Bruce Almighty

If you are after a comedy that actually makes you laugh out loud, Bruce Almighty is available in Australia on Disney Plus, and in the UK on Disney Plus right now. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Jim Carrey is the obvious draw, but the whole ensemble earns its laughs. Start it on Disney Plus whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

There is a reason Bruce Almighty keeps coming up in conversation. Bruce Almighty gets the fundamentals right first, then finds room to get weird with it. Bruce Nolan toils as a "human interest" television reporter in Buffalo, NY, but despite his high ratings and the love of his beautiful girlfriend, Bruce remains unfulfilled. At the end of the worst day in his life, he angrily ridicules God — and the Almighty responds, endowing Bruce with all of His divine powers. The chemistry Jim Carrey and Morgan Freeman bring to it does a lot of the heavy lifting. It was released in 2003. The timing in Bruce Almighty is precise enough that even the throwaway lines land on a second watch. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

For viewers who want something light without wanting something stupid, Bruce Almighty respects your intelligence. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Jim Carrey's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.