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Dear God is a 1996 comedy-drama film that stars Greg Kinnear, Laurie Metcalf, and Maria Pitillo. The movie is directed by Garry Marshall and written by Warren Leight and Ed Kaplan. The story follows Tom Turner (Greg Kinnear), a con-artist who is sentenced to work in the dead letter office of the post office. Tom accidentally comes up with a scam where he responds to letters addressed to God, and soon he receives thousands of letters from people looking for divine intervention. Initially, Tom is hesitant, but he eventually decides to reply to the letters which eventually affects his life and those around him.

Tom is a skilled con-artist who has perfected his skills of deceit and trickery. After being caught by the cops, he is sentenced to work in the dead letter office of the post office. He apathetically sorts through mail and feels complacent with his job until he discovers a pile of letters addressed to God. He throws them away at first, but out of curiosity and for the sake of the intrigue, he decides to open them. The letters are all written by people desperately seeking some form of help from God. Moved by the heartbreaking nature of the letters, he decides to reply to them, in the hope that he can offer some form of hope to those whose letters he opens.

Quickly, Tom begins to receive thousands of letters from people all over the country. As he becomes more deeply involved with the project, he slowly begins to realize that he has a real opportunity to do something good in the world, something he has never done before. Over time, he connects with a group of similarly-disenfranchised individuals within the post office, and together, they work to respond to as many letters as they can. However, their actions are discovered, and Tom finds himself fired.

Despite his newfound purpose in life, Tom is still a con artist at heart, and he cannot leave behind the possibility of easy money. Thus, he decides to take his operation public, creating a massive advertising campaign that draws even more attention to his efforts. This move is not without controversy however, as it is pointed out by some that Tom’s work is nothing short of fraud, as he is not actually God. Facing deep personal and professional scrutiny, Tom begins to doubt himself, and the validity of his work.

The film highlights a loving and forgiving world, where even the most unlikely person, Tom, can contribute greatly to the world by simply helping people feel seen, heard and understood. It emphasizes the importance of community and the powerful emotional impact of faith, even for those who may not have any religious affiliation. The movie explores various themes such as faith, corruption, the kindness among strangers and the will to do good no matter the circumstances.

The acting in the movie is a standout, with Kinnear in particular putting in a performance that is both hilarious and heartwarming. He embodies a deep sense of humanity and the character evolves from an apathetic con-artist to a man compelled and driven to do good for others. The supporting cast, including Metcalf and Pitillo, offer strong performances as well, but it's Kinnear who really carries the movie.

In conclusion, Dear God is a well-crafted, fun and emotionally powerful film about a con-artist who inadvertently finds his calling as a fake God. Although it’s a comedy, it tackles serious questions such as faith, morality, and the human condition, yet it still retains its entertaining spirit throughout. The film ultimately drives home the idea that people have the ability to bring joy and positivity to the lives of those around them, and that everyone should strive to do what they can to make the world a better place, whether or not they believe in a higher power.

Dear God is a 1996 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 52 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.4.