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BRAVO, BRUCE ALMIGHTY David Cooper ........ ".-...•.......... """"""""""""." --~,,--- --_ ..._..............................•......•...... working two jobs who still manages to BRAVO, get her kids to soccer practice; that's a miracle. A teenager who says no to BRUCE ALMIGHTY drugs and yes to an education; that's a miracle." People are always looking to God to set things right when "the power David Cooper is within you. Be the miracle." As Freeman leaves this scene, Bruce asks, "What if I need you? What if I have Bruce Almighty, Universal Studios, 2002. Starring Jim Carrey, Morgan Freeman, and Jennifer questions?" Anniston. Directed by Tom Shadyac. Freeman answers, "That's your trou- ble, Bruce. You're always looking up." While this movie sidesteps the hard- was surprised to see some unflatter- didn't like it. Well, bravo to Bruce. er conclusions by merely re-anthropo- ing critiques of the movie Bruce In the movie, God (Morgan Freeman) morphizing God, Freeman's conception IAlmighty from sources normally gives Bruce (Jim Carrey) all his powers gung-ho for godly movies. They weren't for a week. We're not supposed to notice so quick to nail Mel Gibson as a megalo- that omni-science, benevolence, and jus- maniac taking advantage of star status tice aren't among them. Bruce's por- to shove religious beliefs on people in trayal is of a vain, vengeful, petty, and Signs.Yes, Bruce is another attempt to insecure God who manipulates events "God was man's rescue the concept of God rather than only to gain appreciation in the eyes of idea of ideals admit it may be time to chuck it altogeth- others. He lassoes in the moon for a roman- deified, but human tic view to woo his girlfriend, Grace (Jennifer Aniston). Then we see people ideals have evolved devastated by the freak tides this has and transcended caused. He sends a meteor crashing into biblical chimeras. "Bruce's portrayal Earth just so he can be there to catch it and look good for a news report. Then It's time to move on. is of a vain, we see people having to cope with power Bruce Almighty vengeful, petty outages from the event. He pathetically beseeches Grace to "Love me." takes baby steps, and insecure She has had enough, however, of his self-glorification and reminds him, "I but in the right God who did." She prays for help to stop loving direction." manipulates events Bruce, "I don't want to hurt anymore." In effect, Grace is asking a higher God to only to gain free her. Bruce has lost "Grace." appreciation in Bruce must also deal with people's prayers. He only hears those coming the eyes of from Buffalo but is still overwhelmed. others." "What a bunch of whiners," he protests. makes for a good transitional model So he just grants them all. Thousands of that could be more easily, healthfully, people hit the lottery and riot after their and peacefully let go of. After all, if winnings are minimized. Freeman's God really was God, then Fundamentalists rave that the freak that's what He would want, for us to tides, meteorites, and social unrest are grow up and take care of ourselves and signs of the end times. Paranoia adds each other. And isn't that what human- er. But it raises the bar for believers, too, more mayhem to the streets. In the mid- ists want too? by contrasting the trite biblical (per)ver- dle of the chaos is a homeless man, Another sign God carries reads: sion into a more liberal, or even libertar- whom we find out later is God in dis- "Armageddon outta here." Maybe that's ian, idea of God. Aha! So that's why some guise, holding up a sign saying, "Thy just what is finally happening. God was KingDUMB Come." Is the turmoil what man's idea of ideals deified, but human David Cooper is a urriter, social we could expect if God really was as bib- ideals have evolved and transcended activist, and a member of the licalliteralists want us to believe? biblical chimeras. It's time to move on. Humanist Friendship GTOUp of God explains to Bruce that Bible- Bruce Almighty takes baby steps, but CentralIndiana. style miracles are just tricks. "A mom in the right direction. D1l free inquiry http)lwww.secularhumanism.org m.
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