Funny, but tries to be too heavy

Rating: Null/10 (22 December 2003)

Carrey's Bruce spews within the film's first third that he's pushing 40, and no one takes him seriously. Even when he tries to do something important, it winds up getting ignored by those who matter most, and his only option is to play the goof so he doesn't fall out of the public's eye. It's the thread that keeps him on the air, but unfortunately it's also the reason he can't get in the coveted anchor chair. This is not unlike Carrey's situation himself in the movie world. He can't get the Academy to notice him even though he has done some quality work ("The Truman Show"), so he has to resort to clowning to keep the public's attention. Did Carrey actually blame God for his lot in life? Unclear, because he did not write this movie. Nonetheless, God gives him a chance to master his own destiny. Only problem is, he begins to realize that it's not just his own life he messes with. And being God for others is a whole other job entirely. The movie itself is entertaining enough, with a few big laughs and very even performances throughout, especially Freeman as God, who is a calm, understanding deity, the One who has seen everything, so nothing surprises Him. The movie then goes on to bite off a little more than it can chew, but it leaves it well enough, knowing that it can't answer everything. Because then we don't need God.