Bruce Almighty

Kimberly Mena 2/15/05

Mr. Shea Bruce Almighty

Bruce Almighty

Watching Bruce Almighty, starring Jim Carrey, we were shown several scenes. In these scenes examples of hopelessness, individualism, enlightened self- interest, compassion, hope, love, free will, relationships, sin, and images of God were seen throughout them.

In scene 2: This is my Luck; an example of compassion is when Grace is getting ready to give blood to those who are in dire need. Bruce responds that he isn't giving blood because he hates needles and because they stock up on the blood, an example of self-interest. When Grace says good bye to him, the only thing Bruce can say is that he is going to need a miracle to get to work at time. Once again, Grace is displaying compassion and love towards Bruce but Bruce is too worried about himself and work to even acknowledge Grace's actions, showing abandonment in a relationship with Grace. On Bruce's way to work, there is a severe accident and an ambulance is seen carrying someone but Bruce's remark is "Come on, not during Sweeps Week", showing severe individualism. After the meeting, Bruce approaches his boss and asks about the anchor position, the boss denies knowing any information but Bruce insists. He believes Evan is going to get the position so he says that he should be more like Evan because Evan is an Ð''ass-hole'. Bruce proves that he can be just like Evan by flipping over the boss's bologna sandwich but Bruce instantly picks it up because he wants the boss to think highly of him, this action of helping someone in order to benefit you, is enlightened self-interest. After picking up the sandwich, the boss gives Bruce a live show and instead of saying thank you, Bruce's reply is "I won't forget youÐ'... when I go national!"

More examples can be seen when Grace is at her job, caring and loving for small children at a day care. Bruce calls her, not to say that he loves her or ask her how her day is going, but to notify her of his achievement of going on a live show. Grace is loving towards Bruce, being joyous for his achievement even though Bruce is completely absorbed in himself. Then when Bruce has to go Grace says that she loves him and good bye and half-heartedly Bruce responds "lub, lub, lub, lub, lub".

When Bruce is thrown out of his job and he is carrying his stuff to the car, he sees the poor man getting harassed by a few Latino gangsters. Probably for the first time in the movie, Bruce is showing compassion to something other then himself. However, Bruce over extends himself and gets himself beat up by the gang. After the gang has gone away, Bruce looks at his car and says "That is what I get for helping someone, that is my payment", Bruce went form compassion to hopelessness in but a few seconds.

Grace and Bruce are at home and Bruce is pacing in the room ranting about his day. Grace is intently listening trying to comfort him but Bruce is not listening to a word. Grace begins glorifying God and Bruce instantly rebukes this and mimics her saying "Two in the hand is worth more than one in the bush" and then continues by saying "I have no birds, I have no bush. God has taken my birds and my bush." Grace is trying to comfort Bruce but he is turning away from her and God. Once again, Grace tries to comfort him by ensuring him that everything is ok but he says that nothing is ok and he is tired of his "mediocre life". This statement deeply wounds Grace because she truly loves Bruce and wants to build their relationship higher but Bruce turns away, both literally and figuratively.

When Bruce is driving in the car, he picks up the prayer beads and begins talking to God, only because he wants God to do something for him- enlightened self-interest. Bruce is asking God to give him a sign and God replies indirectly to him by literally placing a slow down sign in front of him, he ignores it and God then sends a truck, filled with stop, yield, and slow down signs but Bruce is so impatient that he ignores these images of God attempts to pass the truck, swerves off the road, and hits a light