Diary of a Lunatic—Trew’s Calling is unlike any film I have ever reviewed. The fact that it encourages people to love is good. It is definitely a zany film, which features a pastor who holds church services in a bar and tells everyone that God is in a bird, in the flicker of an eye, and “even in the raising of the glass” (of alcohol). A very human actor named Kevin Sizemore plays “God,” but he is different from the God of the Bible. He boogies with a woman in the bar and dances in a bit of a crazy and slightly seductive way. In a car scene, Trew and “God” (he calls himself “I Am I”) sing a song with the lyrics that include, “You may be right, I may be crazy!” and they also sing, “I told you dirty jokes” as part of the song. Maybe it’s just me but I can’t quite picture God singing a song about telling dirty jokes. Trew believes that “God” is insane at first (actually, she believes it of the man) but then believes him to truly be deity.
Other than the term “King of kings” and an “I Am I” reference and to love your neighbor, there are no other biblical ideas or Scriptures. Other religions are mentioned, and the theme is basically to love others. However, the film is fairly heavy with profanity, drinking and dialog about drinking. Several characters become inebriated. Christianity isn’t really singled out in any way, and Trew, one of the main characters, is angry a lot, growling or going “ewww!” in an angry voice. She also talks about moving in with her boyfriend and his son in the conclusion of the film. But how true is the comment in the film that people can be “horrible” and also “helpful.”
The fact that the movie makes a few points about actually “seeing” people in your daily life and showing love is commendable. It also features a nice scene in which Trew, while on a radio talk show when the regular hostess is running late, talks a man into believing in himself, a man who had contemplated suicide. Former Miss America, Lee Meriwether, appears in the film as Trew’s mother. However, the very strong content, which is consistent throughout the film, places it below our Dove Approval.
The Dove Take
It’s nice that this film tackles the subject of believing in God—we just wish they had done so in a more family-friendly way.
