Rating: 
Summary: Amusing, but typical
Review: This film certainly presented an intriguing concept: what would an ordinary man do with divine powers? While this was a clever idea, it is not executed very well in this film that becomes a typical Jim Carrey comedy. Let's review, shall we? Every Jim Carrey slapstick fare must have a few vital elements: 1. Lots of spazzing out and mugging. 2. A catchphrase (in this case: B-E-autiful). 3. A girl who puts up with his antics (Jennifer Aniston as Grace). 4. A heartwarming scene at the end as his character learns his lesson. Carrey is funny as Bruce Nolan, a disgruntled news reporter who's mad at God for the many problems in his life. But his character is somewhat shallow, using his borrowed divine powers to blow women's skirts up and to part traffic like the Red Sea. He does wise up in the end, but his transformation seems a bit unbelievable. In a sense, Bruce echoes Carrey's character in "Liar Liar," an unlikable person on the whole until his final moment of clarity. Morgan Freeman is funny as the almighty one, but he's great in most films anyway. Aniston manages to be a sympathetic character, but with her own funny moments as well. But Carrey does steal most of the movie from anyone else's clutches, and that isn't always a good thing. I should probably warn parents now that there are many raunchy jokes and a very loud proclamation of the F-word in this film. So if your seven-year-old loves Jim Carrey, you might want to use caution with this one. Bottom line: I did laugh during this movie, but many jokes were not very original or clever. The performances are good from the supporting cast, but Carrey is over-the-top as usual. The message of the movie is honorable, but it gets buried and lost amidst the jokes. All in all, I think it might have been a better quality film if they had focused more on the theme instead of on gags.
Rating: 
Summary: Bruce Al'Goodness
Review: The Book of Job, the charm of television's Bewitched, and the comedic genius of Jim Carrey - though over-dramatic and a bit annoying at times, come together in Bruce Almighty (2003). It's made sweeter with an unexpected cameo by Tony Bennett superbly singing "If I Ruled the World" in his legendary smokey, velvet voice. The lighthearted 101 minute romance pokes fun at the frustration many feel regarding God's universal plan. Screen writers Steve Koren and Mark O'Keefe merit special note for a witty script. Television reporter Bruce Nolan (Carrey), who reports on feel-good events in the community, is upset after his station promotes a hard-hitting investigative field reporter to
co-anchor the nightly news cast. The "injustice" is another in a series of events - traffic jams, his eventual firing as a reporter, a pet dog that refuses to be house broken, and an annoyed longtime girlfriend (Jennifer Aniston) who patiently waits for a marriage proposal that never comes. Nolan also gets assaulted for helping a homeless man being harassed by several punks. "You [God] should be fired," the once happy-go-lucky former reporter turned jaded putz charges. It may remind the viewer of Job lamenting to God, "I cry to you, but you do not answer me; you stand off and look at me, Then you turn upon me without mercy and with your strong hand you buffet me." Re-reading Job in conjunction with this film made for an interesting contrast. The overwhelmed soul later caustically taunts God (Morgan Freeman) with, "smite me oh mighty smiter." The "prayer" is answered. God, depicted at times as janitor, electrician, and a dapperly dressed gent in white, gives the unemployed reporter the job of being the Almighty. Nolan has two restrictions - tell no one he's God and do not interfere with free choice. Nolan becomes overwhelmed in answering prayers realizing that every decision has repercussions. Ultimately, due to his self-absorption, Nolan loses his universe - the woman he loves. Again he is faced with the question, "Why me God?" Unlike Job, Nolan answers to a gentle, charming God. In contrast, Job submits to a harsh Divinity who asks rhetorically, "Who is this that obscures divine plans with words of ignorance? Gird up your loins now, like a man; I will question you, and you tell me the answers! . . . Have you ever in your lifetime commanded the morning and shown the dawn its place . . ." A dramatic scene toward the end has Nolan slammed dead by a fast moving truck. Nolan faces God with whom he pleads to give his beloved all the joy, love, and happiness that he failed to do. God punches him in the chest where the contrite, remorseful sinner finds himself in the hospital receiving shock therapy to his heart. He recovers and predictably Nolan is forgiven by his beloved. They marry and live happily ever after. The film suggests a dismal future for God's children. If you don't like your station in life - too bad - it's part of the universal order of things. You can't change it. Your professional success or place in the world is determined by a careful formula. In this case, disappointingly, Nolan resumes his old job at the television station. The parallel to the Book of Job stops here. In the Bible, God tests a content, successful, obedient servant who is later returned to his former bliss. Nolan is returned to a state where he now realizes that as long as you're loved nothing else matters. Where's the free choice? Nolan has love without the career he wanted because God has decided that he will be the purveyor of humor, warmth, and good cheer on television in a cold, troubled, complicated world. In the very last scene a homeless man holding a sign, "Armageddon Outta Here," is momentarily transformed into a smiling God. Don't worry. Be happy. God has it all under control. Sigh. Does he?
