Some hilarity but far from a classic

Rating: 7/10 (3 July 2003)

Much as I like Jim Carrey, isn't he getting a bit old for this? Pulling faces at 40 just highlights his wrinkles.
On the other hand there is a childish delight at seeing Ace Ventura: TV Reporter. The film takes a while to get going and some of Carrey's mugging smacks of overkill (or maybe desperation), but when Bruce Almighty gets the jokes right... boy does it work. Witness Bruce influencing a rival TV man to speak in a squeaky voice during the news, or Bruce's breakdown and use of the F-word live on air. Morgan Freeman has some fun with the role of God, but when the film stumbles under its own theological weight and turns semi-serious in the third act, things become predictable and stale when you just want Carrey to do something funny. Aniston's role is underwritten to say the least.
Bruce Almighty has some laugh out loud moments, but it's no classic. Oh well - at least it's better than Shadyac's last two films.