"Bruce Almighty"

"Bruce Almighty" is a wonderful film that speaks to the importance of recognising the good in our lives instead of focusing on the bad.  This film depicts God (played by Morgan Freeman) who gives a mere mortal (Jim Carey) all of God's powers.  During the ensuing insanity, we see Bruce (Carey) doing all that he can to perfect his life through wealth, position, and power.  It takes most of the film before Bruce realizes that he has lost sense of what it is that truly can bring happiness.

I really appreciated the little biblical omages that the movie makers placed in the film, such as Bruce parting the "red sea," and a shot of him leaning up against a golden calf.  In addition to these references, some of the lines delivered by God truly capture some of what I believe God to be like!  At one point, Bruce asks God "how can he make people love him without affecting free will."  God replies simply "when you figure that one out....let me know."  I think that this says something amazing about the power of faith.

In the grand scheme of things, "Bruce Almighty" is probably one of the most spiritually deep movies that I have ever seen....not bad for a Jim Carey comedy.  

-David

I really do love this movie. In fact, I think this is the first movie where I was really able to appreciate Jim Carey as an actor. I am very impressed by his performance in this film. We see some serious acting here but almost always accompanied by his goofy behavior, which I really think works. And who doesn't like Morgan Freeman as the Alpha and Omega?

Along with all the moments and lines that make you laugh, such as, "Smite me oh mighty Smiter!" this movie really touches on some deep issues, and I really do like how they portray God. First, I love how personable they make God. I believe in a God I can talk to anytime, a God who knows me by name, and who cares about what happens in my life. Morgan Freeman plays a God who is all these things, and I can really get behind that. So many times, we tend to think of God as this aloof divine being, sitting up in the sky somewhere. But this characterization of God shows us a God who loves us, and who even has a sense of humor. :)

There are many times in this film when I am touched, and moved to tears by some of the lines that are delivered. The first that I can think of is when Bruce asks how you can get someone to love you without affecting free will. Morgan Freeman (God) answers, "Welcome to my world. When you find an answer to that, let me know." How profound. We have the choice to love God. Even though He wants all of us to love Him and accept his love, it's still our choice. Then we see Grace (like the name by the way) crying asking God to help her not love Bruce anymore because it hurts too much. How often do we cry out in pain, to God, to no one, to whoever might be listening... And finally, when Bruce prays for God to give Grace someone who will see her through God's eyes we see a man who was so selfish and self-absorbed realize how much he loves this woman, so much that he's willing to sacrifice his happiness for hers.

The final thing I'll say is I like the slogan at the end of "Be the Miracle." Miracles do happen. I believe that. But instead of just waiting for them to happen, we can be the miracle in someones life, in ways we may not even realize.

- Bethany