'Reagan' Shows How Great We Were, and Can Still Be

The Movie "Reagan" (MJM Entertainment/ShowBiz Direct) tells a powerful American story, one that everyone should see.

The film will open to some 3,500 theaters nationally.

Very recently, this writer and his wife had the privilege of attending its premiere.

To be sure, it's a powerful story and film — of the sort rarely coming out of Hollywood these days.

The cast of "Reagan" with big screen greats like Dennis Quaid and Jon Voight.

Additionally, we can thank a seasoned Hollywood producer, Mark Joseph.

The film tells an American story that's truly genuine all the way through.

And that story is beyond timely, especially in light of our nation's (and global) current political landscape.

President Reagan’s son, Michael Reagan, who also attended the film's debut praised the movie, describing it as "well done," and "a history lesson" that you need to take your family to see.

Mr. Reagan said that Penelope Miller, who plays Nancy Reagan, was great and that Dennis Quaid, who plays his father, "captured him 100%."

After seeing the movie and hearing Michael Reagan’s reaction to it, I am reminded of something he once shared with me a number of years ago.

He said, "The secret to my dad’s success was that he could tell a story."

He's most certainly right about that.

President Reagan could take a complex issue facing our country, and the free world, and communicate it in such a way with clarity and vision that those listening could wholly comprehend the gravity of the situation, and what must be done.

Yes, he was, indeed, the "Great Communicator."

The movie itself though, like President Reagan, tells a story and clearly communicates to those watching it, the American people.

An appreciable part of the Reagan story is that it's about a man possessing an inner-core to do the right thing regardless of what his handlers said, or if there were strong political headwinds.

This is a tale about a man who inspired hope and confidence when our people needed it.

Most significantly, it’s a movie that shows how God can use one man to make a difference globally, for posterity.

In "Reagan" we journey extensively and deeply through his life.

First, as a boy growing up who had the love of a mother instilling Christian values in him, and who also confronted bullies when it was time to do so.

Then we see him as the actor who stood up to Marxists in Hollywood.

Ronald Reagan set in motion a chain of events that would eventually lead to the disintegration of the "Evil Empire" — the Soviet Union, and the film shows us that as well. And viewers will be moved by the courage he displayed in his final battle — his bout with Alzheimer's disease.

Throughout the film, Ronald Reagan comes across as a genuinely likeable, good guy.

I'm reminded of what late Vice President Walter Mondale, who lost the presidency to Reagan in 1984, once said, "I told somebody afterwards that I think I would have voted for Reagan if I weren’t running, because he is a nice guy. He never was mean to me. I was never mean to him, and look at that campaign.

"It was a pleasant year, I think, for Americans. I think we ended up a united country, and so I could see why the average American liked the guy.

"They thought he was stable and good."

Before the premiere began, Dennis Quaid addressed the audience.

He said it was his favorite movie to work on and in.

He also said something that really stuck with me.

He said those who watch the movie and were born before 1985 will see how great America once was and those born after 1985 can see how great America can be.

Ronald Wilson Reagan was beyond right when he gravely reminded us, "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction."

As our nation's 40th commander in chief, he went on to say, "We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream.

"It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free."

Van Hipp is Chairman of American Defense International, Inc. He is the former Deputy Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Army and author of "The New Terrorism: How to Fight It and Defeat It." He is the 2018 recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Sept. 11 Garden Leadership Award for National Security. Read Van Hipp's Reports — More Here.