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FranktheRabbit 2012-05-17 00:31:41

...And the Lord did grin...

`Bruce Almighty' (2003/Tom Shadyac)**1/2 out of ****Many people (myself included), at one time or another, wish that we couldobtain the powers of God himself. And that is the concept of `BruceAlmighty'. A wacky TV reporter, who is trying to take his careerseriously,while his life seems to be going down hill, gets the opportunity to useGod's powers to see if he could do a better job. But, like most `whatif?'comedies, this film runs out of steam before too long, and the ending isassatisfying as one might hope for.Bruce Nolan (Jim Carrey) is a good reporter, he just is not takenseriously.So when he loses the big promotion (and his job), and gets the shitbeatenout of him in the same day, he starts to lose his faith in the big guyupstairs. And who could blame him? But then, he gets a visit from someonehenever would have expected.GOD (played by Morgan Freeman). Then, for thenextfew weeks or so, he gets to take God's place while he takes a vacation.Whatfollows is a sometimes funny, sometimes routine comedy that does not addup.But part of if it is fun. Especially when in references `Dirty Harry',andwhen Nolan takes revenge on the people that did him wrong on the worstdayof his life.Jim Carrey does a good job, but it is not his best comedic performance.However, it is good to see him in his old form, for he has not made adecentflick in quite awhile. For all the actors (and even actresses) who playedGod in other films, Freeman is funny in the role, but he is not giventhatmuch to do. Joining these two is Jennifer Aniston, who in my opinion, isoneof the sexiest actresses out there today. Despite these two well knownfaces, this is Carrey's movie.`Bruce Almighty' is your average 'what if?' comedy. It contains the usualfunny moments that you might expect from other films with a similarconcept,but after all is said and done, this ends up as one of those 'ok'comediesthat you should rent first, instead of going to see it at thetheater.-30-

2012-05-16 09:02:35

Best work since Ace Ventura!

I'm so glad Jim Carrey steered away from Drama and has come back to the world of comedy where he belongs. I haven't seen a comedy this good in a long time!!

Starlights1987 2012-05-11 11:22:57

Bruce really is almighty...

I loved Bruce Almighty! LOVED IT! I thought it was absolutely hilarious, Iwas laughing so hard! Jim Carrey is really a genius. I love him, he is sofunny. His voices, his acting, his jokes, it's all good. Him and JenniferAniston make a great team, they were both hilarious. There are a few funnyscenes that will really make you cry with laughter, and some parts mighteven jerk a tear [maybe! I was getting a little teary!]. Other than that, Ireally did enjoy this movie - a lot. The best Jim Carrey comedy since "LiarLiar". 9/10. You won't be disappointed!

patrick_dunne 2012-05-11 01:26:19

A predictable, but funny comedy

Bruce Almighty is an about-average comedy with some stupid-silly humor,but it manages to be light-hearted and funny throughout.Bruce is played by Jim Carrey. In this movie, Bruce is an average guywith way too many problems. His girlfriend is close to breaking up withhim. His News Team fires him. His dog isn't potty trained. He hasnothing better to do than blame it all on God.So, he gets a message on his pager to visit some sort of building. Hethrows his pager out the window (I think the guy wouldn't stop paginghim. I forgot.) and it gets run over by a car. Then, Bruce goes outsideto find that his pager was still working. So, he is convinced to go tothe building. There he meets a janitor played by Morgan Freeman. Thejanitor tells him to go to the seventh floor. When Bruce reaches thatfloor, he finds the electrician, also played by Morgan Freeman. Morgantells him that he is God. (Why have you gone to comedies Mr. Freeman?)Bruce doesn't believe that Morgan Freeman/the electrician/the janitorcan be God. Yet, God convinces him, and says that it isn't too easybeing God. To prove this, God gives Bruce all of his powers for a weekwith a couple of obvious rules.I'm too lazy to explain it, but I can tell you that two problems arise:The first is that his girlfriend leaves him, and Bruce can hardly doanything about it. The second is that Bruce unknowingly answers a bunchof dangerous prayers that turn the town crazy.What the movie is really good for is comedy. (It's starring Jim Carrey.What did you expect?) It's a bit stupid at times, but never too stupid,and emerges looking more silly. There is about one decent joke everyonce in a while, which may cause a chuckle, but probably not much more.Some of the jokes are just nonsense, but quite decent. I forgot most ofthem, but they could be good for a laugh. The monkey part was probablythe funniest part of the whole movie.The main flaw in Bruce Almighty is that there seems to be a delaybetween jokes- a passage of time. The story is predictable, but takesup too much time developing to actually get to something funny.This will appeal to the audiences who love to laugh.Good: Well, it is funny at times and never TOO stupid Bad: Predictable, not enough jokes to get a high score Feel free to send me a Private Message regarding this comment.

