Not your "typical Christian movie" is an understatement for this film in all the best ways. The absence of poor acting or cheap looking Hallmark-like production, gives Blue Like Jazz authenticity to tackle the misrepresentation of Christianity in a boldly candid way. While making fun of the way church is often viewed by the public, the movie tries to show the audience that there is more than meets the eye to this perceptively stuffy, and often annoying, complacent religion. There is a poetry to the universe that should evoke some search for deeper meaning that isn't so much about absolute rightness, as it is about continuous discovery, and pursuit of truth and compassion.

The movie roughly follows the book's range of stories and characters, but introduces several fictitious turns to tie us in emotionally to the story. There are several major themes and little details that anyone who has read Blue Like Jazz would recognize and connect with. However, for those who are not familiar with the book, the overall story should be easy to follow, relevant, and entertaining. And to those who watch it and become intrigued, I can only say that the book takes you on an even deeper and more thorough journey. Don't believe me? Just ask the 4500 fans who financially supported the making of the film when all seemed lost. The story behind the movie is just as poignant as the movie itself.

Disclaimer: There is a decent amount of profanity, drug and alcohol use, and adult themes that nearly cost the movie an R rating. So while it is PG 13 it was made for mature audiences that can comprehend the compromising nature of the real world. I know this film will cause an inadvertent dropping of the jaw for most of the Christian community, but the response of the rest of the world seems to be a refreshing sigh of relief.

So come without expectations, and a willingness to see the bigger picture, and I think it will create a good amount of discussion that could lead to a change in our subculture.

Blue Like Jazz was a wonderful book because it kept escalating to a climax and then kept you sustained, delayed and yet dynamically interested in the plot line, because of all of the amazing things the climax made possible. . .Easily arguably a page turner!

Blue Like Jazz the movie was just like this. Slow, introductory and almost mediocre to begin with, the story picked up more and more, until one event led to another, something big was revealed and EVERYTHING changed. Easily arguably a real, wholesome and witty heart warmer!

It left me hanging, which means the climax was toward the end, but it was so profound and good, it would've taken a whole other movie to continue the story of life, love and faith Blue Like Jazz so wonderfully displays!

Parents - Directed at college student and experiential/risky/exploratory teens (most teens in our country, culture and generation), but one most of the family can see, IF you plan on answering a lot of questions at the end.