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Bruce Almighty - 5/23/03 - PG-13 - 94m
Jim
Carrey - Bruce Nolan
Jennifer Aniston - Grace Connelly
Morgan Freeman - God
Director: Tom Shadyac
Written by: Steve Koren & Mark O'Keefe & Steve Oedekerk
JEF
Lets start by saying that I’m a fan of Jim Carrey’s
work. I think he’s a talented actor and comedian. Now… That
does not mean that I like everything he’s done. But Carrey has chosen
some wide ranging roles from idiotic comedy, like ‘Dumb and Dumber’,
to more serious roles like ‘The Majestic’. Because of this
range, people tend to expect certain things from Jim. If you liked him
in Dumb and Dumber, and then went to see the move The Majestic, you would
be seriously disappointed, and vice versa. So because of this it seems
Carrey seems to always please and disappoint certain fans with every movie.
Storyline: Bruce Nolan (Jim Carrey) is a local Buffalo
TV news reporter. His assignments on the TV news stories are what you
might say ‘fluff’. I suspect every major TV News program has
a reporter that sort of falls in this category. One that usually has a
goofy look on his face, and reports on stories like a local bakeries attempt
to set the world record for the largest cookie.
Bruce aspires to be a “real” news reporter and to someday
achieve the role of an Anchor. And yet, Bruce tends to have this dark
cloud of bad luck that follows him, and tends to keep him from attaining
that role of serious newscaster. Well, after a string of bad luck, Bruce
has some real setbacks and starts to really wonder “why me”
and thinks God has some sort of enjoyment in ruining his life. He has
some real bitterness towards God, and voices it quite freely.
Well, you can’t talk to the “Big Man” upstairs like
that without something happening. 
God (Morgan Freeman) meets with Bruce in an empty industrial building
in buffalo, and offers him a job. (After Bruce lost his job in a live
newscast where he pretty much loses it on local TV). God offers him His
job, while he takes a vacation of sorts. So God endows Bruce with all
of his “powers” with only two limitations. And the movie then
goes onto explore how Bruce handles (or mishandles) these powers, and
how difficult it really is to be all-powerful, and all knowing and how
difficult it is to be Bruce.
Well, I gave this movie a yellow light, because for the most part I enjoyed
this movie, but towards the end of the movie it became a little longwinded,
and drawn out. And because of this I knocked off a few points and gave
it a yellow light.
The first half or more of Carrey’s work playing Bruce Nolan, was
at times laugh-out-loud funny! 
If you’ve ever felt like you’ve had a dark cloud of bad luck
following you around (like I have at times), you’ll really appreciate
the scenes of this movie. A brief and funny example of this which by all
means me telling you is not funny, but to see Carrey’s physical
comedy made it funny… He is walking across the street after one
of the worst weeks in his life, and steps in a pothole puddle. Well, this
puddle is about a foot deep! And nearly soaks his entire leg. It reminded
me of the Three Stooges, or was it Abbot and Costello, when one of them
would step off the curb into a puddle about 6 feet deep!
Then there is the whole issue around his relationship with his longtime
girlfriend Grace (Jennifer Aniston). Jennifer did a good job here, but
seemed to lack something. Perhaps it was just the chemistry between Aniston
and Carrey that was just missing or the mix of styles with Aniston’s
subtly with Carrey’s over-the-top comedy. I’m not sure I can
put my finger on it exactly, but something just didn’t seem believable
between the two.
Now, on top of all this, comedy/drama movie mix in a touchy subject like
God and religion. This topic alone is enough to divide movie-going audiences.
For example, although I was not offended by some of the situations, I
can see how some people might be. To treat a meeting with God Himself,
as a sort of business meeting, where God is portrayed as a janitor, might
seem offensive to some. But this is a comedy with Jim Carrey. You can’t
be too upset about this sort of thing. Another example is that just after
getting God’s powers, Bruce walks past a pretty woman on the street
and makes a gust of wind blow her dress up. Something that God would not
use His powers for, but Jim Carey, yes.
Now towards the end of the movie was where it lost speed. Bruce’s
attempt to win the love of his girlfriend was becoming tedious. And then
also for this light-hearted comedy to try and leave us with a moral message,
where the movie itself lacked in some morals, was a bit too much. Although
I give them points for trying.
When I went to see this movie, it had been out one week, so I had heard
from two friends that they really didn’t like the movie. (Note:
Both friends who went to see this, actually wanted to see the Matrix Reloaded,
but for different reasons settled upon Bruce Almighty as a ‘second
choice’). I did some surfing of the web, and saw that a lot of critics
gave it a favorable review, so I was curious to see for myself if I liked
it or not.
I would gladly pay $8.50 (Our ticket prices just went up ¢50 this
week!), for a movie that can make me laugh like this on more than one
occasion. Don’t go expecting the wacky antics of Carrey. He’s
a bit toned down, in this movie. I think this may be the perfect mix of
Carrey’s talent. Some mild antics, and some serious moments mixed
in.
If you’re a fan of Carrey’s work overall I think you’ll
like this movie. Just go, and be entertained. But I wouldn’t recommend
the movie to everyone.
Have a B-E-A-utiful day.
Jef
Here’s what Lyn thought…
PS> I forgot to mention a great performance by actor/comedian Steve
Carell, as newsman Evan Baxter.
Bruce Almighty
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