Revisiting Bruce Almighty
Having previously written about the film, I’d like to further explore particular themes. Early in the film, Bruce relies heavily upon divine intervention to solve his problems and those of people around him. Even when he fills His shoes, Bruce continues to believe that a prayer is like a work order; put it in, and the guy upstairs gets it done. However, this system doesn’t work out so well, and he eventually learns that we, as humans, need to “be the miracle.” In her article about a quote on a Starbucks cup, Allison from Find Religion puts it more eloquently:
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“Why in moments of crisis do we ask God for strength and help? As cognitive beings, why would we ask something that may well be a figment of our imaginations for guidance? Why not search inside ourselves for the power to overcome? After all, we are strong enough to cause most of the catastrophes we need to endure.” -Bill Schell
The cup is part of a campaign that’s been going on at Starbucks for years now to include insightful and interesting quotes from customers to spark debate and conversation. The fact that some people are upset at Starbucks for using this quote is exactly what is wrong in the Christian world today.
Five Idiot-Proof Reasons not to be Upset at Starbucks:
1. The quote is not against completely God. It is telling people that it is silly to take problems to God when he’s already given us the ability to handle the problems ourselves.
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Read the rest of Allison’s article here
On the surface, Jen’s character Grace just seems like “the girlfriend,” but on closer examination, she provides a significant foil to Bruce’s journey. While Bruce sees what is missing, Grace sees what is right in the world. And while she is clearly spiritual, ultimately she believes in personal responsibility. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the very beginning, when Grace is so clearly affected on a personal level by Bruce’s rant about his life’s mediocrity. She feels that Bruce is using the Almighty as a scapegoat for his frustrations with her and their life together, despite the work that she puts into the relationship. Jen’s performance in the role was crucial, as it is her warmth and accessibility that makes Grace such an important force in the film.
Bruce Almighty, Jennifer Aniston, Jim Carrey, spirituality, Starbucks
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