Synopsis: Who of us hasn't had "one of those days" when you felt that everything was against you and God wasn't listening? Bruce Nolan has and God responds by challenging Nolan to do the job better-if he can. 

Now for the Zone's Eye View:

By Michelle Snow

Director: Tom Shadyac

Cast: Jim Carrey, Morgan Freeman, Jennifer Aniston, Philip Baker Hall, Catherine Bell, Lisa Ann Walter, Steven Carell and Nora Dunn

I've been looking forward to seeing this movie, albeit with a bit of apprehension. The commercials looked funny, but lately, with Jim Carrey movies, all the best parts are in the commercials. I needn't have worried. Fifteen minutes into the movie, I was laughing hysterically.

Carrey plays Bruce Nolan, a down-on-his-luck tv reporter in Buffalo, NY. He's doing all the funny human-interest pieces but dreams of becoming a news anchor, like his idol, Walter Cronkite. While on a live remote airing from Niagara Falls, Nolan learns on the air that he has, yet again, lost out on the coveted anchor position-and to his nemesis, Evan Baxter [Carell] no less. He has a hilarious meltdown on the air that says all the things we long to say to co-workers who get on our nerves. He snaps and starts yelling at God for all that is wrong in his life. God takes offense and decides to teach Bruce a lesson. He tells Bruce that if Bruce thinks he can do a better job, God will let him. He's going on vacation and Bruce will have to take care of the world in His place. And that's when all Heaven breaks loose.

Think about it-if you suddenly inherited all these powers, what would you do? Well Nolan immediately sets about making everything in his own life better. When God asks why he's ignoring everyone else's prayers [those little voices in his head], Nolan thinks he has the system down pat. But as we learn from little news flashes and asides in the movie, everything Nolan does with the powers has consequences-only he hasn't figured that out yet. The moon he lassoes in to impress his girlfriend shows up again a little later in the movie as news reports show an Asian city under water as a result of flash tsunamis brought about from the moon's close gravity pull. Even as we laugh at all the mayhem Bruce causes with his powers, we are subtly reminded that with power comes responsibility. Cause and effect on a major level.

It's actually this learning curve that brings about a sweet ending for the movie. As Bruce learns, we each have a little bit of power within us to make our lives better. And the more we complain about the bad things, the more we overlook the good. There's also some hidden religious messages, but they're not heavy-handed at all-more of a balance for all the jokes about God.

As Nolan's long-suffering girlfriend Grace Connelly, Aniston plays the part not that differently than she plays Rachel on Friends. But in this movie, it actually works well against Carrey's maniacal physical comedy. And the two actors have a really good chemistry with each other, as well. The love scene that follows the moon incident is one of the funniest in the whole movie.
Now every time someone is cast in the role of God, you have to wonder how they were chosen to embody the personification of the Almighty. I'd have to say Freeman does it with a mixture of calm and grace with a little bit of cynicism thrown in. As Bruce is freaking out about getting the powers, He just looks at Bruce with an "I told you so" smug look.

Finally, as Bruce himself, most of the weight of the movie rests on Carrey's shoulders. And he manages to walk that fine line between extending a joke and milking it through most of the movie. He's even managed to invent a new catch phrase that already has most of my friends under its thrall. I don't want to give away the line, but let's just say "jazz trumpet" will take on a whole new meaning after you see the film.

Reteaming with director Shadyac, with whom Carrey also made "Ace Ventura" and "Liar Liar", was the smartest move he could have made to jump start his funny bone again. Make sure you stay through the closing credits for a batch of film outtakes, as well.

Who of us hasn't had "one of those days" when you felt that everything was against you and God wasn't listening? Well, after seeing this movie, you might be inclined to look at things a little differently. That is, after you've wiped the tears of laughter from your eyes.

9.5 out of 10