Bruce Almighty

Now either you like Mr Carrey's humour or you don't. Me, Myself and Irene had audiences both walking out in droves and, on the other hand, cheering and collapsing in puddles of mirth. Bruce Almighty is a bit more mainstream, but you have been warned.

If you're not sure, watch the trailer. I saw the trailer three times and still laughed at the same gags when I saw the film. If you don't find the sight of a dog putting the seat down after using the loo funny, don't bother with the movie.

Carrey, a reporter stuck in a rut covering 'lighter news' berates God when the whole of his life seems to be going to pot. God takes up the challenge and asks Carrey if he can do better. Carrey gets into the swing of having all of God's powers by making his girlfriend (Jennifer Aniston)'s breasts bigger, getting himself promoted, and answering everyone's prayers by single stroke computer commands.

This is not a highbrow movie or even that memorable, but it is very well made within it's very limited intent, provides almost continuous laughs to Carrey fans, and even any religious cheesiness is likely to be inoffensive to all but the most narrow-minded god-squadders and anti-god-squadders.

On the more thoughtful level, the film tempts us to speculate about Carrey's own career - stuck in his 'comedy' typecasting he has largely failed to make an impression as a serious actor even after winning two Golden Globes. His most accomplished 'straight' role, the Man on the Moon, is less well known that his comedy romps - or The Truman Show (on which the Academy heaped three nominations whilst bypassing Carrey).

Broad, amusing, and well-intended comic fantasy about an ambitious Buffalo reporter who hates his job and dreams of becoming a news anchor. After suffering from some hard luck, the jaded reporter directs his anger toward God whom he feels is ignoring him completely, at least until he has an unexpected celestial encounter that endows him with divine powers that allow him to see the truth. Well-crafted comedy does suffer from occasional lapses due to conventional story elements, but it's good-natured and consistently laugh-out loud funny, with some terrific sight gags, clever ideas, along with a perfect part for Carrey who makes a welcomed return to the kind of silliness that made him a star. ***

Discontented television reporter Bruce Nolan (Jim Carrey), on his worst day of his life, rages against God. He responds by appearing in human form (Morgan Freeman) and gives Bruce divine powers, challenging him to take on the big job of being the Almighty.

As the divine-powered Nolan using his new gift, it is actually very hilarious to see him playing tricks on people that annoy him in his life, including the sidesplitting scene where he makes rival reporter Evan Baxter blunder big time on live TV. Makes me wish I have some special powers to counter some of the people that annoyed me to no end.

The film's story also proves that it is not a walk-in-the-park to serve in God's shoes, as he has to listen to all the voices of the people's prayers around him and see what chaotic things actually happen when all people get what they wish for. I think this is cleverly depicted in this movie's solid plot.

Overall, this is one of the better Jim Carrey comedies I've seen, where he is funny, but doesn't go overboard with the slapstick and silliness. Mixing in the humor with some doses of drama, you'll get quite an entertaining movie.

Grade B

Bruce Almighty is a decent movie. It is no masterpiece, but it is still entertaining, is well performed and has a sense of fun. The reason why I don't think is a masterpiece is mainly because of various factors it didn't quite convince as much as it should have done.

The movie has a good soundtrack, and a great premise. The performances are what made the movie as entertaining as it was, with Jim Carrey in his usual over the top performance pitch-perfect as Bruce Nolan and Jennifer Aniston as lovely as ever as Grace. Steve Carrell has his moments as Evan Baxter. The real acting kudos though has to go to Morgan Freeman, who is such an exceptional actor who rarely disappoints in anything he's in, and he was great as God. There are as I have said some hilarious moments, the news station scenes were particularly hysterical.

However, there are some problems that marred an otherwise decent movie. The middle act is rather slow moving and not very much of interest happens sadly. I also found it rather short for a comedy, if it were fifteen minutes or so longer it could have had more scenes to develop the characters and story more. And while on the whole the movie worked there are parts in the script that are overdone.

On the whole, despite being disappointingly uneven, it is a fun and decent comedy, that is well performed and has a nice message. Plus the ending is a tear jerker. 7/10 Bethany Cox

If you want a serious laugh pain, watch this movie, and the things Bruce inflicts on his fellow newscaster. The deleted scenes are priceless. I don't know why they didn't include them in the original movie. It can't be because of time, since the movie is only 101 minutes long. Morgan Freeman is a brilliant actor, who has been overlooked for too long. Jim Carrey needs meds!