Dear God

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Dear God

PG,

1996,

1h 52m,

Comedy

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Watchlist

Watchlist

13%

32 Reviews

Tomatometer

28%

5,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

13%

Tomatometer

32 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.

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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Leonard Klady

Variety

Mar 26, 2009

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

May 20, 2003

2.5/5

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

Jan 22, 2002

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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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Apr 4, 2025

2.5/4

...a palpably overlong yet mostly affable comedy that benefits from its assortment of appealing attributes...

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Aug 16, 2005

2/5

Robin Clifford

Reeling Reviews

Apr 9, 2005

Horrendously unfunny.

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Poe G

Oct 1, 2018

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!

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Albus R

Sep 18, 2017

Stellar Funny Cast. Under-rated and definitely on my Holiday HeartTouchstone movies.

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Garry Marshall

Director

Greg Kinnear

Tom Turner

Laurie Metcalf

Rebecca Frazen

Maria Pitillo

Gloria McKinney

Tim Conway

Herman Dooly

Héctor Elizondo

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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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