Thursday, October 4, 2007

Evan Almighty DVD

DVD Review by Kam Williams

Headline: Modern-Day Version of Noah’s Ark Arrives on DVD

Steve Carrell’s breakout role came in Bruce Almighty where he managed to upstage Jim Carrey as TV news anchorman Evan Baxter. So, it’s no surprise that the sequel might be called Evan Almighty. In fact, the movie doesn’t even bother to mention Bruce or to explain his conspicuous absence.
Soon after the opening credits roll, a tearful Evan bids farewell to Buffalo, and heads with his family to Washington, D.C. where he’s about to be sworn in to represent his beloved hometown in Congress. Upon their arrival, the family is welcomed by Eve (Molly Shannon), the syrupy-sweet realtor who sold them their just-completed McMansion, sight unseen, in an exclusive gated community called Prestige Crest.
Turns out the development is a hazardous natural disaster waiting to happen.which was only built because of a shady land deal bartered by a crooked Congressman Long (John Goodman). Fortunately, God intervenes in the person of a frequently shape-shifting Morgan Freeman.
This time, rather than surrender his powers (as he did with Bruce in the original), He uses them himself to implore Evan to build an ark. Initially, the freshman Congressman ignores this divine calling in favor of keeping his campaign promise to “change the world.”
Unfortunately, this special-effects-driven flick devolves at this juncture into a series of infantile animal jokes, especially of the “poop landing on head” and “swift kick to the crotch” variety. Like a modern-day Noah, Evan grows a beard, dons a robe, and sets aside worldly concerns to build a mammoth boat as commanded. And, of course, two of every species soon start showing up in anticipation of the great flood which, when it arrives, vindicates our devout protagonist in the eyes of his neighbors, his colleagues, the media, and a host of other Doubting Thomases.
A faith-based family comedy for folks who don’t mind having a familiar Biblical scripture overhauled into a contemporary allegory about saving the environment.

Fair (1.5 stars)
Rated PG for crude humor and scenes of peril.
Running time: 96 minutes
Studio: Universal Studios Home Video
DVD Extras: Deleted scenes, outtakes, an interactive animal roundup game, plus ten featurettes.

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