Bruce Almighty Synopsis Synopsis: After self-centered newscaster Bruce Nolan (Jim Carrey) blames God for his horrible luck, God (Morgan Freeman) responds by giving Bruce all his power. Bruce immediately uses his newfound omnipotence to advance his career and woo his girlfriend Grace (Jennifer Anniston), forgetting his primary responsibility of listening to the needs of others. The Message Bruce Almighty is not a perfect film, but it addresses some of humanity's deepest questions in an entertaining way. Jim Carrey hams it up as if there's no tomorrow, and the audience cheers. Morgan Freeman combines the wisdom and whimsy necessary for an Almighty Being who puts up with such a clueless creation. While the purity police will undoubtedly object to the scattered profanity, the crudeness, and Bruce and Grace's cohabitation, these moral deficiencies help convey Bruce's spiritual transformation. (Side Note: Too often Christians want perfect characters making perfect choices for a perfect ending. Only Jesus did this, which is why stories about humans must contain errors in order to ring true. Even the Bible includes the dirty laundry of "spiritual giants," such as Noah, Abraham, David, Peter, etc. Our mistakes make God's grace all the more miraculous. End of mini-rant.) You don't need me to point out all the spiritual connections within Bruce Almighty. Conversation about the nature, power, and purpose of God comes easily. Nothing here detracts from God's character, but one aspect might be misconstrued-God says people spend too much time "looking up" and humanity itself needs to "be the miracle." That may sound blasphemous out of context, but within the whole of the movie it's clear that people expect God to either do all the work or they simply shift blame over to him. Human beings, by virtue of free will and God's design, must get off their duff and work alongside God. Bruce Almighty also points out God's desire to meet us (with all our imperfections) exactly where we are and gently lead us to a place of relationship with him. God is fearfully just, but he is also merciful and willing to put up with our whining, kicking, and screaming so we can come to a place of understanding and devotion. That's a loving God worth serving for eternity. Bruce's selfishness also deserves discussion. Bruce formed the center of his own universe and already considered himself "god" of his world before receiving God's power. His selfishness blinds him to the blessings in his own life, as well as the opportunities to answer the needs of people around him. Once he receives God's power, his selfish choices have devastating consequences on innocent people. While being self-centered won't cause a tidal wave on the other side of the world, it does create a ripple effect that impacts the people around us. Finally, the film deals quite a bit with prayer-its function in connecting us with our heavenly Father and the need to focus our prayers on others instead of ourselves. Surprisingly, the film delves deepest into the fact that God doesn't simply say yes to all our prayers. People don't always know what they truly need or often ask for things that won't make them happy. God loves us and understands us intimately, which enables him to answer in ways that benefit our lives more than we know. Topic for Discussion People often blame God for their misfortunes. Case in Point: Bruce helps a homeless man who's getting picked on by some gang members and gets beat up for his trouble. Bruce goes home and complains to Grace that God is tormenting him, taking everything away and gleefully watching him squirm. More Than A Movie: God often ends up getting the blame when things go wrong, but rarely receives credit when things go right. Why do people automatically make God the scapegoat for their misfortunes? How we can give him praise in the midst of our complaining and hardship? Discussion Questions:  ·Was Bruce justified in blaming God for his problems? Why or why not? ·Why do people often blame God for the bad things in life? Is it his fault? Why or why not? ·Do people generally give God the credit for all the good things that happen to them? Why or why not? ·Read aloud Psalm 13. Is it a sin to complain to God? Why or why not? Why did the psalmist praise God at the end of his complaints to him? ·Does it seem hypocritical to complain and praise at the same time? Why or why not? ·What would help you remember to praise God the next time you're in the midst of complaining to him about hard times? Topic for Discussion God knows everything there is know about us. Case in Point: God compliments Bruce on his humor-saying it's just like Bruce's father's. Bruce asks how he knows that, and God points to a file cabinet. Everything in Bruce's life is contained inside it. Bruce opens the file cabinet, and it shoots open in one impossibly long drawer. God reads the most recent entry where Bruce blasphemes against him. More Than a Movie: God really does see and hear everything. Sharing every move we make on that point isn't much fun, but it might spur a person toward more righteous living. God doesn't watch every move we make to scare us or to make us feel guilty. God watches us because his love is so