‘Bruce Almighty’ is vintage Carrey

Jim Carrey is a treasure as long as he sticks to comedy.

Unfortunately, the public is not so accepting when Carrey tries his

hand at dark comedy (“The Cable Guy”) and are lukewarm to his

attempts at drama (“The Truman Show,” “Man on the Moon” and “The

Majestic”).

So now Carrey is back to what we like him doing best in the very

funny “Bruce Almighty.” Carrey plays Bruce Nolan, a reporter for

Buffalo, New York’s Channel Seven. Bruce is a field reporter noted

for his humorous human interest pieces. This modicum of success is

not enough for Bruce who craves the soon-to-be-vacant news anchor

slot. When he hears the position went to his archrival Evan Baxter

(Steven Carell), he hilariously goes ballistic during a live remote

at Niagara Falls.

At this point everything in his life falls apart including his

relationship with his longtime live-in girlfriend Grace (Jennifer

Aniston). Bruce feels his misfortune is due to God ignoring him

completely and his blasphemous rants do not go unheard. Responding to

a mysterious page from a number he can’t identify, Bruce is

confronted by God himself (Morgan Freeman). Since Bruce doesn’t think

he is doing a good job, God grants him all his powers to see if he

can do better.

Initially, Bruce does not believe he actually encountered God, but

his powers are too obvious to ignore. Once convinced, Bruce sets out

to “fix” his life and the results are vintage Carrey. Although his

motives are extremely self-serving, Bruce’s revenge produces many

genuine laugh-out-loud moments.

The supporting cast hit all the right notes. Morgan Freeman is the

best cinematic God since George Burns, playing him with just the

right amount of omnipotence and humor. Aniston is cute and devoted,

but no doormat. Finally, Carrel’s Evan Baxter is the smarmy empty

suit one would expect of a small market news anchor.

The filmmakers play a little trick on us by having the last

quarter of the picture turn into a coming of age story as Bruce

realizes he has nobody but himself to blame for his disappointments

and failures. It is fairly heartwarming to watch as Bruce reconciles

with his girlfriend and colleagues by coming to grip with his own

shortcomings and true abilities.

I expect the public to like this film and for it to do well at the

box office. Although Carrey is very funny in “Bruce Almighty,” there

is enough drama and sentimentality for him not to simply be a clown.

Carrey is a great film comedian and probably the best now working. We

should allow him to expand his horizons from time to time even if the

effort occasionally misfires. Think of all we’d have missed if Robin

Williams were still playing Mork.

* VAN NOVACK, 48, is the director of institutional research at Cal

State Long Beach.

‘Almighty’ thoughtful and amusing

Not to be confused with Kung Fu’s “The Mighty Bruce,” “Bruce

Almighty” stars Jim Carrey as Bruce Nolan, a human interest

television reporter in Buffalo, New York who is discontented with

almost everything in life, despite his popularity and the love of his

underappreciated girlfriend (Jennifer Aniston). At the end of the

worst day in his life, Bruce angrily ridicules and rages against God

-- and God responds. He appears in human form (Morgan Freeman) and,

endowing Bruce with his power, he challenges Bruce to take over for

him while he vacations.

Director, Tom Shadyac (“Ace Ventura: Pet Detective”) creates a

film far more intelligent than I had expected. Jim Carrey manages to

come across as a normal guy with a great sense of humor, who

occasionally turns into Carrey. Michael O’Keafe, Steve Koren and

Steve Oedekerk’s screenplay has depth and theological nuances that

are not simply puns or bits recycled from George Burn’s “Oh, God!”

film series.

Freeman delivers a thoughtful, soulful performance as the prime

deity, and Steven Carell (“The Daily Show”) provides most of the

elongated belly laughs thanks to Carrey’s set-ups. Nora Dunn is

wasted in her role, and Aniston along with Catherine Bell turn in

solid performances.

If you have quick eyes and look really hard during the scene with

Carrey at Niagara Falls, you might see me in two different shots as a

soggy extra.

The film attempts to ignite within its viewers a spirit of

generosity. “Be the miracle.” At one point God lectures Bruce about

mankind’s need to become self sufficient and look to themselves

instead of always “looking up.” Some may feel that this philosophy

depreciates the value of and need for prayer, and undermines the

foundation of faith. But if you are able to set aside your own

beliefs and adopt the vision of the filmmakers, you will be

entertained and perhaps even charmed by “Bruce Almighty.”

* RAY BUFFER, 33, is a professional singer, actor and voice-over

artist.

‘Love’ a fun tale for men and women

Barbara Novack (Renee Zellweger) writes a book titled “Down With

Love” that urges women to be more like men by choosing sex over love

and changing from homemaker to wage earner. The book’s success has an

unexpected impact on her life. She can’t get a date. Men are too

intimated by her sexual aggressiveness.

Barbara’s book also gets the attention of Catcher Block (Ewan

McGregor), a handsome, successful womanizer and writer for a popular

men’s magazine. The success of “Down With Love” cuts into his sex

life because the women he dates are now too busy reading Barbara’s

book. Barely able to tolerate the situation, Catcher decides to prove

Barbara a fraud by causing her to really want love not sex, by making

her fall in love with him.

Set in the 60s “Down With Love” resurrects the Doris Day and Rock

Hudson battle of the sexes comedies. Zellweger (“Chicago,” “Bridget

Jones Diary”) and McGregor (“Moulin Rouge”) continue where Doris and

Rock left off, with one minor exception: Renee’s Barbara is no longer

a virgin.

Shot entirely on a studio sound stage and back lot, the sex comedy

remains faithful to the look and feel of the ‘60’s films down to the

infamous bachelor pad. Both Barbara Novack and Catcher Block are

clothes hounds. They even dress to the nines just to go out and pick

up their dry cleaning, were they meet.

When they bump into each other at the cleaners Catcher knows what

Barbara looks like because her face is on every billboard to promote

her book. Taking advantage of the situation, Catcher strikes up a

conversation with Barbara, introducing himself as Zip and pretends to

be very shy, very virginal and completely ignorant of who she is.

Completely taken in Barbara promptly seizes her chance to finally

date again by promptly asking him out. After numerous dates, however,

Barbara’s frustrated because Catcher as Zip refuses to have sex with

her. Catcher’s frustrated because he can’t have sex with Barbara

until she first falls in love. It’s a new experience for both of them

that brings unexpected results and surprises into their lives.

David Hyde Pierce (“Fraiser”) rounds out the cast assuming the

supporting role Tony Randall shared with Rock and Doris in the ‘60s.

As Catcher’s boss, Pierce is rich but shy, in love with Barbara

Novack’s editor, but too afraid to act on his feelings. His bumbling

personality and worries about love have an uncanny way of stealing

the attention away from McGregor whenever they share screen time.

“Down With Love” is a fun romp for men and women alike and a nice

break from the summer action blockbusters.

* PEGGY J. ROGERS, 39, produces commercial videos and

documentaries.