Taglines: He’s got the power.
Bruce is a whiny guy who questions once too often why God gives him so much grief. He is suddenly given almighty power for 24 hours to teach him how difficult it is to run the world and see if he can do a better job. If Bruce fails to do a better job then God will release an apocalyptic cataclysm that would hurtle mankind back to the Dark Ages.
Jim Carrey returns to his zany, manic roots in this Capraesque comedy from director Tom Shadyac (Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and Liar Liar). Carrey stars as Bruce Nolan, a television reporter in Buffalo, New York who lives a normal life with his sweet girlfriend Grace (Jennifer Aniston). But Bruce isn’t satisfied, and after a particularly bad day where everything goes wrong, he blames God.
After spewing a tirade of curses God’s way, God (Morgan Freeman in a gentlemanly white suit) responds and challenges Bruce to take over and see if he can run things better. Of course, there are some conditions; Bruce can only have the “almighty” powers for 24 hours and only in the Buffalo area. This doesn’t stop Bruce, and he responds to his newfound powers with selfish, childlike zeal.
Like a kid in a candy store, Bruce sets off making one hysterical, yet disastrous, decision after another. He pulls the moon closer to the earth so he can have a more romantic evening with Grace, unaware that his actions cause a tidal wave in Japan and responds to the prayers of the world with a mass-email “yes” that creates millions of lottery winners, riots, and mayhem. Ultimately, Bruce proves he is only human, and cannot possibly fill God’s shoes, although he has a great time trying.
Bruce Almighty is a 2003 American high-concept comedy film directed by Tom Shadyac, written by Steve Koren, Mark O’Keefe and Steve Oedekerk and stars Jim Carrey as Bruce Nolan, a down-on-his-luck TV reporter who complains to God (Morgan Freeman) that he is not doing his job correctly, and is offered the chance to try being God himself for one week.
This is Shadyac and Carrey’s third collaboration, having previously worked together on Ace Ventura: Pet Detective in 1994 and Liar Liar in 1997. It co-stars Jennifer Aniston, Morgan Freeman, Catherine Bell, Lisa Ann Walter, Philip Baker Hall, Steve Carell, Nora Dunn, Eddie Jemison and Sally Kirkland.
When released in American theaters in May 2003, it took the #1 spot at the box office, grossing $85.9 million—higher than the release of Pearl Harbor, making it the second-highest-rated Memorial Day weekend opening of any film in motion picture history (until the release of X-Men: The Last Stand in 2006). The movie surprised media analysts when it beat The Matrix Reloaded after its first week of release.
By the time it left theaters in December 2003, it took in a United States domestic total of over $242 million and $484 million worldwide. Evan Almighty, a spin off sequel focusing on Carell’s character, with Shadyac and Oedekerk returning to direct and write, and Freeman also reprising his role, was released in 2007, to overall negative reviews.
The soundtrack was released on June 3, 2003 by Varèse Sarabande. Tracks 8-13 are from the score composed by John Debney, performed by the Hollywood Studio Symphony (conducted by Pete Anthony) with Brad Dechter and Sandy De Crescent.
Bruce Almighty (2003)
Directed by: Tom Shadyac
Starring: Jim Carrey, Jennifer Aniston, Morgan Freeman, Catherine Bell, Lisa Ann Walter, Philip Baker Hall, Steve Carell, Nora Dunn, Eddie Jemison, Sally Kirkland
Screenplay by: Steve Oedekerk, Jim Carrey, Tom Shadyac
Production Design by: Linda DeScenna
Cinematography by: Dean Semler
Film Editing by: Scott Hill
Art Direction by: James Nedza
Costume Design by: Judy L. Ruskin
Set Decoration by: Ric McElvin
Music by: John Debney
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for language, sexual content and some crude humor.
Distributed by: Universal Pictures
Release Date: May 23, 2003
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