<h2>The Man Who Sued God</h2> rated M
reviewed by Sarah Barnett Filmmakers seem to love the âDavid and Goliath typeâ story where the underdog takes on an unbeatable foe. These days itâs usually big business cast in the role of "Goliath" â manufacturers, banks and insurance companies. These films often involve some sort of injustice that ends up in court. In recent years weâve seen Erin Brockovich and The Insider. And if you go back a few years thereâs also been A Civil Action, The Rainmaker and The Winslow Boy. The Australian comedy, The Man Who Sued God is a variation on the theme. Billy Connolly plays a man who doesnât take on big business. He decides to take God to court. Connolly plays Steve Myers - a foul-mouthed, stubborn fisherman. He used to be a lawyer - a good one by his own admission but heâs a happier fisherman. Living on his boat with his dog, Arthur, heâs barely a stoneâs throw from his ex-wife and her new hubbie. The arrangement is fairly amicable largely because it keeps their 11-year-old daughter, Rebecca happy. When lightning strikes and destroys Steveâs boat the insurance company refuses to pay. Itâs an Act of God, they argue. Steve decides to take the Almighty â or at least his earthly representatives â the Church â to court. With the help of disgruntled journalist Anna Redmond (Judy Davis) it soon becomes a class action. A number of people have complaints with God â it seems. The Man Who Sued God satirises everything from media manipulation to legal doubletalk. Itâs a romantic comedy but it raises some important ideas. The Church leaders have to decide whether God was responsible for the storm which destroyed Steveâs boat. To win the case the Church needs to prove either that God doesnât exist or that heâs not in control of the weather. To lose could set a dangerous precedent. To win on these terms would be devastating. While a light-hearted tale, The Man Who Sued God is founded on stereotypes. The unscrupulous insurance company. The ruthless and smarmy barrister. The weak and fairly ineffectual church. And God? He doesn't really get a guernsey. Australians are often reluctant to talk about God. And while this is hardly a serious study of Godâs existence and role in our lives it does raise some interesting points. To lose your boat and your livelihood is a terrible thing, the Church argues, but how much worse is it to lose a relationship with God.
<hr size=1>
