I watched about 3/4 of it last night – I had never seen it.
First of all: the outtakes at the end made me laugh so loudly I might have woken up the entire neighborhood. I was frozen in a posture of near-pain, tears streaming down my face.
Out-take:
Jim Carrey with microphone, as Sammy Davis Jr. Swaggering onto camera, stating, “Oompa …” and holds out microphone to chef. The chef replies, “Loompa.” Then Jim Carrey sort of twists his body off to the side, and replies, “Doompa.” Holds out microphone to chef. There is a pause. And then suddenly the two of then can’t hold it anymore – they burst out laughing.
It’s mainly visual – so I can’t explain why this exchange is so damn funny, but I swear – I couldn’t stop laughing. It was too much!!
Also Steve Carrell’s jinxing on national television – we actually talked about this movie at Beth’s this past weekend, and Mere mentioned this scene in particular. The “jinxing” of Steve Carrell. There’s one moment where his whole head gets still, his eyes go dead, and his mouth is open though – with his tongue waving up and down wildly. He looks like a gargoyle coming to life. Again: I was laughing so loudly I probably annoyed my neighbors. The out-takes of this particular scene were hilarious, too, because it’s obvious that Steve Carrell is just making all that shit up … That is his job. Okay: Just go nuts. You can hear random guffaws from crew members as he tries to get out the word “news.” “In other n-nah-nah-nah-nah…”
“The Prime Minister traveled to Indonesia today and my tiny little nipples went to France.”
Long pause. All the guys in the newsroom sit blank-faced … one of them says, “What did he just say?”
And I found the ending of the movie surprisingly moving. There’s a part where Jim Carrey realizes that every single night before she goes to bed Jennifer Aniston prays for him. All the prayers come in: “Please help Bruce to find himself.” “Please help Bruce to be happy.” And after they break up, her prayer is: “Please help me to let him go.” Then there’s a shot of Jennifer Aniston lying in bed, and making that prayer … and I’m telling you: that one scene alone is evidence enough that this woman is a major talent, and highly underestimated by people who are snobby about people who “come from TV”. So what that you come from TV? So did a lot of giant movie stars. Jennifer Aniston is completely vulnerable in this scene, she is really praying … but weeping as she prays … and it’s just so human. I recognized myself in that moment. She really just went there. Saying to God, “Please God, I don’t want to love him anymore … Help me… Help me to let him go …” I got a little misty-eyed myself, watching her in that scene.
She’s terrific. I thought she was terrific on Friends and I think she’s terrific in more dramatic parts too. The Good Girl, anyone?
It’s almost helped her that she’s been underestimated. She’s been able to stay under the radar and do really good work in all different kinds of movies (Office Space is a classic example. Watch her being reprimanded for not wearing enough flair. She’s hilarious. But it’s so real. She’s got a great comic sensibility – but she’s also always connected to something real.)
Also, I loved the two of them together. Carrey could overwhelm anybody (I’m a huge huge fan of his, by the way) – and she plays it sweetly, simply … and yet she’s also a character in her own right. You get where she is coming from. Not an easy task if you are acting with Jim Carrey, I imagine.
I actually really enjoyed the movie. I especially enjoyed the guffaws of laughter it gave me. Literally – guffaws!!!
“And I do the cha-cha … like a sissy little girl.”
The first time I saw that movie I literally had to turn it off while watching the outtakes because my face hurt and my eyes were squeezed shut and I couldn’t catch my breath. I LOVE that feeling!!! You almost need a nap after an epsiode like that.
“Oompa.”
“Loompa.”
“Doompa.”
So so so stupid and riotously funny!
My favorite part is when he decides to answer EVERY’S prayers with “Yes” so all the people who pray to win the lottery DO. . . but only get, like, five cents.
I don’t think it’s a necessarily FUNNY part of the movie, but it has a great theological message which I won’t go into right now because, well, you know, RELIGION is sort of like POLITICS. . . and I know the rules.
That should be “everyBODY’s prayers.”
It’s early.
Oooh — I thought Jennifer Aniston was so great in “The Good Girl” — and this, too. She does possess something that can just tug at your heart sometimes.
Lisa – hahahahaha
Yeah – having all those prayers answered Yes did nobody any good.
I loved the overheard comment from one woman: “I lost 47 pounds on the Krispy Kreme diet!”
Or how bout the girl saying to her boyfriend: “you seem taller.” and he answers: “I am!”
I also am very very partial to the moment when, in one swoop, Jim Carrey removes all his clothes. You know that moment? It’s like his entire outfit is a breakaway outfit – and in one second, there he stands in his little briefs.
hahahaha
I watched that again on Sunday- and about the outtakes- Total ugly face laughter.
