OH, GOD!
(director: Carl Reiner; screenwriters: Larry Gelbart, novel by Avery Gorman; cinematographer: Victor J. Kemper; editor: Bud Molin; music: Jack Elliott; cast: John Denver (Jerry Landers), George Burns (Jerry Landeres, God), Teri Garr (Bobbie Landers), Donald Pleasence (Dr. Harmon), Ralph Bellamy (Sam Raven), Dinah Shore (self), Barnard Hughes (Judge Baker), Jeff Corey (Rabbi Silverstone), Paul Sorvino (Rev. Willie Williams), Barry Sullivan (Bishop Reardon); Runtime: 98; MPAA Rating: PG; producer: Jerry Weintraub; Warner Bros.; 1977)
“The likable George Burns is easy to take in such a ridiculous role.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
In the comic turned director Carl Reiner’s (“All of Me”/”The Jerk”) absurd comedy, God (George Burns) informs Jerry Landers (John Denver) via a letter he wants to speak with the unassuming bespectacled assistant manager of a grocery store to spread the word about God to the world. The film is based on the novel by Avery Gorman, as written by Larry Gelbart. When Jerry tells people this, even his supportive wife Bobbie (Teri Garr) thinks he cracked-up.
I think this outrageous ‘coming to God meeting’ is more likely to happen in Los Angeles than anywhere else in the States because maybe more wackos live there than anywhere else.
When the bland, non-religious Jerry obeys God’s wishes, he has little success communicating God’s message to find solutions so there can be peace in the world. He’s also ridiculed in the media, becomes associated with other crack-pots and gets fired from his job.
When told by the benign humanistic God to tell the materialistic preacher Reverend Willy Williams (Paul Sorvino) that he’s a fraud, Williams sues him when he follows God’s instructions. Jerry’s defense in court hinges on calling God to the stand as a witness.
The gentle fantasy film, which I did not find funny or serious, was nevertheless a moderate success with the critics and spawned two sequels.
The likable George Burns is easy to take in such a ridiculous role. But the sophomoric humor and the simplistic story-line has no punch to take on those holier-than-thou phony gospel preachers in real-life.
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REVIEWED ON 8/9/2024 GRADE: C
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