Evan Almighty

Starring: Steve Carell, Morgan Freeman, Lauren Graham, John Goodman, John Michael Higgins

Directed by: Tom Shadyac

RS: 1of 4 Stars Average User Rating: 2.5of 4 Stars

2007 Universal Pictures Comedy

It's too lame to be mighty, except in budget that is. At a reported $175 million, the shamelessly juvenile, pseudo-religious, mock-sincere Evan Almighty -- an update on Noah's Ark for Christian-conservative families everywhere -- is the most expensive Hollywood comedy ever made. Problem? It's not that funny. I compute that every laugh cost about $20 million. And most of those of are poop jokes.

Let me back up a bit. In 2003, Jim Carrey hit paydirt with Bruce Almighty, playing a TV reporter who cursed God. The deity appeared to him in the imposing form of Morgan Freeman and told him to try playing God for a while. Lesson learned. A sequel didn't interest Carrey (wise man), so Steve Carell, who costarred in Bruce as another TV airhead, was coaxed into duty. What luck since The 40-Year-Old Virgin and TV's The Office subsequently put a rocket under Carell's career. Freeman also signed on, as did director Tom Shadyac and screenwriter Steve Oedekerk. Any other resemblance to Bruce is purely coincidental. Carell's Evan Baxter is now a frosh Congresssman with a wife (Gilmore Girl Lauren Graham) and three sons. God is now green, with an environmentalist agenda that includes getting Evan to dump his Hummer, learn to pray, sandal up like Charlton Heston in The Ten Commandments, grow a flowing white beard, and build an ark with two of every animal -- making sure that not one is constipated.

What surprises do God and Evan have in store for evil Congressman Long (John Goodman in full bluster) and his fellow D.C. polluters? I wouldn't dream of spoiling what feeble fun there is, but when the ark gets its sea legs you may be amazed that the pricey special effects produce so little amazement. The use of real animals instead of computer versions obviously strained the budget. But even five-year-olds will find (let's hope) diminishing returns in lion farts and bird splatter. It's Carell who projects the movie's only sense of mischief. But it's too little and too late.

PETER TRAVERS

(Posted: Jun 20, 2007)

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Evan Almighty

Review 1 of 4

1of 4 Stars

Blatant Christofacist propaganda on a strictly Christofacist agenda. I watched this movie at a late show at the local movie theater with my relatives; we all thought it was the biggest pile of dreck since the original movie. While the first was tolerable, this is just... terrible. As an Athiest, I don't recommend this movie to anyone. However, if you're the type that likes to push their Christofacist agenda, while beforehand chugging whiskey on your trailer's back porch with pro-McCain banners abound, you might like this. For the rest of us, this is a pass.

D-

Aug 18, 2008 16:51:37

Review 2 of 4

1of 4 Stars

This ranks easily as the worst movie of the summer thus far. Of
course, I haven't wasted my time seeing Rise of the Silver Surfer
yet. That could be worse. This movie, however, was not funny
or entertaining in any way. How could Steve Carell and Morgan
Freeman choose to sign up to star in this disaster show? I
expected something a little better, but not anything great
because Bruce Almighty wasn't as good as some of Tom
Shadyac's other hits like Ace Ventura and Liar Liar.

Jul 11, 2007 22:30:38

Review 3 of 4

2of 4 Stars

RS's review of "Evan Almighty" is mostly on target except for the "Noah's Ark for Christian-conservative families everywhere" remark. Politics doesn't enter the equation here, it's just a very unfunny movie. The story itself is decent but predictable and the only thing that keeps this flick from garnering only one star is the special effects near the end.

Jul 7, 2007 22:25:55

Review 4 of 4

2of 4 Stars

Oh, it wasn't THAT terrible. Sure, the funniest part of the entire movie was watching Carell's character fall apart, but it had some vague entertainment value. Actually, at the theater where I saw it, there were ginormous speakers everywhere, so the sound effects - and even special effects - during the flood scene were pretty damn impressive. Overall, I would say that the actors did pretty well for a painfully predictable, cliche and all-too-happy plot. A good rental.

Jun 27, 2007 11:03:46

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