Dear God (1996)

Director:

Garry Marshall

Writers (WGA):

Warren Leight (written by) and
Ed Kaplan (written by)

Release Date:

1 November 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Many people write to God. Somebody is answering.

Plot:

When letters written to God start getting results, and replies, people everywhere are amazed. The Post Office however is annoyed.

Plot Keywords:

Postal Service | Soap | Christmas | Single Parent | Café

Cast

Greg Kinnear	...	Tom Turner
Laurie Metcalf	...	Rebecca Frazen
Maria Pitillo	...	Gloria McKinney
Tim Conway	...	Herman Dooly
Hector Elizondo	...	Vladek Vidov
Jon Seda	...	Handsome
Roscoe Lee Browne	...	Idris Abraham
Anna Maria Horsford	...	Lucille Barnett
Kathleen Marshall	...	Whispering Wendy
Isadora O'Boto	...	Hot Mary
Felix Pire	...	Ramon (as Felix A. Pire)
Donal Logue	...	Webster
Sam McMurray	...	Federal Prosecutor
Nancy Marchand	...	Judge Kits Van Heynigan
Larry Miller	...	State Judge

MPAA:

Rated PG for language and mild thematic elements.

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Finland:S | USA:PG (certificate #34441) | South Korea:15 | Australia:PG | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Rysher Entertainment

Trivia:

One of six films that Larry Miller has appeared in directed by Garry Marshall. The same is the case for Hector Elizondo, who's appeared in virtually all of the film's Marshall has directed as well.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Tom first reads Marguerite's letter to God, it's says she lives in apartment 2-F at the Normandie Arms. But then when Tom addresses the envelope to Marguerite, he addresses it to apartment 22-F. When Tom arrives at the Normandie Arms to get his money back, Marguerite is speaking to the other renters, she says she lives in 2-A.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Creeps (1997)

Delightful comedy -- a fresh breeze to typical violent, sarcastic Hollywood movie making

"Dear God" is a movie the whole family can enjoy. Despite a predictable plot and an ending anyone can spot a mile away, the overall ensemble acting and dialogue are surprisingly fresh and sometimes poignant. The conversion of Tom from a conniving con who thought of every angle to profit himself to a do-gooder is gradual and quite convincing, avoiding a common pitfall of many feel-good movies. Jaded cynics may sneer at the religious tone, but it is actually not about any religion but about the uplifting experience one can gain by helping each other.

The cast of Kinnear, Metcalf, Pitillo mixed with old pros like Conway, Elizondo and Browne really deliver. Conway is especially enjoyable, a scene stealer up to his old tricks, and Metcalf is deliriously wacky. A special mention goes to the director, Gary Marshall, using subtle yet funny touch to parody the American media and court system. Overall, this movie is very delightful for everyone who is not a total cynic. Rating: 8/10.