The film lacks an element that audiences love Jim Carrey for-comedy.

Rating: 6/10 (2 June 2003)

After Jim Carrey's unsuccessful attempts to create a serious acting career with films like `The Majestic,' and `Man on the Moon,' he has decided to return to his old brand of slapstick humor in the new film `Bruce Almighty' from director Tom Shadyac (`Patch Adams'). Unfortunately, the film lacks an element that audiences love Jim Carrey for-comedy. The movie's highest points have already been seen in the trailers for the film. Ironically enough, audiences seemed most amused by those same jokes: the dog using the toilet, Carrey stepping in a pothole, etc. It just goes to show that most comic films are nothing more than rehashed, simple jokes, rather than something that is actually funny. `Bruce Almighty' is the story of a man named Bruce (Carrey), who hates his life. He's a reporter who gets the crap jobs at his station, and it seems like the whole world is ignoring his talents. His negative attitude is even starting to affect his relationship with his girlfriend Grace (Jennifer Aniston). After loosing his job, Bruce starts to blame God for his lot in life. Low and behold, God (Morgan Freeman) shows up and gives Bruce all of his powers. Naturally, Bruce indulges in all the incredible abilities that God gives him and his life starts to improve. But what Bruce doesn't realize is that being God involves a lot more than improving his own life; he needs to help others who truly need it, as well. The plot is as trivial as they come. After about the first hour, some people may want to leave the theater. But things start to turn in favor of the film towards the last half-hour, as the film takes on a deeper, more meaningful tone. Ergo, the last thirty minutes of `Bruce Almighty' proves to be its own saving grace. Carrey is a great comedian, but one can't deny that the one-liners and old jokes are becoming boring. Instead of `alrighty then,' we now have `b-e-a-utiful.' The film isn't devoid of some original jokes, however. One scene shows Bruce on the rise in his ratings in which he earns the title 'Mr. Exclusive' because he finds the body of Jimmy Hoffa. Another scene shows Bruce doing an interview when all of a sudden, a meteor hits the earth in the background and since he's the only reporter around, the story becomes his. But when a film runs for 94 minutes and all it can depend on upon are moments of humor, it shows that someone should go back to the drawing board and start over. Shadyac is a fair director whose primary claim to fame have been comedies. Shadyac's `Ace Ventura: Pet Detective' was Carrey's first hit comedy, pushing him into the public eye. Shadyac's problem though is that all of his comic films are alike-they involve characters that are unhappy with their existence and through a blend of humor and emotion, they rise above themselves to become better people. Nevertheless, this scenario is old. If Shadyac wants to be remembered as a really good director, he needs to become more diverse in the film's he chooses. The only dramatic film that he's done to date has been 'Dragonfly' which starred Kevin Costner.
`Bruce Almighty' has proven to be a big hit at the box-office. Perhaps most people just want the same thing over and over when they see a film. If this is what you are interested in, `Bruce Almighty' is the right ticket for you. If not, rent something that is actually funny like `Best in Show' or `The Naked Gun.' **1/2