War later this week.