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Dear God

PG Released Nov 1, 1996 1h 52m Comedy List
12% Tomatometer 34 Reviews 28% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
In order to avoid a jail sentence, con man Tom Turner (Greg Kinnear) promises a judge he'll get an honest job for a year. But when he starts working in the U.S. Post Office's dead letter office, he's moved by some letters addressed directly to God. After he starts a Good Samaritan con by replying to the letters, his co-workers (Laurie Metcalf, Tim Conway, Héctor Elizondo) are inspired to do the same. But their good work is frowned upon by the postmaster general -- and the cops.
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Dear God

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Critics Consensus

Dear God never had a prayer, with Greg Kinnear's angelic charisma weighted down by a screenplay bereft of wit but heavy on schmaltz.

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Critics Reviews

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Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly Rated: F Sep 7, 2011 Full Review 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. Mar 26, 2009 Full Review Nell Minow Movie Mom Rated: 2/5 Jul 16, 2004 Full Review TV Guide Garry Marshall's fast-paced, Capra-esque comedy probably out-Capras Capra himself in sentimentality, but the terrific cast makes for a rarity: a feel good-comedy that's actually very funny. Rated: 3/4 Jul 20, 2009 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 2/5 Aug 16, 2005 Full Review Robin Clifford Reeling Reviews Horrendously unfunny. Apr 9, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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tim k If you like Hallmark Christmas movies you will enjoy this movie. Take a Hallmark movie and add a great cast, better writing, and bigger budget and you get Dear God. While it isn't an intellectual masterpiece, it has heart, warmth, and a good moral lesson. Those things are missing from most modern films. My mother, God rest her soul, and myself watched it together. She was a devote religious woman and I am not, yet we both enjoyed the acting, story, and touching sentiment of this feel good movie. It has everything you want in a self-reflective redemption story. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Just saw this movie for the first time - some 22 years after release. This is a charming feel-good movie. What a cast! Not only Kinnear but Laurie Metcalfe, Tim ConwY, Jack Klugman, Roscoe Lee Browne, Garry MarshLl, Rue McClanHN, Hector Elizondo, and so many more. You'll get a kick out of all the actors you recognize! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Audience Member Stellar Funny Cast. Under-rated and definitely on my Holiday HeartTouchstone movies. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member I'm confused about how movies like this get the green light-this really is incoherant dribble. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Audience Member Overall a really good movie. Not sure why it received so many bad reviews. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/23/23 Full Review william s When the bad guy turns good and you look back and say that's where the movie lost it...as true as it may be it says something about the viewer. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Dear God

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Cast & Crew

It Takes Two 8% 60% It Takes Two TRAILER for It Takes Two House Arrest 10% 45% House Arrest The Stupids 21% 37% The Stupids Houseguest 17% 55% Houseguest A Pyromaniac's Love Story 0% 54% A Pyromaniac's Love Story Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis In order to avoid a jail sentence, con man Tom Turner (Greg Kinnear) promises a judge he'll get an honest job for a year. But when he starts working in the U.S. Post Office's dead letter office, he's moved by some letters addressed directly to God. After he starts a Good Samaritan con by replying to the letters, his co-workers (Laurie Metcalf, Tim Conway, Héctor Elizondo) are inspired to do the same. But their good work is frowned upon by the postmaster general -- and the cops.
Director
Garry Marshall
Producer
Steve Tisch
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Rysher Entertainment
Rating
PG
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 1, 1996, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
May 1, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$7.1M
Runtime
1h 52m
Sound Mix
Surround
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