Rating:
Summary: May be the start of a character evolution for Jim Carrey.
Review: "Bruce Almighty" is a reasonably funny Jim Carrey film which gets limited use from it's star's athletic brand of humor. Say it ain't so, Joe, but could Carrey be slowing down somewhat? I remember back in the mid-80's when Robin Williams began to tackle less frenetic and more serious roles. Was it that he was trying to be taken more seriously as an actor or just felt like he had worn out that familar vehicle? It appears that Carrey may be on that same track. He even looks much older and more mature in this film. While "Bruce Almighty" is far from serious, it IS a definite departure from films like "Dumb and Dumber" and the "Ace Ventura" franchise. Carrey shows flashes of his former physical brand of humor in "Bruce..", but even he would have to admit that he's more sedate in this movie. Carrey plays a sterotypical "loser" in the film who, when he doesn't get the "big promotion" at the television station in which he works, blames everybody but himself. Especially God. In scenes reminiscent of "It's a Wonderful Life", Carrey takes stock of his life and his future and wallows in the dispair of his present. As he continues to express his displeasure with the Creator and blame his problems on Him, he finds a phone number on his pager that he feels compelled to return. When the voice on the other end invites him to a meeting at an abandoned building, Carrey takes him up on it. Of course, it is at the building that Carrey meets up with God (played by the wonderful Morgan Freeman). God gives Carrey the opportunity to "play God" for a while to see how he likes it and to find out how tough a job it really is. From that point, the story takes some familar Jim Carrey comedy turns and fans of his particular brand of humor will find it quite funny. The rest of the movie is spent with Carrey wishing that he didn't have the power of God and trying hard to give it back. It's the typical "grass isn't always greener on the other side" motif that was present in movies such as the aforementioned "...Wonderful Life". Jennifer Annison is quite good as the long-suffering girl friend of Carrey who tries to be supportive but finds herself drifting away from the new persona that Carrey has as Bruce Almighty. Once again, a pretty standard "boy has girl, boy loses girl, boy regains girl" plotline is used by Director Tom Shadyac to help tie the movie together at the end. All in all, this certainly is not a movie that will gain Carrey his star of fame outside of Graumann's Chinese Theater, but I can't say that it's not an enjoyable movie either. There are some great scenes with the dog and the tongue-tied anchorman scene is really funny and quite painful in a way! It's got a lot of fluff, but Jim Carrey fans will more than likely get a kick out of it. Recommended for the fans of Jim Carrey and very, very light comedies. (no thinking required)
Rating:
Summary: Alright!
Review: I know there are a lot of complaints about this movie, but I beg to differ. It is about Bruce, who seems to be getting the downside of everything, while everyone else seems to be getting top notch. I think everyone, (believer or not) has had a Bruce moment when they're asking, "God, where are you?" because God is putting them through a trial, and He wants you to trust Him so He can reveal Himself to you in such a way that you won't be shaken and KNOW that He is indeed in control! This movie had some hilarious parts, and then again, some very sobering parts. This movie shows how we can all be so human, the want for things! But it also shows us the human side of God! He made us how we are for a reason. My conclusion, because of personal experience is that God never will give you a situation that you can't handle. He's always there, waiting for you to call on Him.
Rating:
Summary: Very Funny, Exceeded My Expectations
Review: "Bruce Almighty" exceeded my expectations in most respects. I am a hugh fan of Jim Carrey's and Jennifer Aniston's; however, I had somewhat low hopes for a broad comedy with a Memorial Day opening. What a great surprise!
The plot is relatively simple: Carrey plays a self-absorbed TV reporter in Buffalo who dreams of being an anchor. Aniston is "Grace," his long suffering girlfriend. After Carrey gets fired and complains again and again to God, he ends up being summoned by the higher power himself (Morgan Freeman). The bottom line: if Carrey thinks he can do a better job being God, then he can have the position for a few weeks.
The movie follows the traditional storyline for such mass market flicks: at first Carrey puts his powers to self-serving purposes (e.g., Aniston's breasts become bigger) and then he realizes the more profound implications of being God. I won't ruin the rest of the movie.
