Bruce Almighty (2003)
The only thing I can think of more
frightening than Morgan Freeman as God is Jim Carrey
as God. "Bruce Almighty" asks you to believe both.
It's difficult to imagine a more dreary, pompous and
typical film than what we get here. Of course, the
trailer makes it pretty clear that we're in for an
inane ride. When Carrey's TV reporter is made God
by Freeman, the supposed true deity, the best thing
he can think of to do is make his girlfriend's tit
bigger and teach his dog how to pee in the toilet
like a human. That's the level of intelligence and
humor at play here.
The set-up for the film is long
and totally unrealistic, not to mention as contrived
as one could imagine. Carrey plays a cutsey human
interest TV reporter who really wants to be an anchor
man. He's sort of a doofus so, of course, everything
goes wrong for him. Of course, where most people would
just go "fucking hell" or "Goddammit" or "why me?"
whatever when something bad or tiresome happens to
them, Carrey's Bruce goes one step further and actually
blames God for making his life so miserable. It's
obvious and dumb.
There's a whole allegory going on
here for Carrey's real life persona. After all, as
many film critics have been delighted to point out,
Carrey himself is a doofus who wants to be taken seriously
as an actor. Carrey's attempts at serious films, like
"Man in the Moon" and "The Majestic" have met with
less than stellar success, especially financially.
Carrey's Bruce has to accept that true happiness doesn't
come from achieving your goals but rather accepting
yourself for whom you are and enjoying what you are
good at. Even more of a clue to the real life parallel
comes when Freeman talks about Bruce's father. This
also reflects Carrey's real life situation as anyone
who has seen his "True Hollywood Story" can attest
to. (Albeit, it is a sweet moment). And finally, a
clue comes in the way in which Jimmy Stewart is used
in the film. Carrey is no modern day Stewart (that's
tom Hanks) but he wants to be. This film tries desperately
to be a sort of modern day "It's a Wonderful Life."
It fails miserably.
Carrey does an okay job here but
the script really fails him. Bruce has to learn to
accept his role as a goofy TV reporter just as Carrey
has to learn to accept his fate as a goofy film star
(who gets paid zillions of dollars). The thing is,
this isn't the sort of goofy comedic role people want
to see him in. It's far too preachy and definitely
too heavy handed. "Bruce Almighty" is Carrey trying
to have his cake and eat it too. You can't be a goof
and talk through your asshole one minute and then
try to tell me that God exists and listens to prayers
and has a plan for humanity the next. This sort of
populist, religious stuff is just annoying. This film
panders to its audience by offering up the most generic
of American protestant religious morality. It's shameless.
It's like lite rock radio and the most inane and innocuous
of sitcom.
The plot also goes into tried and
true typical territory when Bruce becomes God and
starts mucking about with humanity. Everything he
does, of course, backfires until, at the film's climax,
the world is in shambles, people are rioting in the
streets and nature has gone out of control. We see
this coming the minute God, who apparently isn't too
bright, hands over the proverbial keys, so to speak.
If there is anything to like about
this film, it is Jennifer Aniston's performance. Aniston
and Carrey may not have huge erotic and sexual sparks
but they sure seem comfortable together. They have
that easiness with one and other that people who have
lived together for a few years often have. And, for
what it's worth, her climactic moment in the film
is touching, honest and poignant. It's almost makes
sitting through the rest of the film worth the time.
Almost.
"Bruce Almighty" is a film that
finds Jim Carrey continually trying to get comfortable
in his own celebrity skin. It may make him feel better
about his role in the universe. It didn't make me
feel better about the eight bucks I spent to get in
the door. Carrey picks up million dollar paychecks
every time he mugs for the camera. Why do I have to
pay for his cinematic therapy?
Note:
Also with Phillip Baker Hall, Lisa
Ann Walter, Steve Carrell and Nora Dunn.
Directed by Tom Shadyac, who has
worked previously with Carrey on "Liar, Liar" and
"Ace Ventura." Shadyac and Carrey also take producer
credits.
The film angered many righteous
Christian types. You know, the type that CAN'T TAKE
A FUCKING JOKE. It also pissed off a lot of people
who had the phone number which God leaves numerous
times on Bruce's pager as their real number. For some
dumb reason, they decided to use a realistic number
rather than a 555 number.
Viewed in the valley at a Tinseltown
in May of 2003 with my roomie Amanda. It was the Sunday
night during Memorial Day weekend with a packed house.
The guy in front of us let his kid run around like
it was a day care. The people next to us let their
kid play with their cell phone. People talked and
ran up and down the stairs constantly. Toward the
end of the movie, some girl behind us answered her
cell phone and talked to someone before handing it
to a man with her who also talked to them. I'm beginning
to see why they don't allow handguns in movie theaters.
It was all I could do not to pray to Morgan Freeman
that these inconsiderate assholes die in horrible
car wrecks on the way home.
