Bruce Almighty (2003)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Tom Shadyac

Writers (WGA):

Steve Koren (story) &
Mark O'Keefe (story) ...

Release Date:

23 May 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy

Tagline:

How would you handle the most awesome responsibility in the universe?

Plot:

A guy who complains about God too often is given almighty powers to teach him how difficult it is to run the world.

Plot Keywords:

God | Reporter | Responsibility | Deal | Prayer

Awards:

7 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Jim Carrey	...	Bruce Nolan
Morgan Freeman	...	God
Jennifer Aniston	...	Grace Connelly
Philip Baker Hall	...	Jack Baylor
Catherine Bell	...	Susan Ortega
Lisa Ann Walter	...	Debbie
Steve Carell	...	Evan Baxter (as Steven Carell)
Nora Dunn	...	Ally Loman
Eddie Jemison	...	Bobby
Paul Satterfield	...	Dallas Coleman
Mark Kiely	...	Fred Donohue
Sally Kirkland	...	Anita
Tony Bennett	...	Himself
Timothy Di Pri	...	Bruce's Cameraman (as Timothy DiPri)
Brian Tahash	...	Bruce's Soundman

Also Known As:

Bruce Allmächtig (Austria) (Germany) [de]
Todopoderoso (Colombia) (subtitle) (South America: Spanish title) [es]
Брюс всемогущий (Russia) [ru]
A minden6ó (Hungary) [hu]
Aman tanrim! (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Bruce - taivaanlahja (Finland) [fi]
Bruce Ha-Gadol M'Kulam (Israel: Hebrew title) [iw]
Bruce den allsmäktige (Sweden) [sv]
Bruce den almægtige (Denmark) [da]
Bruce le tout-puissant (Canada: French title) [fr]
Bruce tout-puissant (France) [fr]
Como Dios (Spain) [es]
Kõikvõimas Bruce (Estonia) [et]
Svemoguci Bruce (Croatia) [hr]
Theos gia mia evdomada (Greece) [el]
Todo Poderoso (Brazil) [pt]
Todopodroso (Colombia) (subtitle) [es]
Una settimana da Dio (Italy) [it]

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for language, sexual content and some crude humor.

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:L | Malaysia:18PL (re-rating) | Canada:14+ (Ontario) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Brazil:Livre | Canada:PG | Chile:TE | Denmark:7 | Egypt:(Banned) | Finland:K-7 | France:U | Germany:6 | Hong Kong:IIA | Malaysia:(Banned) (original rating) | Netherlands:MG6 | New Zealand:M | Norway:11 | Peru:PT | Philippines:PG-13 | Portugal:M/6 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:12 | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12A | USA:PG-13 (certificate #39779)

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Jim Carrey often insisted on doing upwards of 30 takes of some scenes.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Bruce looks at himself in the mirror, Sam enters the room to pee on the couch. The shot changes to Bruce, then back to Sam. On the right side of the screen, you can see the hand of the dog trainer, pointing to where the dog should be looking.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Bruce: God, why do you hate me?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Jeopardy!: (#22.35)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

If I Ruled the World

Carrey on form

Now either you like Mr Carrey's humour or you don't. Me, Myself and Irene had audiences both walking out in droves and, on the other hand, cheering and collapsing in puddles of mirth. Bruce Almighty is a bit more mainstream, but you have been warned.

If you're not sure, watch the trailer. I saw the trailer three times and still laughed at the same gags when I saw the film. If you don't find the sight of a dog putting the seat down after using the loo funny, don't bother with the movie.

Carrey, a reporter stuck in a rut covering 'lighter news' berates God when the whole of his life seems to be going to pot. God takes up the challenge and asks Carrey if he can do better. Carrey gets into the swing of having all of God's powers by making his girlfriend (Jennifer Aniston)'s breasts bigger, getting himself promoted, and answering everyone's prayers by single stroke computer commands.

This is not a highbrow movie or even that memorable, but it is very well made within it's very limited intent, provides almost continuous laughs to Carrey fans, and even any religious cheesiness is likely to be inoffensive to all but the most narrow-minded god-squadders and anti-god-squadders.

On the more thoughtful level, the film tempts us to speculate about Carrey's own career - stuck in his 'comedy' typecasting he has largely failed to make an impression as a serious actor even after winning two Golden Globes. His most accomplished 'straight' role, the Man on the Moon, is less well known that his comedy romps - or The Truman Show (on which the Academy heaped three nominations whilst bypassing Carrey).