Suffice to say, there are a lot of big, broad laugh-out-loud moments throughout the film. Carrey displays his magnificent gift for physical comedy. In a series of outtakes at the end of the movie, you realize just how hard some of those scenes are to perform.
This movie also has a "deeper" (though that might be too strong a word) message. Carrey and the audience realize that you can't give everyone everything they want for a number of reasons. And when you do one good thing for one person(Carrey pulls the moon up close for Aniston), then most likely someone else may be hurt (a tsunami hits Japan because of the change of position in the moon).
One criticism: in many ways, Aniston is wasted in this role. I am a huge Aniston fan. While she is excellent, she does not have a chance to display her own formidable comedic gifts. Plus, the movie doesn't exploit the opportunity to have two such gifted comedians, Carrey and Aniston, play off each other. Both can shade their performances with darker tones. Perhaps, they can work again in a smaller, more independent film.
I would recommend this film to people who enjoy big, broad comedies. It's a fun movie to go to with a date, family and/or friends. I wouldn't recommend it to people who don't like Jim Carrey-most likely, your opinion won't change. And if you're an Aniston fan, you may be disappointed. But overall, it's a lot of fun.
Rating:
Summary: What Would YOU Do If You Were THE ALMIGHTY ?
Review: Your reaction to this movie will depend on your expectations, it is neither ACE VENTURA nor THE MAJESTIC. The movie OH GOD had John Denver as the earnest nonbeliever and straightman for the comic George Burns as a playful God. BRUCE ALMIGHTY reverses the typecasting; it has the wild and wacky Jim Carrey as the playful and irreverent reporter Bruce Nolan who is suddenly given the powers of The Almighty, played with wonderfully understated grace and perserverance by Morgan Freeman. The story is simplicity itself, Jim Carrey is a TV reporter with a real talent for doing human interest stories with a humorous twist, but who feels underappreciated and yearns for a spot on his Buffalo NY station's anchor desk. His longtime girlfriend Grace Connelly (played by Jennifer Aniston) also feels somewhat taken for granted, since Bruce seems to be more concerned about his career than their relationship. The stresses in Bruce's life suddenly converge when he is fired from his job after a disastrous (and hilarious) live interview conducted on THE MAID OF THE MIST while under Niagara Falls. Never particularly religious despite his girlfriend's entreaties to seek comfort from prayer, in a defiant gesture Bruce totally rejects all belief in the possibility of any help from God. Supposedly summoned by pager to a job interview, in a wonderful encounter with incredible symbolism (an all white environment with a black God) Morgan Freeman endows Bruce with the powers of THE ALMIGHTY and challenges him to do a better job while obeying only two seemingly simple rules. Then the fun, adventure and suddenly changed trajectory of Bruce's life begins. If you want to see Jim Carrey at his comic best, you will love this movie. Imagine what he can do and the havoc that he can create as THE ALL POWERFUL with almost no limitations on his abilities. (The trailers accurately relect this aspect of the film.) Where the movie disappoints in my opinion was its use of comedy to explore the issues which it raises about religion and its role in our lives, personal relationships, pursuit of happiness, and feelings of accomplishment. As you can imagine, Bruce at first refuses to believe that he has been endowed with extraordinary powers, then initially uses them for mundane personal purposes in several really funny incidents. After a few additional visits and consultations with Morgan Freeman, Bruce gradually comes to accept the fact that being almighty is more complicated and involves more responsibility than simply creating personal gratification. The next lesson also involves the fact that there are often unintended consequences which stem from good (as well as bad) intentions; one person's good fortune may cause problems for someone else. Despite the serious undertone, the comedic aspects of the incidents inevitably dominate the storyline. While comedy can be a wonderful way to enlighten as well as entertain, in many instances this film instead opts for complete farce. This aspect combines with the fact that many of the miracles are more like cheap magic tricks rather than almighty acts to lessen the potential of the film to be truly thoughtprovoking. (It also means that regardless of which faith you espouse, if you have strongly fundamentalist religious beliefs you may be offended by some aspects of this movie.) There were some great issues raised, but always implicitly with the exception of the role of free will; it appears that the filmmakers kept their story very bland to reamin as inoffensive as possible; but that seems at odds with a story about a man and his encounter with THE ALMIGHTY. This was an interesting movie that I want to see again to test my first reaction. I enjoyed the humor immensely; I watched it in a crowded theater and the entire audience laughed hysterically at times. Morgan Freeman was superb in a limited although central role, and Jennifer Aniston was perfect as the frustrated girlfriend. The dog was a lovable character as well. TWO IMPORTANT NOTES: first, don't leave when the credits start rolling, there are some subsequent great outtakes; second, pay particular attention to the signs held up periodically by Jack Jozefson (the homeless man) - they are not only wonderfully apropos but one of the methods by which the message of the story is subtly, if only silently, conveyed. So while I highly recommend this film, my four star rating relects the fact that the attempts to play for comedy and blandness kept it far from what could have been its six star potential.
