Big Picture Big Sound

The Film

For a while there, Jim Carrey was getting a little too serious. There was The Truman Show, The Majestic, and his Golden Globe-winning turn in Man on the Moon. Thankfully, he came back to his funny man roots with Bruce Almighty.

Carrey plays Bruce Nolan, a goofy reporter with dreams of the anchor desk. When everything seems to go wrong, Bruce blames God (Morgan Freeman). God then challenges Bruce to walk in his shoes. That allows Bruce to right some of his own wrongs and transfer the power of prayer into an email account -- all of which almost cause Armageddon.

While not as groundbreaking as Dumb and Dumber or even Liar Liar, Bruce Almighty has a good premise and plenty of laughs. Unfortunately, the film starts to smite itself when it gets all preachy and weepy. Still, Carrey fans won't be disappointed -- and it features a funny, but short, appearance by Steve Carell.

Want to know more about the movie? Check out Joe Lozito's review of the theatrical release of Bruce Almighty.

The Picture

Obviously one wrong that Universal did not right: Bruce Almighty's 1.85:1 transfer. The image is fine and dandy for a standard-def DVD release, but if the studio wants people to shell out for Blu-ray, they'd better have something to show for it. There is some detail here, most notably on some of the outdoor scenes and in Carrey's extremely expressive face. Overall though, the image is grainy and a lot of the colors appear really washed out -- like some of the dated comedies from the '80s.

The Sound

The studio did give a slight boost to Bruce Almighty with a DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack. The dialogue is crisp and clear, and most important to what's going on. There is also a slightly above average amount of background detail -- at least above what you'd find in your usual comedy. There are traffic noises, water sounds and the occasional rioting in the streets, all served to good effect here. There's also plenty of thunder and other stereotypical noises that you'd expect to find in God's sound effects clip pack. Still, though, there could have been a bit more oomph for the big guy. A lot of the extra sounds were barely ripples in our rear speakers, with much of the audio sticking close to the front speakers.

The Extras

If you own one Jim Carrey movie, you own his entire special features collection. This release includes a commentary from director/regular Carrey contributor Tom Shadyac. Aside from that, the rest are deleted scenes, outtakes and "The Process of Jim," which play like one giant blooper reel to show off what a ruckus Carrey causes on the set.

Final Thoughts

Jim Carrey is entertaining. If that statement is more fact than opinion, then Bruce Almighty is a no-brainer for a night of laughs. However, the Blu-ray doesn't add a whole lot to what you've already seen a million times from the comedian. Especially if you already own a copy on DVD, this is one to rent before going for the high def upgrade.

Where to Buy:

• Bruce Almighty on Blu-ray Disc (Amazon.com)

Product Details

• Actors: Jim Carrey, Morgan Freeman, Jennifer Aniston, Philips Baker Hall, Steve Carell, Catherine Bell
• Director: Tom Shadyac
• Audio/Languages: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (English), Dolby Digital 5.1 (Spanish, French), Dolby Digital 2.0 (English)
• Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Region: A
• Number of Discs: 1
• Rating: PG-13
• Studio: Universal Pictures
• Blu-ray Disc Release Date: June 2, 2009
• Run Time: 102 minutes
• List Price: $29.98
• Extras:
  • Feature Commentary by Director Tom Shadyac
  • Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary by Director Tom Shadyac
  • The Process of Jim
  • Outtakes
  • BD Live