'Almighty' Then!! Carrey back in fine comic form.

Rating: Null/10 (27 May 2003)

BRUCE ALMIGHTY (2003) *** Jim Carrey, Jennifer Aniston, Morgan Freeman, Catherine Bell, Steven Carell, Philip Baker Hall, Lisa Ann Walter, Nora Dunn, Sally Kirkland. High concept comedy with Carrey as a put-upon Buffalo, NY news personality who feels God is out to get him gets his ultimate complaint put to the test when He (a game Foreman) gives his powers on loan to see what he would do in His place. Laughs aplenty especially the 'monkey scene' ('nuff said; don't want to ruin it for those who haven't seen it yet), which deserves a spot in the cinematic vault. Aniston adds a fine balance for Carrey to bounce off as his long-suffering yet supportive girlfriend and unctuous jerk news anchor Carell steals the show as a victim to the suddenly pious Carrey's shenanigans by having a speaking-in-tongues fit on-air that also should be filed away in the film vault. A fine screenplay by Steve Koren, Mark O'Keefe and Steve Oedekerk allow Carrey to riff with his spastic slapstick and go-for-the funny bone one-liners as well as re-uniting with director Tom Shadyac who lets Jim get his ya-yas out.