The dearth of imagination is stupefying. Carrey is alternately embarrassing and terrifyingly detached, [and] Freeman has sold out.
Bruce Almighty (2003)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:167
Fresh:82
Rotten:85
Average Rating:5.7/10
Consensus: Carrey is hilarious in the slapstick scenes, but Bruce Almighty gets bogged down in treacle.
Runtime: 1 hr 42 mins
Genre: Comedies
Synopsis: Jim Carrey returns to his zany, manic roots in this Capraesque comedy from director Tom Shadyac (ACE VENTURA: PET DETECTIVE and LIAR LIAR). Carrey stars as Bruce Nolan, a television reporter in... Jim Carrey returns to his zany, manic roots in this Capraesque comedy from director Tom Shadyac (ACE VENTURA: PET DETECTIVE and LIAR LIAR). Carrey stars as Bruce Nolan, a television reporter in Buffalo, New York who lives a normal life with his sweet girlfriend Grace (Jennifer Aniston). But Bruce isn't satisfied, and after a particularly bad day where everything goes wrong, he blames God. After spewing a tirade of curses God's way, God (Morgan Freeman in a gentlemanly white suit) responds and challenges Bruce to take over and see if he can run things better. Of course, there are some conditions; Bruce can only have the "almighty" powers for 24 hours and only in the Buffalo area. This doesn't stop Bruce, and he responds to his newfound powers with selfish, childlike zeal. Like a kid in a candy store, Bruce sets off making one hysterical, yet disastrous, decision after another. He pulls the moon closer to the earth so he can have a more romantic evening with Grace, unaware that his actions cause a tidal wave in Japan and responds to the prayers of the world with a mass-email "yes" that creates millions of lottery winners, riots, and mayhem. Ultimately, Bruce proves he is only human, and cannot possibly fill God's shoes, although he has a great time trying. [More]
Starring: Jim Carrey, Morgan Freeman, Jennifer Aniston, Philip Baker Hall
Starring: Jim Carrey, Morgan Freeman, Jennifer Aniston, Philip Baker Hall, Catherine Bell, Lisa Ann Walter, Steven Carell, Nora Dunn, Ken Rudúlph
Director: Tom Shadyac
Director: Tom Shadyac
Screenwriter: Michael O'Keefe, Steve Koren, Steve Oedekerk
Producer: Tom Shadyac, Jim Carrey, James D. Brubaker, Michael Bostick, Steve Koren, Mark O'Keefe
Studio: Universal Pictures
Reviews for Bruce Almighty
Never before have I heard the F word used in a film about God, though I'm sure there were times in Passion of the Christ when Jesus was thinking it...
[Carrey's] latest is a comedy–thank heaven–that might even cause the guy upstairs to fall down laughing.
'You can see Carrey straining to reign in his more extreme comedic tendencies – and losing the battle.'
Consistently amusing, despite being formulaic and occasionally sappy.
Freeman is one of the delights of the film, as an avuncular Deity with a sense of humor.
Move over Meg Ryan: When Harry Met Sally's climactic luncheonette scene will never be the same after Aniston's eye-popping rendezvous with her maker.
I was really rooting for Bruce to ignore the responsibilities and give God the holy middle finger.
"Bruce Almighty" is an uproarious, enjoyable comedic farce that explores religion in many aspects.
The wacky scenes are simply not very funny; anyone sitting in the audience could think of far better things to do with the powers of God than the film does.
Even Jim Carrey, whose mere presence can often liven up a film lacking in luster, can't save the almighty turkey that is Bruce Almighty.
... manages to walk a tightrope between comedic elements and 'Almighty' elements... God's teaching Bruce a life lesson, and everything (Bruce) does has to count if it's going to stick.
Where The Majestic was an aggressive puppy licking your face, Bruce Almighty is the same dog urinating on your leg.
The script is doggone clever and the ideas never stop coming. I laughed and it felt good.
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