|
|
|
| Bruce
Almighty Movie Review |
|
The movie stars Jim Carrey as a likeable
guy who only thinks about himself. The first half of the movie has a lot
of funny physical comedy but the second half of the movie gets bogged
down in morals and lessons for the audience, concluding with the
inevitable happy ending. Obviously, I am describing Bruce Almighty.
However, I can just as easily be describing Liar Liar.
Liar Liar, of course, is the collaboration between Carrey and director
Tom Shadyac prior to Almighty Bruce. The similarities don't end there,
as they pretty much used the same plot outline for both movies. Let Jim
amuse us with his antics for a while. Let him have an eye-opening moment
where he sees the error of his ways. Have him be happy in the end. The
main difference between them is that Bruce Almighty has more special
effects, and the love interest gets upgraded from a good-looking girl
(Maura Tierney) to a great-looking girl (Jennifer Aniston). Success does
have its perks!!
Bruce Almighty tells us the story of Bruce Nolan, a Buffalo TV reporter
who only does the lighthearted, comical pieces. After getting screwed
over on his chance to make anchor, Bruce rails away at God, blaming him
for all his problems in life. God ends up paying Bruce a visit, endowing
him with his omnipotent powers and telling him to try to do a better
job. Naturally, Bruce first rights the wrongs in his own life without
thinking of the consequences. When Buffalo starts going to hell, along
with his personal life, Bruce has some major decisions to make.
The comedy bits in the first half of Bruce Almighty were great, making
me laugh out loud more than a few times. Carrey is as funny as I've seen
him in a few years, having some good chemistry with Morgan Freeman in
his role as The Almighty. Aniston is good too, even if her role could
have been played by a hundred actresses. The movie loses steam though,
once they get away from the comedy. It turns sappy and serious and I
wasn't that entertained. (On a side note, why do movies do that? That's
what I liked about Dumb and Dumber and American Pie and the Jay and
Silent Bob series...they know they are a comedy and don't feel the need
turn serious to prove something...maybe it's just me that feels that
way).
Fortunately, the comedy in Bruce Almighty is enough to make it
worthwhile. Maybe Jim Carrey will see the parallels to his own career in
this movie. Bruce starts out funny and likeable -- Jim does the same in
movies like "Ace Ventura" and "Dumb and Dumber".
Bruce wants to be taken more seriously -- So does Jim by doing "The
Truman Show" and "Man on the Moon". Bruce fails to be
taken more seriously -- Jim's "The Majestic" flops big time.
Bruce realizes he's best at entertaining people and goes back to the
funny stuff -- Hopefully, Jim will do the same, because it's where we
all seem to like him best.
 
- 7/10
What did you think?
Have your say on our Message Boards...
Sean
Cullin - Senior Editor
More Reviews - Click Here
|
|
|
|
|
