Oh, God!

John Denver made his film debut with this wonderful wholesome comedy. He plays an ordinary supermarket worker who is honest and straightforward. He has a loving wife and 2 kids. God, out of the blue, picks him to spread the Word. Everyone is sceptical as Jerry Landers (Denver) tries to make believers out of them. George Burns was a perfect choice to play the Almighty. John Denver doesn't sing in this film, but still comes off as an honest (if somewhat naive) person. The car he drives is definitely a 70's relic (the Pacer, I miss those!). Watching the scenes with just Burns and Denver strikes me as sad because they are no longer with us. The film is not too preachy (a plus in my book) and puts just a hint of humor in it all (like the courtroom scene).

This is a really wonderful film that is masterful in every way. George Burns joked that when they offered him this part that no one could have played it because no one was closer to God's age. However, he was nervous about playing it and consulted the greatest actors about how to do it. Let me explain this film, the two leads were one person (John Denver) who was well known as a singer but who had never acted before in his life and another (George) who at almost 80 had only one other acting credit (The Sunshine Boys). However, this unlikely duo made movie magic! It is a truly amazing accomplishment and a joy watching them together. This is a film that is as important today as it was when it came out almost a quarter of a century ago. We all need to realize God's love and his message and no one did a better job of giving that then George did in this wonderful film, especially in the end in the courtroom speech that he gives. This man had spent his life as just a comedian not as an actor, but he deserved another Oscar for his outstanding work in this wonderful film. Carl Reiner deserves kudos for his wonderful directing job and Terri Garr gives a great performance as the understanding wife as does Paul Sorvino as the corrupt evangilist (they picked a safe target). However, the cheers and handshakes belong to George Burns and John Denver alone!!!. They have both left us and we are the poorer for it, but I hope that both of them are having a wonderful time in Heaven!

Something tells me this film would work a lot better if it was shot today; and by that I don't mean a remake, but if somehow we could transport the cast and crew (Reiner, Burns, Denver, et al) to 2004, let them shoot the film, and release it, it would be the super sleeper smash hit of the decade. A remake would fall flat on its face.

The story is quasi-original. The notion of a higher or supreme being asking one of us mortals to do his bidding is nothing new, but to place the gentle and warm spin on it, and to take that legend out of its biblical era context, and place it in (what was then) contemporary times, is really a stroke of genius.

Burns plays a grandfatherly God who is concerned, though not wrathful. This God is not Cecil B. DeMille's fire-and-brimstone God from "The Ten Commandments." Nor is Burns' God the detached entity that is less hands on than God's foes in "The Exorcist" or "Omen" series. In "Oh God" we have a creator who wants to instill a little reassurement to Earthbound souls. Burns' character is one with a need that must be fulfilled. But Burns' God doesn't go about it by creating apocalyptic scenarios to threaten nor coax mankind into the task. Instead this God approaches the problem with a more thoughtful plan. Veteran Vaudevillian George Burns' does a superb job portraying the Almighty, and does so with sublime humor and grandfatherly frankness.

Denver portrays an honest grocery store manager whose sole purpose is to satisfy his customers. That is until George Burns beckons him hither. What's even more amazing is the fact that, to the best of my knowledge anyway, Denver gives us an exceptionally convincing performance but with little professional experience. The Jerry Landers character he portrays is honest, thoughtful, earnest and full of conviction. Denver lets his own character shine in this performance.

The real genius of this film is that the comedy is very sedate while still being funny. The film doesn't try to be something more than what it already is. A film with God as a character could've gone anywhere, but Reiner doesn't take too many liberties with the material at hand. Instead he keeps film focused and even keeled, while tossing in good humorous bits to keep up the levity. Even so, please be warned, the laughs are spaced out. This is not a film filled with wall to wall gags. Both humor and overall energy are kept low to drive home the storie's message.

This is in comparison to a recent "reincarnation" of the God theme/film in "Bruce Almighty," which has often been compared to Reiner's 1977 work by commentators on this website. I finally saw "Bruce Almighty" recently, and where I found sections of it humorous it really didn't hold a candle to "Oh God." The theme was selfish, the character was selfish, the overall feel was typical 90's corporate art, with Jim Carry's absurdities thrown in for poor measure. This is largely because "Bruce Almighty" is really a different film, with a different premise, and regrettably (though not unexpectedly) botches most of the affair. "Bruce Almighty" satisfies a juvenile curiosity. "Oh God" is a soothing uplift, and, by contrast, is the better film.

"Oh God" doesn't have any direct and explicit sexual references, there're no body function jokes, nor obvious and readable plot points nor plot holes, unlike a good number of today's films. There's no rap "song" at the end credits, nor cameo by some pop artist (other than Denver, who plays the lead), nor any product placement. Nor is there even any CGI (though it may've benefited from one or two CGI shots). "Oh God" a basic film with a timeless premise, and very simply message.

See "Oh God." It's food for the soul.

Oh God!, is a smart and funny film. It is truthful, without being condescending. It talks about religion without being religious. It also showcases George Burns' finest screen appearance aside from The Sunshine Boys.

As, God, Burns is astonishing. Whenever John Denver asks questions that every being would ask if confronted by God, Burns replies with a certain, common sense, matter of fact response. There is no grandiose answer. One of my favorite lines is when John Denver's character asks "Why me?", God says, "Why not you? You know those supermarket things, every one millionth customer. Or whoever crosses the bridge at a certain time. Well you're the one millionth customer."

Speaking of Denver, he also is great, playing Jerry, not as a crazed man, but as an average grocery market assistant manager who is suddenly faced with the fact that God has chosen him to carry a message. He plays his character with a certain warmth, and naturalness.

Carl Reiner directed this film, and with a great eye. Notice how Jerry's everyday life is just that, everyday. The way he is with his wife, and kids, and people around him. I've seen it a dozen times, because that's how people actually act. Reiner brought a sense of realness to this movie, which in effect brought with it believability.

What can I say about a film that stars two of my favorite actors? Its one of my all-time favorite family films.

George Burns is wonderful as God. He is patient, kind and easy to talk to-- everything that God is, in my humble opinion. I do like the fact that he is represented as less than perfect; he shows us the human side of our creator.

John Denver is great as the grocery clerk, the naive, put-upon modern Moses who tries to convince everyone that he's not insane.

The appeal of this film is the underlying message that God cares for us, and also the way the message is delivered in such a non-denominational, non-preachy, non-judgmental manner. Its a fun movie that reminds us that God is always watching us---not to squash us like a bug when we make a mistake, but to be there for us when we need him.

The movie appeals to all ages. 10/10 stars.