Bruce Almighty Movie Review:


What would you do if you had the powers of God? This is the question that drives the new comedy "Bruce Almighty", a new comedy that sees a likeable guy named Bruce (Jim Carrey), endowed with the powers of god after his complaining gets so severe that God himself, (Morgan Freeman), tasks Bruce do see if he could do a better job in the same role.

At first Bruce is skeptical, but eventually comes to love his new powers and uses them in a series of hysterical events that range from seducing his girlfriend Grace (Jennifer Anniston), to taking revenge on a backstabbing co-worker at his job as a television reporter. Bruce also uses his powers to push his career, as he develops a reputation as Mr. Exclusive thanks to his divine ability to be on the spot for all manner of spectacular events that oddly seem to happen when Bruce is covering his usual human-interest stories.

Naturally things are all not fun and games, as Bruce comes to learn that with great powers comes great responsibilities, and is reminded by God that he has yet to use his powers to help anyone other than himself after his first week on the job. Bruce sets about answering prayers but is so overwhelmed by them, that he starts to rubber-stamp prayers with a yes response via his computer. Thinking he is helping Bruce is shocked when he sees the results as thousands of people win the lottery at once and riot when they learn that they only receive a meager $17.00 due to so many winners. Bruce is forced to learn that his actions no matter how well meaning can have unforeseen negative reactions.

The film did a good job at keeping things light and funny without having a heavy- handed segment where Bruce is forced to learn that sometimes despite great powers, tragic and bad things can happen. Instead the film concentrates on the laughs, and there are many, as well as subtly inserts some nuggets of wisdom pertaining to God, happiness, and life. Carrey is fantastic in the role and is a true delight to watch. It was nice to see him back in a larger than life comedy role after some good dramatic turns as despite all of his talent, his is still one of the most gifted comedians on film today and his absence from comedies was missed. Anniston does a nice job in the role of Grace as though it is not a deep role she plays the part with a natural charm and sweetness that adds to what would otherwise have been a throw away part.

The film is a very funny and enjoyable film and I was very happy and surprised to see that many of the best laughs and segments were not contained in the trailers. "Bruce Almighty" will make you laugh and you will leave the theater with a smile. Good job all around and welcome back to your roots Jim, you have been sorely missed.

4 stars out of 5

Gareth Von Kallenbach

The fate of the world rests in the hands of a television journalist? Perish the thought.

Jim Carrey stars as Bruce Nolan, a human-interests television journalist who is at his wit’s end when he loses his dream job and nearly his life. Bruce condemns God (Morgan Freeman) for making him have such a crappy life. Bruce challenges God that he could do God’s job better. Bruce should have been careful what he wished for because that is exactly what happens. Jennifer Aniston stars as Bruce’s overly supportive girlfriend, Grace.

"Bruce Almighty" is vintage Carrey when it wants to be. But there seems to be two films locked inside one. One of these films wants to be a fable while the other wants to unleash the rubber-man inside Carrey. Ironically this scenario is a lot like Carrey’s real-life. The problem with these two identities slugging it out is that only one can win.

The times where the film is slapstick Carrey at his best are a riot. The scenes where he parts his tomato soup or making a newscaster have a case of involuntary babbling are hysterical and right out of the Carrey handbook. But when the film sinks back to Earth and it tries to make the film a fable/romantic-comedy, you just want to gag.

Freeman’s performance of God is very subtle and reminded me some of the way George Burns played his "almighty" in the classic "Oh! God" series. Which brings me to another question, why is there so much religious protest for this film when there have been other films with actors playing holy figures. Come on, Warren Beatty played an angel or even Willem Dafoe as Jesus. Sometimes I think these things are screamed before they have had a chance to see the film. See it then be the judge, not before.

I loved "Bruce Almighty" for about 35 minutes then I just wanted more of Carrey being Carrey. It really is a shame that a man with so much raw rubbery-humor dwelling inside him has such a split personality both on and off screen.

(3 out of 5)

So Says the Soothsayer.

Dean Kish

Bruce Nolan (Carrey) doesn’t like his life. Despite having a good job, a nice home and a beautiful girlfriend in Grace (Aniston), Bruce seems to think that God has it in for him. When he hears that he hasn’t got this dream job as news anchor at the TV station where he works, Bruce flips out on air and promptly loses his job. As one disaster follows another his day gets increasingly worse until he can’t take anyone and blames everything on the big man upstairs. What he doesn’t realise is that God (Freeman) is listening, so he offers Bruce all his powers to see if he can do a better job of been the almighty.

Jim Carrey becomes God, how much more of a nightmare could you get.

Carrey hasn’t made a decent movie since The Truman Show and Bruce Almighty isn’t going to change that record. Even though it was a huge hit in the US, you can’t help but find this movie extremely unfunny especially if you have seen the trailer in which all the best gags appear. The movie is very audience specific catering for the Christian, Americanised image of God and never answering or even setting to answer any of the more difficult questions about been the supreme being.

Jim Carrey is back to his usual over-the-top, exuberant self that will start to get on your nerves after the first twenty minutes. The frustrating thing is that the man can act, he proved this in The Truman Show but this is Liar, Liar (same director) sweet, high concept Carrey. A vehicle to show off his so called comedy style in an inoffensive, crown pleasing way. You can tell by the awfully sweet background music and the feel good message ending that any Christian viewer will love this movie.

Jennifer Aniston does he best with her role, Morgan Freeman is very godlike and the underused Phillip Baker Hall is as good as ever but even they can’t distract you from the movie’s shortcomings. You need to see more of Bruce using his new powers and the film needs a major injection of humour to counter act the sentimentality and the pushing of the message of been grateful for what you have got.

Bruce Almighty is a missed opportunity that is far too Christian America for its own good. It doesn’t go far enough is answering some of the greater questions about the existence and purpose of God, even though it is only a comedy movie. It does have a decent message of been grateful for what you have in life but it doesn’t answer the question about the people who have nothing to be grateful for. Sickly sweet and never more than slightly amusing, Bruce Almighty just placates to America’s vision of God and how they think we should life our lives. For the rest of the world and all those non-Christians out there, it is just a load of unfunny, nonsense.

Star Rating = * *

Jamie Kelwick

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