rio64 2012-05-07 05:30:25

Terrible, terrible movie.

Clearly you can see in this movie that Jim Carrey is doing a desperateattempt to refind his coolness of previous good movies like Ace Ventura, theMask and Liar Liar but somehow he doesn't seem to be able to. For somereason. Also the script of this movie just plain out sucks, even a greatactress like Jeniffer Aniston can't polish this turd. True, at times thismovie does have it's very very little moments, but it just wont budge. Thenthey have Morgan Freeman as the role of God, preaching (litarally) highmorals about religion and teaching Carey that being God isn't as easy as itsounds. I can't say anything else than that this movie just sucks, and likeEddy Murphy I fear we also have to miss Jim Carey from now on. Ever sincethe movie Simon Birch and Me, myself and Irene his roles just suck, he justsucks as an actor. And I'm sorry about that because I was a fan. I'm hopingthis gets posted even though my major dissapointments, I had high hopes forthis movie, but unfortionatly I can only give it a one. And it goes toJennifer Aniston, not for this movie, but for her roles in Friends and Rockstar. Jennifer Aniston, I salute you, it wasnt your fault this movie suckedso much butt.

sadya77 2012-05-06 16:38:49

Carrey complains how God doesn't help him at all so he gets His powers for some days to see if he can do better....

What I like about this movie is, that it doesn't just provide jokes anda good time, but there are several lessons to be learnt.The main character changes and grows throughout the movie and theaudience learns important lessons of life through him. I guess theselessons of life can be applied to any religion in the world. But a fewtimes I was afraid that what they did in the movie would becomeblasphemy.Anyway, Jim Carrey was amazing as Bruce Nolan and really carried themovie well, although a few times I felt he was a little bit too muchJim Carrey.Nevertheless an excellent movie and when it's done, you are happy andreally have a feeling you've actually seen a good movie that was worthyour time.

Rick Groen 2012-05-05 13:48:48

The whole thing reeks of the formulaic, of a carefully packaged bid to propel the star back to his appointed place in the commercial constellation, all the while depriving him of the dark side that got him there in the first place.

2012-05-04 18:55:23

Bruce AllBoring

I give this movie 2 stars because it is not nearly as funny the rest of Jim Carrey's movies. I saw this expecting to laugh so much, but was only disappointed. I wasn't too happy about the whole concept of "playing God" in the movie in the first place, but I thought Jim Carrey's hilarous on screen persona would overcome that. Boy, was I wrong. I should have slept through this movie, b/c it would've been a better use of my time.

