--- title: "Bruce Almighty: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/bruce-almighty/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/bruce-almighty" critics_score: 50 critics_reviews: 15 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Bruce Almighty (2003): what the critics said Critics' score 50 from 15 reviews: 3 positive, 6 mixed, 6 negative. The reviews split almost evenly, with as many negative as mixed and only a handful warmly in favour. Where there is praise, it goes to Jim Carrey’s physical clowning and to Morgan Freeman’s calm, unhurried God, and most critics agree the premise is a good one. The early stretch, in which Bruce tries out his new powers on parking spaces and passers-by, is generally held to be where the laughs are. The complaint is what happens after that. Most critics find the film loses its nerve, turning preachy and sentimental in the final act rather than taking its idea anywhere dark or uncomfortable. Sight and Sound calls the handling timid, and The AV Club goes furthest, finding the third act toxic. Even The New York Times, broadly approving, notes the preachiness. The spread is wide, from cheerful approval to outright loathing, and the dissent runs in odd directions: Variety thinks Carrey lacks his usual fire, while The Times finds Jennifer Aniston the only saving grace. ## Evening Standard — Alexander Walker Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 2012. Carrey is in tremendous form with his quick-fire comic skills, and the film offers light, quick and diverting entertainment with slick gags and strong support from Morgan Freeman. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/heaven-sent-fun-7432636.html) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 5 May 2003. The critic calls the film a charmer in which Bruce learns lessons about power and responsibility. Carrey's manic energy and Freeman's warm portrayal of God are singled out as highlights. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/bruce-almighty-2003) ## The New York Times — Stephen Holden Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 23 May 2003. The film is described as rambunctiously funny thanks to Carrey's performance, though it turns preachy at the end. The critic notes it surpasses Shadyac's earlier Carrey comedies in humor. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/23/movies/film-review-god-s-power-as-an-ego-trip-for-an-id.html) ## Empire — Simon Braund Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). The film delivers plenty of laughs thanks to Carrey's performance and inventive sight gags, but it suffers from a smug tone and an uneasy sense that the story endorses the self-satisfied aspirations of its privileged protagonist. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/bruce-almighty-review/) ## Radio Times — Brian Pendreigh Rating 3/5. Carrey clowns around enjoyably as the reporter given divine powers in this zany fantasy with a neat premise and plenty of laughs. The film avoids being weighed down by deep theological questions. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-ed2gd9/bruce-almighty/) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 29 May 2003. An intermittently hilarious comedy that showcases Carrey's goofy and cerebral sides with an appealing cast including Freeman as God. The uneven humour is too broad for some viewers. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/bruce-almighty/4013685.article) ## The Telegraph — Sukhdev Sandhu Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 27 June 2003. The comedy is amiable and occasionally funny thanks to Carrey reining in his usual style, though predictable with a weak ending. It praises the witty scripting and pacy direction while noting it falls short of its premise. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/3597455/Its-a-miracle-Jim-Carreys-funny.html) ## Time Out Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 10 September 2012. The high-concept setup yields a fun half-hour of obnoxious power-testing gags before the film-makers' fear of offending leads to clunky sentimentality and a redemptive final act. Execution is flawed and the premise squandered. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/bruce-almighty) ## Sight and Sound — Kim Newman Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). The critic finds the premise timidly handled with moralistic homilies that undercut the comedy, comparing it unfavourably to a sharper Wells adaptation. Carrey's physical clowning is tolerated but the film lacks boldness or significant use of its omnipotence concept. [Read the review](http://old.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/review/1244) ## The Times — JC Rating 2/5. 28 June 2003. The film is divine tripe, a ghastly romantic comedy where the self-obsessed protagonist misuses powers at the expense of his girlfriend. It singles out Jennifer Aniston as the only saving grace. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/article/new-releases-0dmm5wwhlx6) ## Slant Magazine — Chuck Rudolph Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 21 May 2003. The review dismisses the film as warmed-over pap and a conservative one-joke comedy that fails without Carrey's contortions providing most of the laughs. It singles out the maudlin sentimental overload in the final act as a major complaint. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/bruce-almighty/) ## The Guardian — Mark Kermode Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 29 June 2003. The film is insubstantial and fails to explore its premise darkly, generating only a few laughs. It singles out Steve Carell's hilarious supporting turn and Morgan Freeman's portrayal of God for praise. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2003/jun/29/features.review) ## Variety — Robert Koehler Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 23 May 2003. The premise is under-realized and the film is routine work from the veterans involved, with Carrey's performance lacking his usual comic fire. Visual jokes and the third-act messages are noted but the overall effect is subdued. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2003/film/reviews/bruce-almighty-1200541426/) ## The AV Club — Scott Tobias Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 27 May 2003. The critic finds the film loathsome and unimaginative, criticizing its high-concept formula and toxic third-act sentimentality that turns a narcissistic jerk into a mildly improved person. Carrey's rubber-faced shtick and egotism are singled out as central to the movie's flaws. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/bruce-almighty-1798198653) ## Eye for Film — Angus Wolfe Murray Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 26 June 2003. The critic finds some funny moments and good chemistry between Carrey and Aniston but faults the script for turning sentimental and the film for being conservative compared to similar fantasies. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/bruce-almighty-film-review-by-angus-wolfe-murray) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/bruce-almighty.md