So what 1/4 of the movie didn’t you see? did you see the end?
“Yo Bretheren, What up with thee?”
just saw the wonderful steve carrell in the “40 yr old virgin” last night. it was SO FUNNY that i cannot remember the last time i laughed that hard and that long. that guy is ridiculously funny!
Go see Steve Carrell in 40-Year-Old Virgin. A totally different character and performance, but no less funny.
siobhan – member seeing him in Anchorman on the cape?
His out-takes were riotous:
“I pooped a hammer.”
SO FUNNY
Yes – I do want to see 40 year old virgin. He is so so so funny.
Mere – I missed the beginning. I came in right around the time he met Morgan Freeman. With the drawer of the filing cabinet of his life shooting out 50 feet or whatever.
you have to go see it!
all of the co-stars were phenomenal too. whoever that black guy who plays his friend is so GREAT.
aha!
And Jennifer Aniston is totally underrated. And I also loved the part when Bruce’s clothes fly off him and he’s in that pose!
And I just began 3 sentences with “and”.
OMG, Red! I loved this movie and Jennifer Anniston is wonderful in so many ways.
One of my fav moments was when the monkey returned from whence he came.
Wow. I’m going to have to own this DVD.
I thought the movie was great when I saw it.
“…s’goood.”
:)
I totally agree that Jennifer Aniston is underrated as an actress. I mean, she’s totally famous and constantly on the cover of everything. People talk about her hair, her tan, her persoal life, her weight, blah blah blah without hardly ever giving her credit for her talent. It pisses me off.
I haven’t seen this movie (I know you’re a fan, red, because Jim Carrey just gets…on…my…nerves in most of his roles. Sorry), but she was brilliant in Office Space. I love the “flair” scene with the restaurant manager who wonders what she thinks about people who only “do the bare minimum.”
“Um…so…more?” The look on her face – it’s the perfect reaction from someone who’s being talked to like a child by a complete, utter idiot.
Can’t wait to see Virgin. I’ve been such a fan of Carrell since The Daily Show. I’m also glad he’s got his wife in the movie. She was so great on TDS and Saturday Night Live. Nice to see her again.
Bruce Almighty is fantastic. I’m gonna watch the movie again this weekend now. Thanks for the post!
Emily – that flair scene is PERFECT. Whoever that manager guy is … he is HYSTERICAL. And her growing irritation which finally becomes rage … is just so damn funny.
cullen – who’s his wife?
Nancy Walls funny, funny lady. Did the church “tough lady” skits on SNL.
It’s weird how Robin Williams gets on my nerves, but somehow, Jim Carrey never does. They’re basically the same kind of comic, all frantic and flailing and fearless, but I never get annoyed with Jim Carrey. (But I can understand that some people do, Emily.)
Robin Williams, however, well a little of him goes a looooooong way.
I didn’t like it when Jim Carrey started gunning for an Oscar and got all serious. (Which brings up another pet peeve: Comedies rarely being nominated for Oscars. As though somehow comedic performances are LESS than dramatic performances. This is one of the main reasons Cary Grant never won an Oscar – and both times he was nominated, it was when he got all serious.; But … you can’t tell me there’s a better performance out there than what he does in His Girl Friday! But because it’s funny – he’s ignored by the Oscar people? Drives me crazy. Why has Christopher Guest and his group not been nominated multiple times for those great movies? Why wasn’t Waiting for Guffman and Best in Show the toast of the town at Oscar time? They are unbelievable – so so good and they blow away sentimental shite like Beautiful Mind, in my opinion. But because they’re funny they’re ignored at Oscar time. SNOBS!!)
Now – the flipside of that is – I thought Carrey was absolutely amazing in Eternal Sunshine and thought he should have been nominated for his work. But it’s one of those under-the-radar performances that isn’t showy – or an attention-getter. He didn’t play a limping one-eyed retard, which – as we all know – is THE way to get an Oscar. But I thought his performance in that film was just beautiful. Pained. Not one of his old mannerisms to be seen – just a shy awkward guy – amazing.
Charlie Kaufman and crew have a way of getting the perfect everyman out of stars that aren’t necessarily that. Cusak, Cage and Carrey (hmm, just noticed that). Love Kaufman movies.
I love those movies, too. He does the same thing for women. Think of Cameron Diaz in Being John Malkovich … I TOTALLY bought her as that frizzy-haired animal-loving plain girl. whoda thunk it??
I know. I have a real love/hate thing going on with Cameron. Based on the strength of some of her past work, I’ll usually give her the benefit of the doubt … but lately … man.
Adaptation is my favorite I think. Mainly because if I have company over that I really want to leave, it usually has them hitting the door after 30 minutes or so. But I truly enjoy it. I feel the same way about Punch Drunk Love.