2012-05-03 15:28:07

Back to the basics, back to being funny again

I confess I've disliked most comedies by Carrey in the past few years. After "The Mask", "Ace Ventura" and "Dumb and Dumber" I felt he did a better job at more 'serious' roles, such as Truman (in "Truman Show") and his outstanding work in "Man in the Moon". But "Bruce Almighty" brought me back into his list of followers. I loved his performance here. I wouldn't call it touching (have to disagree a bit there, with some of my colleague reviewers), but he's definitely back to being funny as in his best of times! And although he continues to do the faces (actually, one of the funniest moments in the movie is not actually his, but played by the reporter that beats him to the position of news anchor, when Bruce -with God's powers- makes him act wacky while on the air), his true genius comes in the subtle details, with the small jokes that come in and out of a scene without you barely noticing. This becomes more obvious if you peek behind the scenes in the Bonus Features, and see the tens of ideas he came up with for a particular shot (where he lights up the candles in the bedroom to set a romantic mood for himself and his girlfriend, played by Jennifer Aniston).As for Aniston, I'd like to see her take on different types of roles. Don't know if it's just me, but the last couple of movies I've seen of her ("The Good Girl" and this one) are starting to look a bit cliched, with her getting into the shoes of 'victimized' partner of someone else. Though her performance wasn't bad in "Bruce..." I know she can do a lot better than that, so please do it, Jen!All in all, I am happy to see that Carrey is still strong as a comedian and a great performer, as he's proved once and again in both funny and more serious movies. Don't give it a five, because I don't see it as a cult classic, but it is well worth checking out: definitely a very funny movie!

Josh Larsen 2012-05-03 11:07:49

...a great concept -- a clod becomes God.

SonicStuart 2012-04-28 22:40:46

Very Very Funny!

Bruce AlmightyStarring: Jim Carrey, Morgan Freeman, Steve Carrell and JenniferAnistonGenre: ComedyRated: PG-13Jim Carrey has done it again with this really funny and successfulcomedy!This movie is about a man named Bruce Nolan (Jim Carrey) who is anews-reporter for one of the news stations in the city of Buffalo, NYand he lives in his apartment with his girlfriend Grace, (JenniferAniston). One day, he has a very bad day because he didn't get promotedin his job, he lost his job and plus he got beaten up my some hoods andBruce thinks the God (Morgan Freeman) is picking on him. So then thenext day when Bruce visits God they discuss things and so Bruce wasoffered to be God for 1 week so Bruce got to have God's job which Ithink sounds really cool! So while Bruce is God, God is out taking avacation. I thought this movie was just very clever with all the jokesand all. One of my favorite parts is where Bruce was in God's officeand he opens the file cabinet and it was shooting out really long!Another one of my favorite parts is where Bruce was getting even withthe hoods and one of them said the day that they apologized would bethe day when a monkey came out of his butt and obviously it did!Another funny thing was that Bruce also used his powers to help the NHLteam, the Buffalo Sabres win the Stanley Cup. The most hilarious partin the entire movie is when Bruce is missing up one of the other newscasters when he was reading a report! This movie was just laugh-outloud hilarious! I would recommend this movie and that's the way thecookie crumbles.

hannah_family 2012-04-28 15:14:02

FAB film!!!! i would recommend it to people who like a comedy film but has a serious side to it as well

i loved this film. As well as having a really funny side, it also hasserious side in some parts, and moving parts ( for me anyway) in otherparts. everyone did a FAB job in the film, and Jim Carey did himselfproud! I'm not used to seeing him doing a 'serious' film, but the partshe did in this film were excellent! i would say the best bit in thefilm is when Evan is live on air and Bruce does 'mind control' if youlike to make him say what he wants him to, i creased up so much when ifirst watched it! the most moving bit for me was when Bruce got runover by the lorry and his in hospital and grace goes to see him, andthey make up blah blah. i found that really moving.

mack3175 2012-04-24 15:39:18

Good story, but the humor wears out quickly.

