Evolution (2001)

A fire-fighting cadet, two college professors, and a geeky but sexy government scientist work against an alien organism that has been rapidly evolving since its arrival on Earth inside a meteor.

Director:

Ivan Reitman

Writers:

Don Jakoby (story), David Diamond (screenplay)

Stars:

David Duchovny, Orlando Jones, Julianne Moore

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
David Duchovny	...	Ira
Julianne Moore	...	Allison
Orlando Jones	...	Harry
Seann William Scott	...	Wayne
Ted Levine	...	Gen. Woodman
Ethan Suplee	...	Deke
Michael Bower	...	Danny (as Michael Ray Bower)
Pat Kilbane	...	Officer Johnson
Ty Burrell	...	Flemming
Dan Aykroyd	...	Governor Lewis
Katharine Towne	...	Nadine
Gregory Itzin	...	Cartwright
Ashley Clark	...	Lt. Cryer
Michelle Wolff	...	Carla
Sarah Silverman	...	Denise

Storyline

When a meteorite falls to Earth two college professors, Dr. Ira Kane and Prof. Harry Phineas Block, are assigned the job of checking the site out. At the site, they discover organisms not of this planet. Soon the site is taken over by the government, forcing Ira and Harry to the side. As the new life-forms begin to evolve and start to get more and more dangerous, it's up to the two professors to save the planet.

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Plot Keywords:

shampoo | alien | chase | hero | helicopter | 

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Taglines:

Coming to wipe that silly smile off your planet.

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Genres:

Comedy | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for crude and sexual humor, and for sci-fi action

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 June 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Evolución

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$80,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$13,408,351, 10 June 2001, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$38,345,494

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$98,376,292

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, DreamWorks, The Montecito Picture Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Shot in December, DreamWorks asked the locals to delay putting up their Christmas decorations. Following the shoot, DreamWorks paid the city employees overtime to light up the town in time for Christmas.

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Goofs

The size of the tag on the shotguns change from scene to scene

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Quotes

[first lines]
[At night, Wayne drives out to a shack in the desert and places a mannequin inside it. He is wearing a yellow fireman's coat, without a fire department's name on it]
Wayne Grey: Despite all the warnings, she was smoking in bed, fell asleep. Bad move.
[He sloshes gasoline inside the shack and strikes a match]
Wayne Grey: And the fire begins. Showtime!
[Hollering in fake excitement, he charges into the shack]
Wayne Grey: Don't worry, ma'am, I'm here to save you!
[...]

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Crazy Credits

There is an item 'Stunt Primate'

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Alternate Versions

The dialogue where Harry asks "Shouldn't we tell the government." to which Ira replies "No! I know these people." was shot both in the hallyway of the college and driving in the college parking lot. The hallyway scene was used in the final film.

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Connections

References The Wizard of Oz (1939)

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Soundtracks

You Are So Beautiful
Written by Dennis Wilson, Bruce Fisher and Billy Preston

User Reviews

Surprisingly fun!

I can't say I suspected much from the previews. I anticipated another lame comedy and a cheap imitation of "Men in Black." "Evolution" can be compared to "MIB" in certain aspects, but it breaks new ground.

I can't give a really scientific review, because quite frankly I was too busy laughing to weigh out the pros and cons. This is a great popcorn movie! (Metaphorically speaking, I was eating nachos) There are scary moments involving slimy creatures, so chances are if there are any females with you--they will be clinging onto your arms.

Ivan Reitman is the famed director of the "Ghostbusters" movies, and "Evolution" has much of the same charm and quirky sense of style and humor. David Duchovny (who really has a good sense of humor off-camera, but happens to get stuck with mostly serious roles) is terrific in a looser role that enables him to flaunt his knack for comedy. Of course, Orlando Jones is the funniest in the bunch. He has a terrific scene in which a bug crawls inside his skin and doctors have to get it out...rectally. I have to say, that was the highlight of this offbeat comedy and had me on the floor! Julianne Moore plays the clumsy assistant. I can't say I found her role all that humorous. Her pratfalls are pretty lame and predictable. But that minor hint of cheap slapstick didn't ruin the overall experience.

"Evolution" is great fun from start to finish (a very interesting finish with an innovative product placement)! Sure, it's all low-brow, but it works and the crude humor is tamed down to a tolerant level (Well, compared to the average contemporary comedy). This is not a movie to be studied or analyzed or discussed for hours at a time. Just sit back and HAVE SOME FUN!!! Because chances are (considering previous 2001 releases) you won't be having this much fun at the movies in quite a while. I could be wrong, but better to be safe than sorry.

My score: 7 (out of 10)