Dear God (1996)
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12% of critics liked it
(34 reviews) -
30% of users liked it
(5,779 ratings)
In this comedy, a man trying to turn away from a life of crime starts performing a little larceny in the interest of helping others. Tom Turner (Greg Kinnear) is a small-time con man who makes the mistake of trying to cheat a pair of undercover cops one night. Fortunately for Tom, his case is heard… More In this comedy, a man trying to turn away from a life of crime starts performing a little larceny in the interest of helping others. Tom Turner (Greg Kinnear) is a small-time con man who makes the mistake of trying to cheat a pair of undercover cops one night. Fortunately for Tom, his case is heard by a lenient judge who orders him to get a straight job and stay out of trouble; if he can stay employed for a year, his conviction will be wiped from the record. Tom is hired at the Post Office and assigned to the Dead Letter Office, where he and his co-workers Rebecca (Laurie Metcalf), Herman (Tim Conway), and Vladek (Hector Elizondo) try to figure out what to do with the sacks of mail addressed to Santa Claus, Elvis Presley, and God. Against orders, Tom opens one of the letters to God and is moved by the sad story of the woman who sent it. He decides to reply and accidentally mails her his pay check; but when he sees how happy the answer made the recipient, Tom and his co-workers start opening more letters and trying to answer a few prayers that would be within their reach -- which leads Tom back to the courthouse again. Director Garry Marshall has a small role as Preston Sweeney. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- Garry Marshall
- Written By
- Warren Leight, Ed Kaplan
- Genres
- Comedy
PG,
- In Theaters
- Nov 1, 1996 Wide
- On DVD
- Jan 27, 2004
- Studio
- Paramount
Critic Reviews
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Leonard Klady, Variety
It unfortunately has an unfinished quality, and plays very much like a good first draft for a much better movie than the one on view.
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Janet Maslin, New York Times
Together, these characters discover the ideas of faith and fellowship as the film congratulates itself on its noble instincts.
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Desson Thomson, Washington Post
A goofy, goodwill gesture toward the U.S. Postal Service, it's never funny and moves slower than an unaddressed letter without postage.
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Jack Mathews, Los Angeles Times
As trite as the framework is, Dear God might have been a charming holiday film, if only its miracles weren't so trite.
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Peter Stack, San Francisco Chronicle
Awkward cuts rob the film of cohesion, and even the charming Kinnear seems to disappear at times amid the chaos -- a real test of viewers' faith.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Greg Kinnear
as Tom Turner
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Laurie Metcalf
as Rebecca Frazen
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Maria Pitillo
as Gloria McKinney
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Tim Conway
as Herman Dooly
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Hector Elizondo
as Vladek Vidov
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Roscoe Lee Browne
as Idris Abraham
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Anna Maria Horsford
as Lucille Barnett
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David Hasselhoff
as Himself (uncredited)
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Jack Klugman
as Jemi
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Donal Logue
as Webster
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Nancy Marchand
as Judge Kits Van Heynigan
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Kathleen Marshall
as Whispering Wendy
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Rue McClanahan
as Mom Turner
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Larry Miller
as State Judge
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Jon Seda
as Handsome
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Odette Annable
as Angela
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Garry Marshall
as Preston Sweeney
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Coolio
as Gerard
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Toby Huss
as Minister
- Felix Pire
- Greg Lewis
- Isadora O'Boto
- Jack Sheldon
- John Pinette
- Sam McMurray
- Seth Mumy
- Stephanie Niznik
