Film Reviews

Bruce Almighty

• Rating:
• Director: Tom Shadyac
• Starring: Catherine Bell
• Details: US / 100 minutes / (12PG).

In his latest film, 'Bruce Almighty', Jim Carrey plays an Ordinary Joe who meets God (Morgan Freeman) and is given His powers for a week. Which is a little ironic, since much of Carrey's career has been a fairly heavy indication that God cannot exist. Why? Well if God really is all powerful, then how can He allow the man who made zillions from 'Ace Ventura 2' and 'The Majestic' waltz through life unpunished? Answer me that, eh? But I'm getting away from the point here, which is that 'Bruce Almighty', while hardly a masterpiece, is probably Carrey's best comedy since 'The Mask' (1994). Carrey's character is Bruce Nolan, a television news reporter who incurs God's interest after blaspheming Him once too often. After getting His abilities for a week and promising to follow a couple of rules, Bruce gets up to all manner of hi-jinks. Soon, though, he realises that being the Big Guy isn't as much fun as he first thought.
The premise may be more stimulating than what he usually trades off, but make no mistake about it, 'Bruce Almighty' is still little beyond a vehicle for the elastic faced Carrey and his energetically cheerful if predictable physical comedy. Still, even if his brand of comedy is too broad and hyperactive for my tastes, Carrey's a very game performer, and 'Bruce Almighty' has a reasonable number of genuinely funny gags.

Review by Garreth Murphy