Posted: 6/09/03
REVIEW:
'Bruce Almighty' sacrilegious or sacred story?
By Eddie Hilburn
Some of my friends saw the previews of the movie “Bruce Almighty” and immediately said, “Sacrilegious.” I thought it would be interesting to see the movie and find out how popular culture depicts God. Just the idea of God portrayed by a black manâMorgan Freemanâintrigued me.
Before seeing the movie, I did a little research on the people involved in making the movie.
Jim Carrey stars as Bruce Nolan. Carrey appears in most interviews as a shallow, self-centered Hollywood type. When you look a little closer, you see more depth. Carrey has starred in several movies that contain important messages. You may have seen “The Truman Show” or “Liar, Liar” and appreciated more than just the humor.
Carrey's interest in spiritual life began as an elementary school student. In Catholic school, one of the nuns told Carrey she prayed to the Virgin Mary to receive whatever she needed. Taking the cue, Carrey prayed for a particular bicycle, which his family had not been able to afford. In a few weeks, Carrey arrived home from to school to see the exact bike in his living room. A friend had entered Carrey's name in a drawing without telling him.
According to hollywoodjesus.com, producer and director Tom Shadyak professes faith in Christ. Writer Steve Oedekerk is described as a man of faith, prayer and walking with God. Carey and Shaydak worked together on “Liar, Liar.” Carrrey reported working with Shaydak gives him the opportunity to really go crazy and also present an underlying message.
These discoveries excited me about the movie.
The movie opens with what Jim Carrey calls the theme of the show. Bruce asks, “Why is God so mad at me?” After a series of such questions, God confronts Bruce. After receiving God's power, as you know from the previews, Bruce uses the power for his own amusement and personal benefit. Bruce certainly exercises God's power in sacrilegious ways.
But the movie also begs the question, “What would you do?” With a Job-like theme, God demonstrates to Bruce that he isn't capable of playing God. I can identify with Bruce. Even without God's power I find my actions sometimes sacrilegious. No telling what I would do if I had all that power.
Bruce Almighty is a sacrilegious story and a sacred story, not unlike the stories of Noah, Abraham, Moses or Peter. When you see the movie, watch for these clues to the sacred message: Grace (Bruce's girlfirend), the golden calf and the sound track, “God-Shaped Hole.”
The real message comes through Bruce's relationship with God. Bruce journeys from wanting to be God to a completely different place.
I won't tell the end of Bruce's journey. I don't want to spoil the movie for you. I will say that if you have a friend who won't go with you to church, take him or her to a movie this weekend.
Eddie Hilburn is pastor of First Baptist Church in Frankston, Texas.
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