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Dear God

Play trailer Poster for Dear God PG 1996 1h 52m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
15% 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

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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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. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review 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... Go to Full Review TV Guide Jul 20, 2009
3/4
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. Go to Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Aug 16, 2005
2/5
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Audience Reviews

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thiago s @Thiagostone Feb 1, 2026 Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom See more Stephen C @bob25009 Dec 9, 2025 Funny in 01 hour and 52 minutes in theaters and on DVD and Blu-Ray Disc!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All ages admitted!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The worldwide gross is $7,138,523.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more 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! See more Sep 18, 2017 Stellar Funny Cast. Under-rated and definitely on my Holiday HeartTouchstone movies. See more Dec 2, 2015 I'm confused about how movies like this get the green light-this really is incoherant dribble. See more Nov 28, 2015 Overall a really good movie. Not sure why it received so many bad reviews. See more Read all reviews
Dear God

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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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

Vladek Vidov

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Dear God

Dear God (1996) Dear God (1996) Dear God (1996) View more photos

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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