“Bruce Almighty”

By David DiCerto
Catholic News Service

NEW YORK (CNS) -- A frustrated TV news correspondent is granted divine powers in the be-careful-what-you-wish-for comedy, "Bruce Almighty" (Universal). Smuggling theology under the cover of laughter, director Tom Shadyac spins a modern parable about faith, free will and man's place in the cosmic pecking order.

Bruce Nolan (Jim Carrey) is a second-string reporter for a TV station in Buffalo, N.Y. Discontent with the daily diet of wacky, homespun human interest stories the station assigns him, he dreams of broadcast news nirvana -- an anchor position. When Nolan learns, during a live feed, that he has been overlooked as a replacement for the station's soon-to-retire anchorman, he has an on-camera emotional meltdown and is summarily given the old heave-ho.

Venting his Pompeian fury on the two most convenient targets, his doting, low-maintenance girlfriend, Grace (Jennifer Aniston), and someone slightly higher up on the complaint ladder, Nolan erupts in a choleric tirade worthy of Job, railing that "God is an angry kid sitting on an anthill with a magnifying glass and I'm the ant," and punctuating his rant by accusing the Almighty of being a slacker.

His luck takes an unsuspected turn when he is directed to an abandoned warehouse, where he meets a janitor (Morgan Freeman), who reveals himself to be none other than the Lord of Hosts -- attired in a dapper white suit and New York Yankees baseball cap. (Could anyone doubt that God is a Yankees fan?) God answers the newsman's charge by investing Nolan with his omnipotence, challenging him to do a better job.

But contemplating a cure for cancer or trying to establish world peace is not on the agenda. Instead, Nolan uses his new powers for his own amusement and advancement, quickly becoming not only the station's new co-anchor, but a jerk of biblical proportions. Yet not even his deity status can win back the heart of the one person who proves to be his saving Grace.

Carrey is the weak link in an otherwise entertaining film. He is so concerned with doing his patented rubber-faced routine -- a shtick that is quickly growing stale -- that he never fully surrenders to the role. Shadyac pays homage to the life-affirming works of film director Frank Capra -- in one scene, "It's a Wonderful Life" is playing on a TV set -- but unlike Capra's leads, who used their comedic talents to serve the story, Carrey uses the story to serve -- well, Jim Carrey.

And while the movie is not without moments of schmaltziness and sheer silliness, beneath its irreverent facade the film addresses faith issues with an unfeigned sincerity and seriousness. That's rare in an industry which, at best, treats expressions of faith as window dressing. Such topics as prayer, usually anathema, play a pivotal role in the narrative. Regrettably, this otherwise genuinely religious film is tarnished by some language and an implied sex scene which easily could have been eliminated without hampering the flow of the story.

Clever religious allusions pepper the film, ranging from the overtly comic -- Nolan parting a bowl of soup a la Cecil B. DeMille, a gimmicky "You've Got Prayers" e-mail site, or a warehouse sign which reads Omni Presents Inc. -- to the more subtle: Nolan leaning against a statue of a golden calf during a moment of temptation. The character of Grace obviously represents what her name implies. Even the recurring appearance of a homeless man -- who morphs into God at the close -- signals the film's spiritual underpinnings. Scribbled across the panhandler's cardboard placards are messages like "God Is Just," as well as prophetic puns like "Armageddon out of here."

 Throughout the film, Shadyac returns to the age-old question of free will, the one boundary Nolan can not overstep or interfere with. This prohibition comes into play when his Zeus-size ego causes Grace to break off their relationship. Nolan commiserates with God, pondering the question that has baffled philosophers and theologians for centuries: "How do you make someone love you without affecting their free will?" Aye, there's the rub.

More than anything else, the film deems laughter a holy act, and regards the soul as somehow hot-wired to the funny bone. In fact, late in the film God reprimands Nolan for pooh-poohing the goofy segments he did on the nightly news. Far from being unimportant, they were infinitely valuable because they made people happy. "You have a divine spark, to bring joy and laughter into the world." Amen to that!

 Due to an instance of rough language, minimal profanities, some crass humor and an implied sexual encounter, the USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

* DiCerto is on the staff of the Office for Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.