Bruce Nolan(the very funny Jim Carrey) dreams of being a top news reporter,but he feels reality is quite cruel to him, when he receives none of the topassignments. Bruce becomes the bunt of everybodies jokes at work. The onlygood thing that seems to be in Bruces life is his girlfriend Grace(thebeautiful Jennifer Aniston). But when Bruce has a very bad day, I mean wherenothing seems to go right. Bruce blames god for everything. But god(verywell played by Morgan Freeman) responds by giving Bruce all his powers, tosee if he could do a better job at being the almighty. Started out funny,Jim Carrey was pretty funny. Jennifer Aniston and Morgan Freeman were alsogood. But has the movie went on, it began to wear it self out. It startedbecoming less of nothing. I liked Jim Carreys performance in The Majesticthen in this movie. But the dog in this movie was cute.

Tweedtheatre 2012-04-23 19:57:42

A nice little film

I went into this movie not expecting a whole lot. A movie about a guy whobecomes God and is played by Jim Carrey... and then I saw the previews. Again, I expected the worst. Jim Carrey is an amazing actor though, so Igave it a shot.I am very glad I did. Carrey does a wonderful job and an overlookedperformance by the Daily Show's Stephen Colbert. It's cliche, but thismovie will make you laugh and could make you cry. The film even turns outto be a great date movie due to the fairly strong realtionship issues in theplot. For the religious people who want to boycott the movie. Your missing out onone of the best mainstream films about faith and God in a long time. Thewriters really knew their stuff and there are some humorous little biblereferences thrown in there. In the end, the religious concept made me feelstronger about my faith as opposed to thinking "Wouldn't it be cool to beGod?"That being said, this movie is PG-13 for a reason. Its not a movie to takethe kids too. I think they used their max on the f word before a moviebecomes R and there is some strong sexual references in the show. For themature audience though, this is a great flick to see with a group of guys, amixed group, or just an intimate night with your date. Not too intimatethough as the movie theaters will probably be packed with people wanting tosee this movie. I give it 7 out of 10 on IMDB's scale.

mightyjabba 2012-04-22 21:37:23

Disappointing. Carrey deserves better.

Jim Carrey's latest film sees him star as a man frustrated at the bumcardsthat God has dealt him. His ranting provokes God (Morgan Freeman) toallowBruce (Carrey) to take control of his power and responsibility for oneweek.Director Tom Shadyac's latest collaboration with Jim Carrey (theypreviouslyworked together on Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and Liar, Liar) is at timesriotously funny, but generally insipid and therefore a bit of adisappointment. It would be impossible to blame Carrey for the film'sfailings, he is a wonderful comedian, and an improving actor, and itwouldbe very difficult to think of anyone who could have done the job better.Carrey's abilities as a screen comedian are showcased to full effects inastupendously funny 20 minutes after he has been blessed with Godlikepowers.Unfortunately the filmmakers couldn't resist the temptation to moraliseandsentimentalise the movie, and the film is all the worse for it. Bruce isaspoilt, wealthy man with a beautiful wife and a lovely apartment, ittakesevery ounce of Carrey's charm and manic energy to make us even care aboutBruce, but it is incredibly difficult to think that there is no-one moredeserving of God's special attention than this whining yuppy. And as fortheportrayal of God, any film that has a character grow into itself andbecomehappy by becoming subservient to God, a Christian God imbued withAmericanvalues at that, vies between far-fetched and offensive.In the end, it is a real shame that such a high concept comedy is mireddownwith such a sickly sweet world view, the thought that God will makeeverything ok in Bruce's life is liable to stick in most of the viewersthroats. Carrey's presence will ensure decent box office returns, itsjust ashame that the film cannot give Carrey the vehicle that his talentsdeserve.

