Bruce Almighty Review
by Steve Rhodes (Steve DOT Rhodes AT InternetReviews DOT com)May 27th, 2003
BRUCE ALMIGHTY
A film review by Steve Rhodes
Copyright 2003 Steve Rhodes
RATING (0 TO ****): ***
BRUCE ALMIGHTY, Jim Carrey's latest picture, is an uneven mix that's two thirds LIAR LIAR and one third THE MAJESTIC. Although the movie, about Carrey getting a gig as God, has more than enough humorous moments to be able to recommend it, it never quite sizzles as it should.
When we meet Bruce Nolan (Carrey), he's a wannabe television anchor in Buffalo stuck doing silly, fluff pieces as a reporter. Bruce's long-time live-in girlfriend, Grace (Jennifer Aniston doing a nice job in a throwaway role), wants nothing more than a ring and kiddies. With his life coming up lemons, Bruce begins to blame God Almighty for his troubles. In a confrontational scene with the unseen man upstairs, Bruce rails at God, "The gloves are off!"
Soon God (Morgan Freeman), himself, appears to Bruce. God challenges Bruce to do a better job than he does and then bestows upon Bruce the heavenly franchise to the Buffalo area. The only rules are that he can't tell anyone and he can't mess with free will. As you might expect, the law of unintended consequences will prove to be his biggest challenge. Supersizing the moon may put your girlfriend in the mood, but messing with Mother Nature can get the planet in a heap of trouble.
You might expect Bruce to go wild, but, like Spiderman when he first discovers his powers, Bruce isn't quite sure what to do with them. His first modest successes include parting a bowl of tomato soup just like Moses parted the Red Sea and settling a score with some local hoods. Initially, Bruce acts not much differently than if it were the Devil rather than God who bestowed his powers on Bruce. The self-centered Bruce uses his new gifts to help himself rather than others, but, hey, it's funny, even if not very profound.
The funniest jokes come in the spectacular events that Bruce stages in order to win his coveted anchor job. After a blissful hour of pure entertainment, the movie, by director Tom Shadyac (PATCH ADAMS), feels itself in bad need of messages. The film finds its raison d'être on the dual ideas that God's job isn't as easy as it seems and that there's no place like home. Bruce eventually gives up being on God and sets his sights on winning the heart of the one he loves, Grace. If you have the grace to forgive the film's sappy last act, you can still have a good time laughing at Carrey's antics.
BRUCE ALMIGHTY runs 1:34. It is rated PG-13 for "language, sexual content and some crude humor" and would be acceptable for kids around 9 and up.
My son Jeffrey, age 14, thought the movie was hilarious and gave it *** 1/2. He said that it proved that Hollywood is not out of fresh ideas. He thought all of the jokes worked. He especially likes the way Carrey always has some catch phrase in his movies, like his "b-e-a-u-tiful" in BRUCE ALMIGHTY.
The film is playing in nationwide release now in the United States. In the Silicon Valley, it is showing at the AMC theaters, the Century theaters and the Camera Cinemas.
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