Bruce Almighty

Rating: 6/10 (20 February 2011)

The leading star hadn't made a slapstick comedy since The Grinch, and the concept of this one sounded really good, and it was good to know he was reuniting with the director that made him a star, Tom Shadyac (Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Nutty Professor, Liar Liar). Basically Bruce Nolan (Jim Carrey) is a news reporter for Channel 7 Eyewitness News in Buffalo, New York, with girlfriend Grace Connelly (Jennifer Aniston), and he dreams of one day being the new anchor, but this is taken away by the annoying Evan Baxter (Steve Carell) who rubs Bruce's nose in it. Bruce has a series of really bad luck and feels like he is being picked on by God, and when he really breaks he lets rip with blasphemy and insult to the big guy in the sky. Then he gets a message from an unknown number, inviting him to a secluded building, and that is where he meets God (Morgan Freeman), and eventually he says he is going to give Bruce the chance to do his job better, by giving him all his powers. When Bruce has mastered the use of the powers of the almighty, he uses them to his advantage, to make himself a bigger name in the news reporting stakes, but leaves little room for time with Grace and the meaningful things. God also reminds him that with all his powers he has responsibilities, most importantly answering people praying, so Bruce sets up a Yahweh! account on his computer to answers prayers as emails, but he is lazy and just says "yes" to all, which slowly causes worldwide chaos. When Bruce gets the opportunity to be the new male anchor, after making Evan look a fool, he lets it go to really sort out the world's problems, and then he finds out Grace is one who prays too, and he gets upset with what he hears. In the end he decides he doesn't want to be God anymore, God takes the powers away, and Bruce goes back to normal with a seemingly improved life with Grace. Also starring Philip Baker Hall as Jack Baylor, Catherine Bell as Susan Ortega, Lisa Ann Walter as Debbie and Tony Bennett. Carrey is really likable as the newscaster using God's powers in a cool way, Aniston is appealing as his slightly unappreciated girlfriend, and Freeman makes a very cool and majestic God. Obviously all of the best jokes come from Carrey using the divine powers, best part being making Carell talk gibberish, and also making Aniston's boobs bigger, blowing a woman's skirt up, and much more, a fun comedy fantasy. Good!