BRUCE ALMIGHTY
Released: May 23, 2003
Jim Carrey follows his 2001 overly serious dud "The Majestic" with material he is more at home with and what his core audience wants most from him. Reuniting with director Tom Shadyac, who gave us Carrey's breakout hit "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective" in 1994 and with writer/director and previous collaborator Steve Oedekerk plus "The Daily Show" cast member Steve Koren, we find Carrey in his element. He plays a guy who complains about God too often is given almighty powers for 24 hours to teach him how difficult it is to run the world. Morgan Freeman plays God and "Friends" star Jennifer Aniston plays Carrey's girlfriend. The story takes in Buffalo, NY where Carrey's character is a TV reporter trying to elevate his career. This movie has no big message about God or religion and isn't meant to. God is simply used here as a prop for Carrey to use. It's not quite as good as the previous Carrey/Shadyac collaboration "Liar, Liar" but it's not at all the downer that "The Majestic" was. Knocking "The Matrix Reloaded" out of the #1 spot has put Carrey back in the good box office graces and his next flicks will be looked forward to by myself and his fans. As long as he sticks to material that serves him, he'll be fine. "Bruce Almighty" is worth a look on cheap night or a matinee (or on DVD) but not exactly full price at the box office material...
98 Minutes
Universal