Evan Almighty (2007)

Director:

Tom Shadyac

Writers (WGA):

Steve Oedekerk (screenplay)
Steve Oedekerk (story) ...

Release Date:

22 June 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Fantasy

Tagline:

A comedy of biblical proportions

Plot:

God (Freeman) contacts Congressman Evan Baxter (Carell) and tells him to build an ark in preparation for a great flood.

Plot Keywords:

Critically Bashed | Wrecking Ball | Box Office Flop | Secretary | Random Act Of Kindness

Awards:

1 win & 10 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Mon. July 21

5:00 PM

HBO

Cast

Steve Carell	...	Evan Baxter
Morgan Freeman	...	God
Lauren Graham	...	Joan Baxter
Johnny Simmons	...	Dylan Baxter
Graham Phillips	...	Jordan Baxter
Jimmy Bennett	...	Ryan Baxter
John Goodman	...	Congressman Long
Wanda Sykes	...	Rita
John Michael Higgins	...	Marty
Jonah Hill	...	Eugene
Molly Shannon	...	Eve Adams
Harve Presnell	...	Congressman Burrows
P.J. Byrne	...	Evan's Staffer
Ralph Louis Harris	...	Evan's Staffer (as Ralph Harris)
Arden Myrin	...	Evan's Staffer

Also Known As:

Bruce Almighty 2 (USA) (working title)
Bruce: The Second Coming (USA) (working title)
The Passion of the Ark (USA) (original script title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for mild rude humor and some peril.

Runtime:

95 min | USA:90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Portugal:M/6 | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Finland:K-7 | South Korea:All | Hong Kong:I | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Taiwan:GP | Germany:6 | Netherlands:6 | New Zealand:PG | Peru:PT | Singapore:PG | USA:PG | Australia:G | UK:PG | Malaysia:18PL | Ireland:PG

Filming Locations:

Charlottesville, Virginia, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Originally conceived as a direct sequel to Bruce Almighty (2003) with Jim Carrey reprising his role from the original. Robert Florsheim and Josh Stolberg's script "The Passion of the Ark" attracted high bids in Hollywood in 2004, and was eventually bought by Sony. Director Tom Shadyac, who was part of a failed Universal bid for the script, suggested to Sony that they partner to rework the project as a sequel to Bruce Almighty (2003), with Carrey indicating he would consider returning. Writer Steve Oedekerk rewrote the script, but Carrey eventually bailed on the project in 2005. Shadyac stayed on though when Steve Carell, whose star had risen after the success of The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005), agreed to star in the film, reprising the role of Evan Baxter, this time as the lead character.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Members of Congress park in a garage, not outside.

Quotes:

Reporter: What makes you think God chose you?
Evan Baxter: He chose all of us.

Movie Connections:

Featured in 2007 MTV Movie Awards (2007) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Revolution

Hmm

This is a completely different film to 'Bruce Almighty' - far more family-oriented, and Steve Carrell has none of Jim Carrey's manic, oddball, dangerousness (or irritation factor, depending on your point of view). Aside from the presence of Morgan Freeman as God, it's not really a sequel at all. Most Hollywood comedies nowadays come with a message - it's a surprise just how blatantly they're now being hammered home, almost overwhelming the comedy : it's possible to sit through a comedy film which has not a single genuine laugh in it - just a few mild chuckles, in-jokes, and so on. Maybe we've just been spoilt by the glut of jokes in Shrek. Or maybe this is just a badly-written film. Birds making messes on people numerous times - people falling over numerous times - check. This one's focus turns out to be environmental - John Goodman's big bad congressman cutting corners to develop precious unspoilt land - at one point he makes a comment (can't remember actually what) about not standing in the way of 'progress' - with a hint at global warming/environmental damage, perhaps? The other side of the message is about the modern man whose worries about his appearance (something God mentions, and which we see during the, erm, 'hilarious' scene of Carrell pulling hairs from his nose - Mr Bean, but less funny?) and doesn't spend enough time with his family - building the ark enables him to spend time with them, and, at the end of the film, hiking through the unspoilt countryside, they could be pioneers from the old days...Well, maybe that's taking it a bit too far. But the movie's insistent on returning to old-fashioned values (anyone notice the scene where Evan's bearded appearance is compared to Abraham Lincoln?) - including Christian ones: the Christian emphasis is pretty overt (though not stiflingly so, for those who don't subscribe to Christianity).

Due to this emphasis on family values etc etc, it's appropriate that Jon Stewart's cameo on a TV screen, featuring an item on Evan in his Daily Show, has him becoming (or maybe just being) the cynical sceptic who laughs at Noah building his ark - like everyone else who mocks Evan, the implications is that these sceptics, those who don't believe in the unusual/the supernatural/God, can be aligned with the sceptics who got washed away in the Biblical story. (Stewart, in the 20 seconds he's on screen, fits the role like a glove (OK, it's not really a role, he's just doing what he does on TV all the time) - for those who can't stand his self-satisfied smug cynicism, it might not be such a bad thing if he got washed away...But that's besides the point). Of course, this couldn't happen in a modern film - cuddly old Morgan Freeman may play a few mischievous jokes on Evan, but it's all for his own good, and he's far too dignified to sweep a few hundred people away in a flood.

Overall, what I'd expected really. Give it a miss.