What would you do if you had all the powers of God? For yourself, for the world? There are so many possibilities. In Bruce Almighty, we are shown what it?s like when a random Joe takes advantage of these endless possibilities.
Jim Carrey, after the failure of the 2001 comedy, The Majestic, has joined up again with directors Tom Shadyac and Steve Oedekerk?they did Ace Ventura in the 90s. Carrey has now brought back his old moves and grooves, and his signature brand of wit in this film.
He has also joined arms with popular female co-star, ?friend? Jennifer Aniston. However, Carrey is so overshadowing in this movie, that she?s hardly noticed.
Jim Carrey plays the role of Bruce, a depressed and frustrated television news reporter from Buffalo, New York. Constantly ranting at God?s unfairness and ineptitude, Bruce encourages the Almighty One (Morgan Freeman) to lower himself from the heavens, and give Bruce the job of God for a little bit. Granting him all of his powers, He hopes Bruce can fix his life up better than He can. All of a sudden, Bruce is God.
So what does he do? Does he cause peace throughout the world, and terminate terrorism? Does he eliminate all diseases and sicknesses from the world? Does he even lower gas prices??
No.
He gets even with a mob of Hispanic hoodlums that assaulted him, he makes fun of one of his co-workers who stole the job he once wanted, he lowers the moon to impress his girlfriend, he increases the size of his girlfriend?s breasts, he gets a sweet looking Lamborghini sports car, he stops traffic on a busy street, and makes sure his favorite hockey team wins the Stanley Cup. Most of all, he gets the career position he lost a little while ago.
As God, will Bruce learn what?s important in life? Maybe?maybe not.
This makes Bruce Almighty immediately seem like a boring film you shouldn?t waste your time watching, but just know that there is a moral. Bruce soon realizes that being God isn?t so easy. Dealing with people?s wishes, and world problems isn?t the greatest way to spend your days. Being God isn?t just a walk in the park.
Bruce Almighty is yet another variation of It?s a Wonderful Life. Both of these films are based on the fact that the protaganist learns what?s important in life after an unexpected, magical occurrence.
Surprisingly so, this film isn?t one bit inspirational, even though it is based on God?a subject that usually is quite stirring. I found this hard to believe.
Still Carrey makes the most of it, and blows me away. He?s funny and endearing. His love for comedy truly shows in this film, and will make his fans happy. After all, this movie was perfect for him. A goofy guy running around the streets like an idiot.
Jennifer Aniston gives an average performance as Bruce?s sweet gorgeous girlfriend, Grace. Though with Jim Carrey as her co-star, she didn?t steal any scenes.
Though not the ?religious? experience it could have been, Bruce Almighty has a few laughs to it. But at the end of the day, those few laughs aren?t worth wasting over an hour and a half of your time. The direction by Tom Shadyac and Steve Oedekerk is sluggish, and everybody just got bored. It shows.