I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

God comes to Earth in the form of George Burns and tells supermarket manager John Denver to spread His message. Charming low-key comedy with a very likable cast. Denver's appealing as the 'everyman' protagonist. Burns, of course, steals the show as the affable Almighty. The rest of the cast includes the lovely Teri Garr as Denver's wife, Paul Sorvino as a televangelist, vets Ralph Bellamy and Donald Pleasence, and many other recognizable faces. Great cast all around. I also enjoy the low-budget look of the film. It's a very 1970s movie (in a good way). It's not the funniest movie Carl Reiner ever made, nor is it ever as profound or satirical as the subject matter calls for, but it is hard to dislike.

I believe this is the only time where I've read the reviews of those who 'Hated It' (as defined by IMDb voters who give it a lower score than it's average) and they didn't actually hate it. Most have some warm or inspiring words about the picture so I think the movie succeeded on that level.Realizing that many people growing up are fed a doctrine of God being all powerful and vengeful over one's transgressions, it's comforting to see a picture where the Supreme Being is portrayed as just an ordinary human. The series of books by Neale Donald Walsch - "Conversations With God" - takes a similar approach and I find this humanistic attitude to be rather appealing. Who wants a God that will strike you down every time you do the slightest thing wrong? At eighty one years old, I think George Burns had the God gig down pat. Very cordial and conversational, he was able to make his spiritual pitch in a manner that wasn't threatening and was even quite inspirational and uplifting. The ideas he expressed were so steeped in common sense that virtually no one could find fault, no matter what denomination one follows. It was best summed up by God himself - "I gave you a world and everything in it. It's all up to you".Certainly there are those who question how or why a loving God would allow suffering and pain in the world, and God's answer touched on the one important point most people overlook - the entire concept of free will. Without it, decision making is taken away from humans, and therefore choices are impossible. I was glad the movie illustrated this point brilliantly with the conversation between God and Jerry Landers (John Denver).With a great message, I think this is a wonderful film for the whole family to enjoy. It puts spiritual snake oil salesmen like Reverend Willie Williams (Paul Sorvino) in their place, and invites the viewer to reconsider one's own relationship with the Almighty. To provide another quote from George Burns' God - "Religion is easy. I'm talking about faith".

Here you have, a good natured assistant manager of a supermarket named Jerry Landers(John Denver, 1943-97) gets chosen by God(George Burns, 1896-1996) to spread His Word. A little skeptical at first, Jerry is eager to give it a shot. He faced some sharp criticism by everyone around him. Not even his wife(Terri Garr) was supportive. In some spots, she was. Jerry discovered his own job has been dishonest to their customers. And a respected preacher(Paul Sorvino) who sues Jerry is exposed by God as a "hypocrite", and should be selling shoes. In the courtroom scene, I liked the part when He's sworn in "to help me Me". Jerry held his grounds against a group of theologians. The miracles have been provided. After all he has gone through, he has paid the price when he loses his job at the supermarket. Only God cared for him. Jerry would have been a lot happier working at a more honest supermarket anyway. Believing His Words was a must have for Jerry. Great cast, great story. Awe inspiring, this movie is a true gem. Believe my friend, believe. 5 stars.

IN STARK CONTRAST to the big budget, super fx,giant who's who casts and plenty of flesh attributes that so many movies gravitate toward, we occasionally get some small co$t, good story, regular-type characters with little or no computer animation nor sexploitation in evidence. And, surprising as it may be to some of these Hollywod Big Shots, the movie is eminently successful and even critically acclaimed.WHEN WE LOOK for examples of such films, we are inundated with many. Just imagine when we all saw titles like ROCKY, MY BIG FAT Greek WEDDING and the all time underdog of kiddie films, BENJI. Inspite of all of the conventional wisdom from entertainment world sharpies, films like these do, somehow, get made. CONCERNING THE CIORCUMSTANCES leading up to the exhibiting of a film such as this OH GOD (Warner Bros./1977), it in itself, is certainly a "Celluloid Miracle."THE DEPICTION OF anyone who is so "Middle Class" or even "Blue Collar" as to attend Church, Synagogue, Temple or Mosque regularly is considered to be too outdated and 'corny' for so many Hollywood money men. Hedonism, epicurean-ism, greed and narcissism are considered to be the norm and are all too often glorified. IN SHARP CONTRAST, this little, inexpensive and family oriented film scores big number$ at the Box Office$ receipt$; which is, of course, a main objective in any studio. (Afyter all, it is a business!)OUR STORY: Grocery Store Manager, Jerry Landers finds the rat race of everyday life to be just to much. Being frustrated at every turn, he finds himself automatically saying or shouting, "Oh, God!" After some time, he has an experience where an elderly man (Geotrge Burns) appears to him. He tells Jerry that he is indeed who Jerry has been summoning for so long, being God, Himself!AS WE WOULD expect, Jerry's natural tendency toward skepticism wins out as we find ourselves bearing witness to a multitude of embarrassing and very funny situations. The gag situations are basic, with nothing of any real originality in evidence; save for one small, newly ordained tidbit of screen comedy. That would be the personality and delivery of non-actor and star, John Denver.ALL THROUGH THE story, we find controversy and conflict with Jerry Landers' unbelievable claims of having talked to the Almighty. Be it his boss, his wife (Terri Garr-woo, woo, woo, woo!), his neighbors or leaders of the Major Faiths, the reactions are the same end results; that being a hilarious and ever building audience reaction.BUT, THE FRIVOLITY only goes so far as the comical aspects find themselves being tempered with what can only be interpreted as being a 'Message!'BUT THE STORY (as would a real life situation) demand consultation with a "Higher Authority." In this case, a committee of inquiry is assembled; which is composed of prominent clerics from all across the spectrum of believers. We have: Barry Sullivan (Bishop Reardon), Jeff Corry (Rabi Silverstone), Titos Vandis (Eastern Orthodox Bishop) and others. NEEDING AN ADDITIONAL plot twist, the scenarist opts for having God/George Burns taking exception to one member of this Omnibus of Ecumenical Ecclesiastics as being unworthy and a wealth seeking phony. The writer picks a politically target in actor Paul Sorvino's characterization of Tele Evangelist, Rev. Willie Williams. (Southern Whites and Fundamentalist Christians are and have been fair game for vilification in both life and fiction.)THE CRESCENDO OF the story is finally reached in the Judicial Proceedings that follow. This also brings us what is arguably the best gag in the movie. That is, when God is called upon to take the stand and, when sworn in with the words, "......so help you God!", George Burns replies, "So help me, me!"OTHERWISE, THE COURT scenes are cleverly played in the manner of those in Frank Capra's MR. DEEDS GOES TO TOWN (Columbia, 1937). The cast is also staffed with many veterans and guest stars such as: Donald Pleasance, Ralph Bellamy, William Daniels, Barnard Hughes, George Furth, Dinah Shore and even Director, Carl Reiner steps before the camera to join the fun.IN THE END, God just vanishes; having left his message with the John Denver/Jerry Landers character and to us, the audience; that we may think over what it meant. OH GOD is a movie that both entertains and provokes thought. As an additional asset, it proved to be a BOX OFFICE $UCCE$$!NOW YOU Hollywood big shots, isn't that a plan? So, do it already!