William C. Uchtman 2012-04-22 09:41:23

Movie Over-Rated

I went into this movie liking the idea that God would put his power into asimple mortal and the concept that said mortal would use the power to getinto mischief. But why did it have to be Jim Carrey ? I still don't think heall that funny; he mugs, he grins, he makes noises and hams it up andsomehow he's considered a comic genius ? What am I missing ? The savinggrace in this movie is Morgan Freeman as the Almighty; he is very enjoyableto watch as he spouts pearls of wisdom and portrays the Lord as I would seehim; not as a Puritanical dour-faced creator of worlds but as a fatherfigure with a sense of humor. Jennifer Aniston is also in this movie andwhat better reason to see this movie than to see her boobs get bigger. Thecomedy is fair, the special effects enjoyable and the plot struggles to stayaloft as Carrey camps it up, but it does have a message without being toopreachy and it ends with a wry sense of humor that even Carrey can'tfoil.

bryan90 2012-04-21 23:03:53

Jim Carrey Is Back

Bruce Almighty was an entertaining movie. Jim Carrey comes back with agoodcomedy. Most of the movie was pretty good: funny, entertaining. The lasttwenty minutes kind of lost it's comedy, and got to the point of the wholemovie. But Bruce Almighty was good. *** out of **** stars.

Tob147258 2012-04-21 09:22:47

Can the religious criticism, this is only a comedy

SPOILERS (Although lets be honest, it's not like you didn't expect thesebefore the film even started)"Bruce Almighty" is Jim Carrey's attempt to return to his face twisting,funny guy ways, and by his standards, I quite like it. In this film, Carreyplays Bruce Nolan, a News Reporter who dreams of that elusive Anchor slot.After an awful day, Bruce curses and swears at God, until eventually Godanswers. God (played without any real effort by Morgan Freeman)blesses/curses Bruce with his powers and sends him out into the real worldto experience the ultimate job. Bruce sets off straight away to fix his lifeand only ends up making parts of it worse. By the end, most of what you'dexpect to happen, happens, and you finish watching the film feeling likeyou've just watched any regular none descript comedy, which ironically, iswhat you have done.Let's get this straight right away, "Bruce Almighty" would never win anyawards, it was never meant to. This film is there for you to relax to onenight and be able to shut your mind off whilst watching. Carrey performs inhis old style, and whilst he infuriates me in so many of his films, in thisI found myself actually warming to his character. Carrey is a good actor, wesaw that in "The Truman Show", and in this he shows in a few scenes howemotional he can be.Other than Carrey, what else can be said about this film? Not much really.The script is at times hilarious, at times sickeningly sweet, but ultimatelysatisfying, the other actors acceptable, and the message simply that if youwant something, you've got to work for it.Some people really hate this film, and whilst I can appreciate that Carreymight infuriate them, I just don't get why someone would detest this somuch? It's nothing special for sure, but it's by no means awfuleither.I suppose the one thing which, looking back on it, really makes me laughabout this film is how so many people on this website have made commentsabout religion. I mean, yeah this film is about a guy who becomes God for afew days, but ultimately, it never had to be God. God is a recognisable,easy to explain figure, but really Bruce could have got his powers fromanybody. All this film ever needed to do was allow us to sit back, relax,and show us that (to quote Spiderman) with great power comes greatresponsibility. That's all.If you choose to watch this film, and I recommend you should, leave yourbrain outside as it isn't needed. "Bruce Almighty" is simply another chilledout film for a family to watch on a night in together. It's by no means thebest film of 2003 (not even close), but at the same time, it's by no meansthe worst. You get what you pay for and that's really the best way tosummarise. Enjoy!

Walter Chaw 2012-04-21 05:18:34

Less Oh, God! than Dear God.

gkza 2012-04-20 21:29:01

One of the Worst Movies I've ever seen

I'm a huge fan of the Cable guy, Dumb & Dumber, etc. I like Jim Carey'swork. This had to be a contract fulfillment/take the money job. I didntlaugh once. Anyone who does laugh has the mentality of a 7 year old.Completley awful. As an accomplished actor, there is no way Jim Careycan beproud of anything to do with this slop, except the salary he commanded,andthe percentage points he rips from all the boobs (myself included) whogetsuckered into to seeing this. Completely awful. Ranks up with Misled,Jay& Silent Strike Back, and American Pie 2 as the worst films ever made.Saveyourselfs!