Film Reviews

The Man Who Sued God

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Considering the self-explanatory premise, The Man Who Sued God should be up there with Bruce Almighty when it comes to ridiculous foundations for motion pictures. Yet The Man Who Sued God warrants some praise due to the fact that underneath its brash veneer of irrelevance is a film intent on at least asking some interesting questions (even if it doesn't always find the answers) with the added sheer force of Billy Connolly's personality. The Scot plays Steve Myers, a former lawyer who has settled down to the life of a fisherman off the coast of Australia. When his boat is struck by lightening and the insurance company refuses to cough up, claiming that it was an 'act of God', it leaves the fisherman on the brink of financial ruin. Believing that the 'acts of God' clause is a ruse, he sets out to sue the Big Chap, and all of the major churches in the world. Legal mumbo jumbo thus ensures that the only way the churches can ensure that they win the case is by proving that the Supreme Power doesn't exist.

It might sound like high concept movie with a capital 'H' but there's an infectious charm about The Man Who Sued God, which makes it difficult to resist, and Connolly uses his physical comedic talents to great effect riffing off his customary brashness but he's expert enough to never sacrifice the character's essential affability. The director, Mark Joffe, is aware that there's a high wire balancing act required between charm and sentimentality and he manages to drive the film with an easy candour, which makes it pleasing viewing for the most part. In the film's final minutes, he relaxes his grip somewhat, allowing things to culminate in an overwrought, crispy finale that betrays the subtle intelligence of what went before.

Review by Garreth Murphy