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Jim Carrey can truly be considered one of the great phyiscal comedians of this generation, and maybe of all time. His earlier films have demonstrated his skill to be funny, at times being ridiculous, even outright bizarre, but they have also demonstrated his immense ability to put comedy on the shelf and rely on his abilities as a "serious" actor. "Bruce Almighty" takes whats best about Jim Carrey and blends them together into a comedy that is much more than just stupid humor.

It is the story of Bruce Nolan (Jim Carrey), a struggling, but inspired, news anchor whose daily struggles to be recognized as a reputable news anchor never quite become reality. Instead, he is always beaten out by Evan Baxter (Steven Carrell) to a point where, during a broadcast, Nolan has a public breakdown which costs him his job. Down-trodden and desperate, he denounces God after his life seems to have become completely unglued.
And God is listening.
God (Morgan Freeman) approaches Nolan and suggests that Bruce take over for him so that he can take a vacation. After all, eternity has taken its toll and he could use the break. When Bruce is returned to his life, he discovers he has almost unlimited power...the power of God.
What follows is a hilarious romp with Bruce Almighty at the controls of the universe. His anctics help him get back his job, and his fame rises as he "miraculously" breaks newsstory after newstory, always being in the right place at the right time-from finding Jimmy Hoffa's body to capturing the image of a meteor crashing into the earth behind him while he covers a news event. It seems his powers give him a new life, but at the same time, his self-indulgence begins to take its toll on the world around him.
The comedy of this film is rich, with plenty of visual anctics that really make it hilarious. However, it is not only the comedy that makes this movie work. Jim Carrey delivers a performance that makes his a very likable (and believable) character. The relationship between his character and Grace (Jennifer Aniston) becomes a pivotal part of the film, and unlike so many comedies where the romantic interest is superficial to the story, her character is vital, and provides for a great secondary story to engage in.
Of course, the physical comedy of this film is priceless. The exchange midway into the film (spoiler ahead!) between Nolan and Evan Baxter, when Bruce uses his powers to humiliate and destroy Evan during a newscast is priceless. How the actors managed to stay in character during this sequence is unbelievable, and, surprisingly, it is Steven Carrell who steals the humor in this scene.
The other great surprise in this film is that it attempts to be more than funny. Where subject matter regarding God can quickly become irreverant, "Bruce Almighty" manages to blend humor with a level of respect to the subject matter that leaves the viewer with a subtle lesson in faith and a glimpse at a greater understanding about the divinity of God. Morgan Freeman, who is legend in Hollywood to begin with, presents his version of God with a wisdom and respect that make him completely convincing.
This is comedy at its best. Not as crazy as some of Carrey's earlier work, it is nonetheless a great film and a lot of fun, with enough of Carrey's classic style of humor to keep his devout fans entertained and to keep all audiences engaged from beginning to end.

Learn more about this author, Scott Kolecki.
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