Bruce Almighty

By Michael F. Flach
Herald Editor
(From the issue of 6/26/03)

Can Hollywood produce a commercially successful movie with an overtly Christian message?

I don’t get a chance to see too many first-run movies, and I’m generally not a big Jim Carrey fan, but Carrey’s new movie "Bruce Almighty" surprised me with its positive Christian message about faith and prayer. And, by all, accounts, it has done remarkably well at the box office (over $200 million to date), which is always the final measuring stick for Hollywood studios.

The film’s director, Tom Shadyac, recently spoke to Mark Pattison of Catholic News Service about the title character's quest for God. Shadyac directed Carrey in "Liar Liar" and "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective." He told CNS that Bruce's self-indulgent moments are just points on a longer journey, one that audiences don't see until they buy their tickets. "We don't start with perfect people in our movies," he said. "They have to go on a journey."

In the movie, Carrey plays a TV news reporter in Buffalo who complains to God when things don't go his way. But his girlfriend, played by Jennifer Aniston, believes in the power of prayer. "God," played by Morgan Freeman, gives Bruce his powers and challenges him to do a better job.

This is where Bruce’s self-indulgent characteristics, and the movie’s most hilarious moments, come to the surface. He parts a bowl of tomato soup and rush-hour traffic as if they were the Red Sea. He trains his dog to use the toilet and gets revenge on a fellow-newsman for getting promoted ahead of him.

The movie "addresses faith issues with an unfeigned sincerity and seriousness," said David DiCerto, a staff critic for the U.S. Catholic bishops. "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."

The movie’s commercial success was not assisted by national film critics. The New York Times said the movie has "a preachy, good-goody conclusion." Newsday said: "Unfortunately, religious fervor moves in and sinks the last 20 minutes." The Miami Herald said the movie "lacks the insane, anything-goes energy this premise deserved."

"Bruce raged at God and a few weeks later he got a chance to see how silly that was, how self-indulgent that was, how self-involved that was, how unevolved that was," Shadyac said. "But had he not raged, had he not been honest, who knows if that step would have been taken.

"God loved him all along," Shadyac said. "The soil had to soften. The soil had to become more porous before the seed could take root."

Making the movie, Shadyac said, "was a challenge for us all. We're putting words in God's mouth. We called ministers, priests, theologians: 'Help! We're putting words in God's mouth. What would you say?'"

He said the entertainment industry can be vilified, "but we're just like everyone else. We're doing the best we can. We're imperfect. How does God see that Hollywood person right now who may not be walking the cleanest walk? God sees that person as beautiful and full of potential and full of light."

Shadyac hasn't experienced any backlash from Hollywood because of his faith. The reason? "Because I'm makin' 'em money," he said.

Editor’s Note: Viewers should be cautioned that the U.S. bishops' Office for Film & Broadcasting classified "Bruce Almighty" A-III — adults — due to an instance of rough language, minimal profanities, some crass humor and an implied sexual encounter.— M.F.F.

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