I feel like you might be the only other person I’ve ever met who loved Punch Drunk Love.
It was one of my favorite movies that I saw that year. Amazing – but … i guess you have to “get” it … or something.
I truly thought it was incredible.
Luis Guzman never ceases to just KILL me. I love love love him.
Not only did I like it, it’s up there in my top 20 or 30. I think Adam Sandler is such an underrated talent and people give him so much underserved hell.
With the exception of Punch Drunk Love, he doesn’t make great movies. But he makes very enjoyable movies.
I love Philip Seymour Hoffman in the movie also. To add more “digression”, at the end of Matchstick Men, I felt like Hoffman was going to walk out at any moment to tell Cage to sell carpet or something. I love it when one movie unintentionally reminds you of another.
i think you know where i stand on cameron. she is my equivalent of your renee. wish i liked her, almost. but i really, really have a problem with her!! kinda funny, but not.
and i COMPLETELY respect that, siobhan.
yeah – my problem with renee is … kinda funny, kinda not. Like … people start to walk away now when I begin speaking of her.
Let’s not talk about either Rennee OR Cameron….please? I don’t want to have to start vomiting this early in the day.
As far as Carrey goes, I’ve always thought he was a comic genius. Always. This is a great performance by him, and another great performance by Anniston. I love her the way you do Sheila. She has something that’s only going to get better the more work she does.
Diaz is a waste of space. I am absolutely mystified by her sucsess. Baffled. Honestly.
But here’s the other thing….can we just talk about Morgan Goddam Freeman please?
I mean….c’mon.
alex – I love that you consider 12 pm to be “early in the day”, NO JUDGMENT – I just love it.
My favorite moment of Morgan Freeman’s … is at the very end … when Bruce is in heaven, and Freeman tells him to pray, and Bruce closes his eyes and says, “I pray for world peace. How was that?” And God tells him to pray for something he really wants – for himself – and jim Carrey has this beautiful simple monologue about how he wants Grace to find someone who will love her the way she deserves to be loved. Carrey does such a great job with this monologue – He’s very moved, but he doesn’t make a big deal out of it. It’s truthful.
But anyway – my favorite moment of Freeman’s is after Jim Carrey finishes speaking his prayer. (The last line of the prayer is: “I want her to find somebody who … well … who sees her the way you see her.” This last bit to God. I was nearly a blubbery mess!!)
And Freeman pauses – doesn’t say anything for a minute – and then says, with this kindness in his voice – that VOICE – “Now that’s a prayer.”
All Freeman needs to do is show up and I’m happy.
THANK YOU ALEX.
i feel like i am alone in this world, as seeing Diaz as an utterly talentless person. She is cute, sure, but she is so FAKE.
i’m getting annoyed just typing about her.
I loathe Ms. Diaz, too.
I’ve every thing Mr. Freeman has been in, even The Electric Company, although he’s not too proud of it, I’ve heard, which makes me dislike him just a teeny-tiny bit.
siobhan, see? You are not alone in this world.
“I’ve LOVED every thing. . .”
God. What is the DEAL with me this week? I can’t type to save my life, and it’s my JOB for God’s sack.
lisa – hahahahahahaha
You know, I always know what you are TRYING to say. I read it and add all the skipped words. No biggie. :)
Especially Morgan Freeman and Clint Eastwood together. Depressing Twist Ending, I mean Million Dollar Baby, wow stuff!
Lisa, it is my job aslo. ;)
Is “for God’s sack” blasphemous?
For God’s sack!!!
hahahahahaha
I could take credit for it, but that would be wrong. I picked it up at Television Without Pity.
I love The Breakfast Club.
Television without pity: the fount of all wisdom and grace.
There’s a sequel to Bruce Almighty being promoted?? supposedly titled Evan Almighty?? I guess someone might want to go on that journey.. but it wouldn’t be a sensible move for Steve Carell by my reckoning.
are you having a jim carrey marathon or something?
Red, never shy away from your Renee-hatred…
When you say, ” I hate Renee Zellwinger and Forrest Gump,” you couldn’t have said “Ron I love you with all my soul,” any better than if you had walked up to me and said “Ron I love you with all my soul!”
When I woo and bethrone my future Renee-and-Gump-hating paramour, I’ll tell her that Sheila O’Malley led me to find you…
Ron, you need to take a Xanax or something.
Your whole comment gives me the creeps.
NO!!! PLEASE NO SEQUEL!!
Sorry Red…nothing dramatic implied…just full of purple prose at that moment.
Sequel? Of course there has to be a sequel. For some reason, for most halfway decent comedies in particular there usually has to be a godawful sequel we esentially pretend never happened. Caddyshack and Ghostbusters are probably the most extreme examples.