Bruce Almighty (PG-13, 2003)

common sense media says

Happily deranged comedy has normal Carrey humor.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this movie has very mature material for a PG-13, including very strong language and crude humor after a thug makes a rhetorical reference to a monkey coming out of his butt. Bruce gives "pleasure" to Grace as they prepare for a sexual encounter. There is an extended joke about a dog who is not house-trained. Characters drink alcohol.

Violence: Not applicable.
Sex: Explicit sexual references for a PG-13.
Language: Strong language for a PG-13.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Alcohol is consumed.

More on Bruce Almighty

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about what they would do if they had God's powers. How would they decide the best way to respond to prayers? Most of the prayers in this movie are "petitionary," meaning that they are asking for something, usually love, money, or status-related. What other kinds of prayers are there? Some families will want to discuss their own ideas about God and prayer.

What's the story?

What's the story?

Jim Carrey is Bruce Nolan, a television news reporter who wants to do serious stories and he thinks he should be the anchor. When he loses the anchor job to a rival (Comedy Central "Daily Report's" Steve Carell), he furiously explodes on the air and is fired. He thinks that life is very unfair, and so he complains to God. God challenges him to try out His powers, as long as he does not tell anyone or interfere with free will. Bruce spends the first week using the powers for cheap thrills (he parts the red soup instead of the Red Sea and makes the cars blocking him in a traffic jam move out of the way) and petty payback. But then Bruce has to realize that power and responsibility go together and that he cannot be happy until he understands that other people's happiness has to come first.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Who wouldn't like to be able to do anything without any guilt or accountability? That part of BRUCE ALMIGHTY is fun and very funny, especially when Bruce makes his rival mess up on camera. But the part about Bruce's redemption is not successful, because viewers are never really persuaded that Bruce cares about anyone but himself. There is a hollow and even faintly creepy sense that the people behind the movie don't really believe the message themselves.

Bruce's carelessness in lassooing the moon (a reference to It's a Wonderful Life that is underscored later on when we get a glimpse of that scene on television), unleashing an asteroid, and making hundreds of lottery winners, is portrayed as humorous. Even though we get glimpses of the disasters he causes, Bruce never has to clean up the mess. And when Bruce tells God that he wants to solve the problems of world hunger and peace, God tells him that is a "Miss America answer" and His goal seems to be to get Bruce to think about what would make him happy with no regard for anyone but himself and the woman he loves. The result is a movie that, despite some very funny moments, makes the same mistake as its main character without learning any lessons about maturity or responsibility. It teeters between happily deranged comedy and sentimental fable, but is unsatisfying in both categories.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Universal Pictures
Director: Tom Shadyac
Cast: Jennifer Aniston, Jim Carrey, Morgan Freeman
Genre: Comedy
Run time: 101 minutes
Theatrical release: May 23, 2003
DVD release: November 25, 2003
MPAA Rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: language, sexual content and some crude humor.

This review was written by Nell Minow
 
 

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What parents & educators say

12

Most useful reviews by all members

Shinjo
adult
 
This trash is so bad and the jokes aren't even funny!
This is just a waste of money and time!

 
This garbage is just a waste of people's time and money!
This movie is trash. No good morals, nothing. I suggest never seeing this movie unless you want to see a stupid movie with ugly jokes and too much sexuality...

 
Hillarious, good for teens, but humor might not be appreciated by everyone
The story was very funny and I loved Jim Carrey

 
Needless offensive language and flippant sexual context makes this a not-bvery-funny film for parents with children. The use of the F-word is entirely unnecessary. The pictures of the dog urinating is hardly humorous, and the repetitive self-centeredness of Carrey's character is barely redeemed in a toss-off final scene in which God, swell fellow that he is, makes it right just in time for a simplistic ending. This is hardly a film from which children will learn anything about God's interventions in human affairs. It is a waste of time for parents and kids.

jigould
adult
 
There is a great message in this movie.
The two main characters used the Lord's name in vain several times. Jim Carrey's character was very disrespectful to God. And, Jim Carrey and Jennifer Aniiston lived together without being married. That is what is going on all over the world by unsaved, as well as saved, people. So why do I say this movie has a great message? Because what we don't often see in movies are characters who are so blatanly anti-God turning to God by the end of the show. Jim Carrey did an excellent job playing a man who was angry with God for how his life is going. Jennifer Aniston did a spectacular job of not preaching at her boyfriend as he fell into an abyss of his own making, and she maintained her sense of peace and good boundaries as he was doing so. I believe the message that came through loud and clear is that God is real, we should pray for His will, and that He answers those prayers. There were some moments of obvious Jim Carrey humor, such as a monkey coming from someone's rear end and a breast scene (clothed), but all in all, I believe older kids and adults should be able to watch this and take away a message of what a relationship with God entails and the peace that comes with such a relationship.

 
Entertaining and thought provoking
It was a geat movie, one that I will buy. It is not for children. Definitely an adult film. I am very picky about the movies I choose to watch and this one was worth my money and my time.

96grlpowrCE
teen, 16 years old
 
Such a hilarious movie!
Bruce Almighty was my favourite movie when I was younger. My parents and I would watch it together everytime it came on television. It's HILARIOUS. Especially the part where Bruce exacts his revenge on some thugs in an alley... in short, it's disgusting yet funny, and involves monkeys. Hahahaaa. And the part where Bruce decides to play a little trick on the anchorman and makes him say all these weird things on TV. :) lol! It can be a little inappropriate, but a lot of the dirtier jokes will go over some kids' heads. I can see how it might offend some super-religious people. I don't see this movie as making fun of God, but some people might. However... like I said, it's a hilarious movie, and it's not to be missed.

 
I laughed soooo hard I cried during a couple of scenes. Jim Carey and his news-cast rival are a good comedy group. It has a good message about doing what is right and not doing what you want but thinking about others first.

ohya
parent of 14 year old
 
very good but words like f--k are used

lansa96
teen, 16 years old
 
a great movie for the family
i love this movie! one of the scenes i was crying i was laughing so hard. after i saw this movie Jim Carrey became my favorite actor of all time. it's not that inappropriate, and if you haven't seen it yet what are you waiting for?

Panya
adult
 
Not for kids
There were some funny moments, and seeing Morgan Freeman's role is nice, but ultimately this movie was just...meh.

 
A great movie.
Imagine being God.... That's the point of the movie. Nothing really made me think this movie was inappropriate, except Jim Carrey used the finger twice (that's all). It is a harsh thing to think you have to be 14 to see the movie (I am older, but still). I would say ages 7+ would like it (if your kids would get the movie, that is).

sammo07
adult
 
A good message about God

Justino4
teen, 14 years old
 
Pretty Bad Content
I don't remember too much being bad on TV, but if you have it on DVD, it is pretty bad content.

CocoBiscotti3600
kid, 11 years old
 
WAAAAAAY Better Than Evan Almighty!
I LOVED this movie, like all other of Jim Carrey's movies. Sure, there is ONE f-bomb, but who really cares? The point is, it was HILARIOUS. Let me ask you something...WHAT WOULD THE WORLD DO WITHOUT COMEDY?!?

burpgoeztheweazel
kid, 12 years old
 
It isn't THAT bad
It isn't THAT mature for a PG-13. The language is fine, except for one use of "f--kers". The worst sexual thing is Bruce makes Grace's boobs bigger.

 
This movie is funny. It does have language and very mild sexual material but thats it. If you want a funny comedy then rent Bruce Almighty.

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