Evan Almighty

Posted by Ty Nelson (roner34@sbcglobal.net) on June 24, 2007

How could it go wrong? A follow up to the hugely popular Bruce Almighty. Starring Steve Carell, star of: a hit TV show (The Office), a hit movie (The 40 Year-Old Virgin), and a hit Indie film (Little Miss Sunshine). A supporting cast that includes Morgan Freeman, Lauren Graham, John Goodman, Wanda Sykes, Jonah Hill, and Molly Shannon. This is one comedy that looks sure-fire on paper. One problem though, they forgot to make Evan Almighty funny.

For anyone who hasn’t seen the trailer let me lay it out for you. Evan Baxter (Carell) is a newly elected congressman. He moves his family to Washington D.C., checks his staff into their new office, and prepares to make a difference in the world. He so prepared to do this that the night before his big day he prays to God (Freeman) to make it so. The next morning his General Electric clock goes off early at 6:14. Gen. 6:14. Genesis 6:14 the Bible verse! If you actually think that is funny then stop reading this and go see the movie. Anyway, it’s the bible passage where God tells Noah to build the ark. Evan goes outside to find a tool box and wood delivered to his house. God then talks to Evan and tells him a flood is coming and he wants an ark built. Of course Evan doesn’t believe him until there are animals, traveling in pairs, following him all over. Finally Evan gets the idea that maybe he should do this and the supposed hilarity starts.

But most of the humor is flat. Evan does a little dance that can be a little humorous at first but the joke wears out the second, third, fourth time, etc… There are a lot of scenes animals poop, spit, pee, hump, or makes a faces. Yeah, that is great if I’m twelve.

Of course along the way it is filled with little “life lessons”. Ark, for example, stands for Acts of Random Kindness. Most politicians are greedy and don’t care about the environment. We should always give stray dogs water.

Besides being not funny, and so sweet it will give you a toothache, there are two huge flaws. 1) The characters are so unbelievable, especially Evan’s family. He takes over as a congressman but they complain he is not at home enough. Are we supposed to believe that being a lawmaker is a 40 hour a week job? Look, I know you shouldn’t get too realistic in a film like this but come on, aren’t these supposed to be real people here?

2) Animals follow Evan everywhere he goes, he can’t shave his beard because it grows instantly back, his clothes disappear and he can only wear robes. Yet NO ONE believes him when he says he talks to God. What? Has he all of a sudden become the world’s greatest illusionist? Part of what made the Oh God! movies so good was God didn’t get involved in theatrics. In those movies the characters cannot prove to anyone that God is real. Here the evidence is every where but no one wants to believe. If a water stain that resembles the Virgin Mary appears on an overpass people come from all over to worship it. In Evan Almighty, a man builds an ark and has animals following him but not one person buys it.

The good news, Jonah Hill is funny and Wanda Sykes has a couple of good lines. That is it.

As I sat in the theater and the lights came up I thought, “well, at least children and the elderly will like it”. I saw kids laughing and smiling and figured my assessment was right on the money. But then I saw on old man, and he looked pissed! Another area the movie failed in.

If you liked Veggie Tales, Bible-man, or Davey and Goliath, you might like Evan Almighty.

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