Rating: 
Summary: Jim Almighty
Review: Bruce Nolan (Jim Carrey) is a field reporter for local TV station in Buffalo, doing wacky clips. He has a bad day when he discovers that his collegue, Evan is awarded the coveted position of anchor man. Bruce goes onto insult Evan on live TV and is then fired from his job. To top it all he then crashes his car and is beaten up by a bunch of thugs when he tries to help a homeless person. He then has a conversation with God and asks why him? His prayers are answered when God summons him through a pager. Enter Morgan Freeman who plays God in the form of a janitor, electrician and man in White suit. God gives Bruce all his power to see if he can do a better job on two conditions that he doesn't tell anyone that he is God and that he can't interfere with free will. Bruce then uses his new found skills to create a perfect evening of passion with his long time girlfriend, Grace (Jennifer Aniston), house trains the dog to use the toilet, parts traffic so that he can get through with his newly conjured up sports car. He then plots to become the new anchor man at his old TV Station by conjuring up disasters like a meteorite hitting Buffalo and being the first news reporter to arrive on the scene to get the exclusive. There is a hilarious scene when Bruce makes his collegue Evan speak gobbledegooks when he his broadcasting the news live. I couldn't stop laughing with tears streaming down my face. Bruce then realises that he has to answer the prayers of people and being lazy he just answers everybody's prayer by tapping yes. Thus resulting in thousands of people winning the lottery jackpot which then creates a riot in Buffalo. This was a very laugh out loud funny film. Jim Carey is perfect in the role of Bruce, making funny faces and quick witted comments. Jennifer Aniston is cute as Grace, the long term suffering girlfriend of Bruce. A definite must see for Jim Carrey fans. Lealing
Rating: 
Summary: Oh, How the Mighty Have Fallen!
Review: In a nutshell, Jim Carrey is given God's powers and abuses them. BRUCE ALMIGHTY could have been a great comedy and had a lot going for it. However, even with the great premise, the film suffers because the "Jim Carrey" persona is wearing thin after so many films. In the first part of the story, the character of Bruce Nolan is a likeable loser who thinks God has it in for him because of all the bad luck he encounters. When God (with the inspired casting of Morgan Freeman) answers Bruce's prayers (or rather Bruce's blaspheming), Bruce is given the insight and the power to shape the world around him for a week. He then uses it for personal gain and revenge (Hey, wouldn't anybody?!). When Bruce is given the power of God, the "Jim Carrey" persona comes out and the film settles into predictability especially the sight gags and the rest of the humor. Somehow the audience can predict that Bruce is going to screw things up and end up reiterating that classic line from the Spiderman comicbook (written by Stan Lee), "With great power, comes great responsibility!". Morgan Freeman is great as God but Jennifer Aniston is forgettable in a thankless role of Carrey's/Bruce's girlfriend. The pet dog character in the film had more screen presence than she did. Overall, a typical Jim Carrey comicfest that really didn't showcase anything new, exciting,or hilariously innovative. Perhaps they should make a sequel and have Satan give Bruce the powers the next time around.
Rating:
Summary: I'm clint eastwood with a 44 calibur
Review: this movie was very funny and had a good point, but it sorta sucked with the un-realness.
Rating:
Summary: I have GOT to say this....
Review: I've seen the movie. I love the movie. I own the DVD. It was well worth the money. That aside, why are some people placing this movie on a pedastal to be judged? It's only a movie. Such capitalism as this will never be a true representation of the bible, much less of GOD. Why should we expect it to be? It's only a point of view. It never promises to be a teaching tool for sunday school. It didn't throw blood and gore at the screen to get everyone's attention like that recent Mel Gibson movie did. We all know it. The Passion. Every country in this world has different beliefs. Would we be the only 'righteous' few that would be correct in judging a movie negatively because it is about Buddism? A movie should be judged on its' own merits. With no fanatical views disrupting whether or not it could be considered entertaining. BTW , If you walked into a Jim Carrey movie expecting enlightenment, what were you thinking? One exception, Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind. Now that was an incredible and well-written Jim carrey film. It'll be on DVD in a few months. Check it out.
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