Year: 1996
Runtime: 112 mins
Language: English
A judge offers con‑artist Tom Turner a choice: prison or a year of community service. He takes a job in the U.S. Post Office’s dead‑letter department, replying to letters addressed to God as a fake divine answerer in his own way. His ruse spurs coworkers to copy him, but the postmaster general and police view their good deeds with suspicion.
Get a spoiler-free look at Dear God (1996) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.
In a sharply witty Los Angeles courtroom, a stern judge hands a desperate con‑artist, Tom Turner, an ultimatum that could reshape his life: serve a year of community service or spend the same time behind bars. The sentence pushes Tom away from his familiar streets and into a world where paperwork and quiet corridors replace high‑stakes hustles, setting the stage for a story that balances off‑beat humor with an undercurrent of redemption.
Tom’s new assignment lands him in the U.S. Post Office’s dead‑letter department, a cramped, oddly reverent space where undeliverable mail gathers like forgotten prayers. Here, he discovers a steady stream of letters addressed to God, each one a desperate whisper seeking guidance. With a mix of irreverent charm and unexpected empathy, Tom begins answering them in his own improvised voice, turning a bureaucratic oddity into a personal experiment in faith and humanity.
The office soon becomes a micro‑cosm of unlikely alliances. Rebecca Frazen, a burnt‑out lawyer whose own battles with the system have left her jaded, finds herself drawn into the quiet revolution Tom unintentionally sparks. Across the break room, Gloria McKinney, a soft‑spoken coffee‑shop waitress with her own quiet dreams, offers a glimpse of ordinary hope amid the swirling chaos. Together, the eclectic crew finds a rhythm that blurs the line between duty and compassion, as each reply to a prayer‑letter feels like a small act of rebellion against the anonymity of the postal grind.
Yet the buoyant atmosphere is tinged with unease. The Postmaster General’s office and a watchful postal police force regard the growing tide of unsolicited goodwill with suspicion, hinting that any deviation from the rules could draw official scrutiny. As Tom navigates the delicate balance between his con‑artist instincts and an emerging sense of purpose, the film invites viewers to wonder how far a single, unexpected act can ripple through a world defined by envelopes, authority, and the quiet yearning for something larger than ourselves.
Last Updated: October 27, 2025 at 16:38
Don't stop at just watching — explore Dear God in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Dear God is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Read a complete plot summary of Dear God, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.
Track the full timeline of Dear God with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.