Movie Review: Bruce Almighty

Jim Carrey is at his best when he lets loose for a comedy. Later career attempts to transition full time into dramatic acting has left long time Jim Carrey fans wanting more. That is why Bruce Almighty feels much fresher than it actually is.

Bruce Almighty details the trials and tribulations of a man, having lost faith, is given God's powers so that he can see how hard it is to be an all power deity. Predictably, the story begins with Carrey bettering his own life with his newfound powers, before everything falls apart and his human aspects are needed to repair his life.

Jim Carrey is back in the form that made him famous: highly expressive and spouting catchphrases. There is nothing groundbreaking about it, but sometimes there is nothing wrong with playing it safe. With sparse comedy credits in recent years, slightly rehashing previous personas allows Carrey to do what he does best.

The real star of the show has to be Steve Carell as Jim Carrey's rival. Carell is an expert at playing smarm, making for a truly despicable character that you cannot wait to see get his comeuppance. When he finally does, it amounts to one of the funniest scenes in the movie. Stealing a scene from Jim Carrey in a comedy movie is not easy, though Steve Carell sure makes it seem that way.

Morgan Freeman and Jennifer Aniston, as God and Jim Carrey's girlfriend, respectively, are dependable, but again play it relatively safe. Aniston does not venture far from her roots, which have served her well in similar roles like Rachel on Friends and Office Space. Freeman is not really required to fall back on his Oscar-nominated acting skills, but has a natural sense of dignity and wisdom that makes for a great God.

Bruce Almighty is nothing groundbreaking, but is nonetheless enjoyable thanks to dependable performances from great actors and actresses. Jim Carrey can still make people laugh with little effort, and finally finding someone who can one-up the rubber faced funnyman (in the form of Steve Carell) makes for a great comedic spar. The minority might fall for the predictable message of the film, though most will find it a great way to escape for a couple of hours.

Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5.