intense, he can't takes his eyes away. He's always there, just in case! Discussion Questions:  ·Would you want to see the file God has on you? Why or why not? ·Does the fact that God sees everything factor into your decision-making process? Why or why not? ·Read aloud Job 34:21-22. When you really stop and think about this, how does the knowledge that God sees and knows everything about you make you feel? ·Why do you think God still loves us even though he knows all the bad stuff? ·What would help make God's omniscience a source of comfort and love for you rather than a cause for fear? ·How might you try to describe God's omniscient love to someone else? Topic for Discussion What would you do with God's power? Case in Point: God explains that Bruce has all of God's powers. There are only two rules for using this power: (A) He can't tell anyone that he's God and (B) He can't mess with free will. Bruce is worried about the responsibility, but God deflects his concerns, quoting Bruce's earlier statement that God should be able to fix everything in five minutes. More Than a Movie: What would you do with God's power? After listing your initial responses, you'd probably decide it's best that God keeps his job while we remain his subjects. Discuss God's power, how he uses it, and the differences between heavenly and earthly power. Discussion Questions:  ·What would you do if you had God's power? Would those things help mankind? Why or why not? ·Who are some people around the world and throughout history who've tried to assume the powers of God? What kinds of things happened as a result? ·Read aloud Job 38:1-18. Why do so many people think they're smarter than God? What often happens to human beings who gain power? ·Since God is all-powerful, why doesn't he override free will? What problems would be solved if he did? What problems would be created? ·What areas of your own life have you claimed "power" over? How would giving that power back to God improve things? Word to The Wise BLOOD/GORE  ?  There's brief talk of a "rat pellet" being found in a cookie.  ?  On several occasions, we see a dog's urine stream as it relieves itself inside a house. We also see Bruce racing the dog outside while it's urinating (carrying it) and we see its urine stream spraying everywhere. At one point, Bruce sarcastically says that they should go back in where the dog can "have a sh*t" (we never see that happen). Later, we see the dog standing while urinating at the toilet (we hear the sound of urination) and later it's seen sitting on the toilet, reading a newspaper (but nothing explicit). ?  A bully says that he'll apologize to Bruce the day a monkey comes out of his butt. Bruce then causes this to happen and we hear gastrointestinal sounds and then see a large bulge in the seat of the man's pants. A small monkey then tears through the pants and gets out, but later chases after the man and apparently dives back in (we only see the man's pained reaction - all played for laughs). ?  Bruce causes farting sounds to be heard around Evan.  ?  We see a young kid eating paste in daycare and later some glitter. Grace then sarcastically says that the kid is going to "poop an ornament." ?  Bruce has a few red scrapes on his face. PROFANITY  ?  At least 1 "f" words, 5 "s" words (with another incomplete one and several heard in the outtakes during the end credits), 1 slang term using male genitals ("pr*ck"), 1 for breasts ("boobs"), 7 asses (2 used with "hole"), 3 hells, 2 craps, 2 damns, 5 uses of "Oh my God," 4 each of "Jesus" and "Oh God," and 1 use each of "God," "Oh Jesus" and "For the love of God" as exclamations. SEX/NUDITY  ?  Bruce looks at an old photo of Grace and comments that she's perky and that it must have been cold (we don't see any details). ?  We see Bruce and Grace in bed in the morning (he's in some small shorts), but nothing sexual happens. ?  There's a brief mention of a sex scandal in the mayor's office. ?  Bruce uses his new powers to blow air up a woman's dress, briefly showing her in her small panties (we see part of her bare butt cheeks). ?  As a Barry White song plays with lyrics about "make love to you right now," Bruce caresses Grace's hair and the two then passionately kiss while standing and clothed. He then asks, "Bedroom?" and she replies, "Five minutes." He then uses his powers to strip off all of his clothes down to his black underwear and then uses more powers to get Grace aroused in the bathroom (as he comments about anticipation heightening pleasure). We see and hear her pleasured reactions and she then comes out, looks quite aroused, and races toward him. He catches and flips her over and they fall toward the bed (and sex is implied). ?  The next morning, she starts to comment about the night before and he finishes her thought about it being heavenly. Grace then wonders if her "boobs" are bigger (they are and she jiggles them while wearing a tank-top that shows cleavage). We also see her clothed chest prominently displayed in the foreground of a shot. ?  Grace shows some cleavage, as does Susan (a lot) and a miscellaneous woman in another scene. ?  Susan comes on to Bruce and then passionately kisses him (he struggles to have her stop).