It is a great idea and I’m sure everyone who watches this has at one point or another in their lives wished they had powers to ‘make things happen.’ Of course, probably like all of us, instead of using his new given powers responsibly Bruce goes on an orgy of self – serving disruption. He decides to do and get whatever he wants. He can make gusts of wind appear to lift up pretty women’s dresses, he can turn the tables on his muggers, he can toilet train his dog (but not in the traditional way you would!)
He can also ‘pleasure’ his girlfriend Grace like he never could before. After his first day of enjoying his powers purely for his own selfish ends he learns that he actually has a responsibility for the rest of the world…he must answer peoples prayers. There follows some original sight gags involving post it notes and a pc. Instead of considering the myriad of problems thrown at him Bruce opts for the ‘quick fix’ strategy that means that he more or less lets people have what they want, for example everyone wins the State lottery, which of course causes chaos.
His self – centredness makes him an ace reporter, he finds the remains of missing Teamsters Union leader Jimmy Hoffa, he finds a huge stash of marijuana in a rival TV crew’s van, he is always there when there is a hurricane, cyclone or flood ready to cover it. In one particularly hilarious scene he makes his rival Evan Baxter fluff his lines as anchor at the TV station by tampering with the auto – cue. Bruce finds the success and the plaudits of his peers but at a cost…he loses the one person who truly cares about him and accepts him for who he is, Grace. Can he change his ways in time to get his life and his love back?
This is an original and hilarious film with Jim Carrey at the top of his game and excellently supported by Freeman, Anniston and Carell. It can get a tad syrupy and Capra – esque at times but it is a morality tale after all. I challenge anyone not to be reduced to tears of laughter at some point during its 97 minutes.