Revelations playing god
August 2003
By Aparna Jacob
Bruce Almighty
Directed by: Tom Shadyac
starring Jim Carrey, Morgan Freeman, Jennifer Aniston
distributed by Universal pictures
God knows how difficult it is to be human. but who knows how difficult it is to be god? Bruce does.
it all starts with Bruce Nolan (Jim Carrey), a small time reporter for a buffalo news station, being what humans normally are: discontent with life, taking for granted the smaller blessings. he rails against his maker when passed up for a promotion, accusing him of not doing his job.
Fine, says the almighty (Morgan Freeman) and allows Bruce a hands-on experience of being God. but along with the stupendous powers,god cautions him, there are thelittle things to keep in mind like not messing with someone’s free will, answering the zillion prayers that float up to your ears and ensuring no chaos in the universe.
Playing god sure is fun, Bruce discovers as he zaps the daylights out of his enemies, gifts himself clothes and cars, and terrific sex with his girlfriend grace (jennifer aniston). soon, bruce begins to go berserk on his mad power trip, seeking only his own advancement, the woes of humanity be damned.
Things go awry when chaos besieges the world because of his meddlesome newsmaking to hog the limelight. bruce is too busy having fun to even notice the emotional estrangement that has crept into his relationship with grace. god just sits back and lets bruce stew in his own juice.
But when grace finally walks out on him, bruce realises things are careening out of his control. neither can he will her to love him or return to him. desperate, he realises grace is his salvation and by losing her, he was losing the best part of himself-the unselfish, humble and loving one.
the realisation makes him weep with remorse and finally surrender to the supreme will. that instant his troubles fall away and soon he is happily reunited with his beloved.
Bruce resumes life as a changed man. he goes from feeling wronged to seeing what he is doing wrong. he makes amends, extends his hand in friendship to co-workers and reaches out to fellow humans in need.
Saccharine? perhaps. even a tad preachy. but fans will see that carrey, despite his jaded antics, is still good for a few laughs