Oh, God!
Oh, God!
PG | 07 October 1977 (USA)
Oh, God! Trailers

When God appears to an assistant grocery manager as a good natured old man, the Almighty selects him as his messenger for the modern world.

Reviews
Perry Kate Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!
WillSushyMedia This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.
Aneesa Wardle The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.
Brenda The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one
Antonius Block You certainly don't need to be a believer to enjoy this charming film; I'm an atheist and always have. John Denver gives a nice performance as the forthright and altruistic groceryman who is called upon by God to deliver His message, and an 81-year-old George Burns is perfect in the role of the Almighty. The film delivers what I think is appropriate criticism of organized religion, distinguishing it from faith, and Paul Sorvino is great (though a little over-the-top) as a southern televangelist. I also liked the Deist position it takes, that God created the world but it's up to mankind to make of it what it will, and that kindness and brotherhood are more important than dogma. The film doesn't try to answer all of the unanswerable questions, but it does take a pretty good crack at a lot of the big ones (Q: 'Why does God allow all the suffering in the world', A: 'I don't permit it, you do. Free will: all the choices are yours.' Q: 'Was Jesus Christ your son?' A: 'Jesus was my son. Buddha was my son. Muhammad, Moses, you, the man who said there was no room at the inn was my son.' Q: 'Which of the world's religions is closest to the divine truth?' A: 'The divine truth is not in a building or a book or a story. Put down the heart is the temple where all truth resides.') This is not a fire and brimstone God, or one bent on vengeance, hell, and eternal agony for sinners and nonbelievers; this is an informal, simple, and gentle God. How refreshing, and how enlightened.
anoceanroars If you are looking for Biblical truth you will not find it in this film. It goes against all the Bible teaches about God. Jesus is the Son of God.Comedy is also lacking in this film. Cows an afterthought? God did not, nor does not have an afterthought. I know it was supposed to be humorous, but I did not laugh once. Some say this is much funnier than Bruce Almighty, but that is erroneous information. Bruce Almighty has many humorous moments, even Evan Almighty is funnier than Oh God. Sheeeeeeeeep !!This film does not wear its age well. It feels dated. The one good thing about this film is that you could use it as a cultural reference of the times. It has many things from the 70s which do not exist any longer. Tab? George Burns is definitely great in his role, as is Terri Garr, but John Denver is not an actor and it shows. He lacks charisma to carry the picture and does not have the comedic timing of the great comediennes of the 70s.I rate this 4/10 and i feel generous.
mark.waltz Back in the late 1970's as "the blockbuster" was just building up steam with several disaster films, sci-fi special effects epics and the occasional historical epic, bigger wasn't always better, and in the case of "Oh, God", an adorable aging comic had one of the biggest hits of his long career. Oh, and throw in a country/western singer who only made a few movie appearances, and you have the sleeper of 1977, a comic gem that takes punches almost prophetically at evangelists who only a decade later would take public whacks in real life.John Denver is Jerry Mathers, a humble grocery store assistant manager in Tarzana, California who isn't much of a believer in spiritual matters and happens to be chosen by the big G. himself to go out and spread the word that he still exists, is watching over us, and has given us everything we need to make our world work, warning us not to destroy it. 35 years later, this film is still timely, even if certain elements of the details of the script fit 70's mentalities. (Why a remake with Betty White hasn't been done is beyond me!) At first, you only hear the raspy-voiced God until Jerry politely demands to see him, having frustrated his quirky wife Teri Garr with discussions of their first meeting. But when George Burns finally appears in flannel shirt and baseball cap, you know you're dealing with a God out to prove that vaudeville isn't dead, only captured in heavenly terms.Dealing with district manager David Ogden Steirs (of "MASH" TV fame) and C.E.O. William Daniels ("1776's" John Addams) in his professional life, Denver is warned that these visits with God are endangering his career. But God has another job for Denver, and that involves a money-hungry evangelist, brilliantly played by Paul Sorvino with such arrogant cockiness that you long to see him knocked down a peg or two and have him scream to his pulpit, "I have sinned!", like a few others would within the next decade. Cameos by such famous faces as Ralph Bellamy, Barnard Hughes and Donald Pleasance round out Larry Gelbart's brilliant screenplay, apparently adapted by director Carl Reiner on its first draft, and deservedly receiving an Oscar Nomination.The film covers some major issues still important to day. God comments on cereals and all of the chemicals that are turning kids into garbage cans. He comments on "The Exorcist" and how people could believe the devil on earth, but not him. He discusses Jesus as his son, the ultimate vessel for communication with him, and when sworn in to testify tells judge Hughes with his hands on the bible, "So help me me." God also reveals here through Reiner's simply stated screenplay that it only takes one man to create a storm of spirituality, and with this, we also see the religious freaks that utilize organized religion for their own agendas and even sexual fantasies. The performances are direct, to the point, and totally honest, and to top it off, there is a wonderful cameo by then popular afternoon TV hostess Dinah Shore, long before the Oprah's, Jerry Springers and Sally Jesse Raphael's. Having seen this film many years ago when it was first released, I felt its simple message touching my soul, and almost forty years later, it still remains pertinent. At times, the screenplay does have a child-like quality to it, but that is important, because this is a film for all ages and generations to see and pick out individually how it touches them. Believer or not, you can't help but see the possibilities, and in today's ultra-cynical world (10 times more than the mid-late 1970's) consumed with robot-creating technology, this is truly a faith restorer.
mrb1980 The mid-1970s were George Burns' heyday. After several decades out of the movie business, he starred in several films that were surprising successes. He did stand-up comedy in Las Vegas. He appeared on talk shows and told silly jokes about smoking cigars, outliving his doctors, and hanging out with women one-fourth his age. He was an octogenarian movie star, and "Oh, God!" was released around the peak of his latter-day fame.The film begins with God (in the form of George Burns) appearing in supermarket manager Jerry's (John Denver) bathroom. God tells Jerry to get The Word out, so Jerry tells his story to a reporter (George Furth). This of course attracts the attention of several wackos and many theologians (including Jeff Corey, Paul Sorvino, and Donald Pleasance), much to the dismay of Jerry's wife (Teri Garr). There's an amusing courtroom sequence, and Jerry and God say goodbye and part ways. The movie is lightly entertaining with a warm message and has lots of good scenes, but trust me, it has no real laughs. Burns is his usual self, and Denver is surprisingly good in an uncharacteristic acting role. Garr and especially Sorvino (playing an outrageous TV evangelist) stand out in the supporting cast. Two inferior sequels with Burns but without Denver were later released.A lot of the shine has worn off "Oh, God!" since 1977. Burns and Denver are no longer with us, and George Burns' 1970s fame has been gone for 30 years. Many people probably know very little about either Burns or Denver, their memories fading every day. During the mid-1970s, Burns was an unlikely celebrity, with all the trappings that accompanied it (I used to cringe when Johnny Carson would imply that Burns was actually dating women in their early 20s). The novelty of seeing singer-songwriter John Denver in a movie is long gone. So, the general cultural atmosphere surrounding George Burns and this film has changed completely in the past 34 years. "Oh, God!" is still good, but to me the movie used to be a lot better, way back in 1977.