Movie and Television Reviews

A comedy that’s not funny and a movie with a plot as imaginative as the menu from In-N-Out Burger, Evan Almighty is nonetheless worthwhile for what can be called its warm-heartedness.

I didn’t realize this at the time, but Evan Almighty is a sequel of sorts to Bruce Almighty, the much funnier and adult-oriented Jim Carrey movie of 2003, which seems appropriate since, in some ways, Steve Carell who plays Evan Baxter, the back-stabbing newscaster of Bruce and in Evan, a former newscaster turned freshman congressman, succeeds Jim Carrey as America’s goofy but lovable comedian. The 40 year Old Virgin was a hit in 2005 and Carell was the funniest crew member in the 2004’s Anchorman: the Legend of Ron Burgundy.

Evan Almighty begins with Evan moving his family into an enormous house in what must be suburban Virginia to begin his congressional term. His first assignment is to cosponsor a bill with an obviously uncaring Congressman Long (John Goodman) which gives federal land “on the fringes” of federal parks to land developers who then build substandard projects like Dams that, significantly in Evan Almighty, break after three minutes of heavy rain. The most powerful of no-growth advocates, God, intervenes and asks Steve to construct an Ark. It seems like an extravagant way to make a point (wouldn’t it have been easier to just show the faults in the projects?), but I don’t think we’re supposed to notice that. The subplot has to do with family togetherness and a wife’s (the wonderful Lauren Graham as Joan [of Ark, get it?] Baxter) support for her husband.

Which brings me to the first problem with Evan Almighty; although the movie makes a smidgen of sense at the special effects-laden conclusion, the plot is paint-by-numbers boring. The story is really an afterthought and makes one suspect that the writers were asked to make something up to excuse the building of an Ark. I won’t discuss the plot’s many flaws in detail but it moves too quickly in some parts, especially leading up to the main conflict, and lingers in others so that a sense of drama never develops.

Besides the plot flaws, the movie is surprisingly unfunny. The movie makes one feel as though they’re watching a real "dorky dad" and I mean that in a bad way. From the “do the dance” jokes to the Santa Clause-inspired persistent facial hair, Steve Carell has no humorous material to work with and relies, instead, on overly-enthusiastic acting and facial expressions, the funniest example of which is when Evan repeatedly hits his hand with a hammer. Need I say more? Nobody else is funny either with the news anchors at the end reminding me of Bulk and Skull, the bad guys from the Power Rangers. Evan’s secretary, Rita (Wanda Sykes), delivers her “jokes” (are you shooting up Rogaine?) in a sassy manner.

Evan's saving grace is its legitimately uplifting themes. The scenes with his sons coerce genuine emotion from those inclined to care about such things and I found the good-naturedness of the whole thing very, I don’t know, relaxing. If you go in with suitably low expectations or want to remind the kids of the existence of live-action movies for children, you could do worse that Evan Almighty.

Politics/Message:

The movie is unabashedly Judeo and maybe even Christian, which should anger the most tolerant amongst us. It takes God and the concept of prayer seriously and, refreshingly, doesn’t feel an overwhelming need to balance its positive portrayals of religion with “bad” Christians or advisory warnings of the consequences of fanaticism. The average American of belief can come to this movie and feel comfortable.

The theology isn't exactly Aquinas, but it's not bad. I liked the message that one can “save the world” by concentrating on raising a good family. Concentrating on micro as opposed to macro goodness is very conservative and therefore rare in a Hollywood message movie. One can quibble on other matters. For example, God doesn’t like land development, although one of his commandments is to go forth and multiply. Maybe He just means not having Michael Moore-sized mansions when Calista Flockhart cottages will do.

Some at Libertas have mentioned that the environmentalism message is a liberal choice and one unacceptable in a 2007 world. I think such criticisms are little picky for a movie that it could have been much worse. Consider the other reasons they could have chosen to build an Ark:

1. God asks Evan to build an Ark where the uninsured can receive medical care.
2. God asks Evan to build an Ark as a homeless shelter.
3. God asks Evan to build an Ark as a prison for Bush and his war-mongering cronies.

The list can go on. Attempting to give Evan Almighty the widest possible audience, I’m pretty sure that the writers just wanted an issue about which everybody has some positive feelings and conservation, not abortion, the War on Terror, or euthanasia, fits that bill. Frankly, the writers don’t even want to make development the issue, which is why they include the corruption angle. For further proof, the writers don't mention party affiliation once.

The most controversial aspect of Evan Almighty might just be God telling Joan to support her husband, Clinton-like, despite her better judgment.

Non-Aligned Critics Test:

My wife said that it was funny, but she didn't feel any special enthusiasm for the movie either.