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Movie Review: Evan Almighty
½

In this loosely called sequel, The Office’s Steve Carell stars again as new broadcaster (now a newly elected Congressman) Evan Baxter. If you think back to 2003’s Bruce Almighty, Steve is the guy who stole the show from Jim Carrey in only a few scenes of comic genius.

Now, I will do my best not to get onto my soapbox at all, but here is another movie where they have completely marketed it incorrectly. From previews and commercials, including the stars doing just about every talk show in the last two weeks, you would think this is a laugh-riot comedy. Nope – everybody out of the pool!

Evan is the epitome of waste and an environmental drain – big house, Hummer, hates animals, etc. His focus on work, his appearance, and neglect of his family (his wife Joan is played by Gilmore Girls alum, Lauren Graham) cause him to be the one man who needs divine intervention more than any. Laughably, the man’s campaign slogan was ‘Save the World.’

Enter God (well-played once again by Morgan Freeman) who comes to Evan and says “Son, you must build an Ark.” The few moments of comedy in this flick soon follow as he initially resists this request and ends up having pairs of animals (and God) following him around DC. Once he gives in, the movie turns from trying to be a comedy to its true self, an inspirational biblical flick.

There are a few funny moments still left in the movie – Evan’s hair and beard won’t stop growing and God only allows him to wear Noah-inspired robes. Evan tries to “beat the system,” but even that gets tired after a minute or two.

Fun performances from Ed Helms (The Office, The Daily Show) and Wanda Sykes (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Monster-in-Law) do their best to keep the movie light, but honestly there was no chance this could happen based on the subject matter. At best, this is a movie the kids can watch in Sunday School so they don’t have to read Genesis.

The movie isn’t terrible, but it leaves a lot ($175 million) to be desired. The real live animals (instead of spending less money on CG) couldn’t save this flick from impending doom. My head hurts from the shovel of a message being smacked into my brain: Don’t waste, do Acts of Random Kindness and you can avert being washed away with the next flood. In the immortal words of Bill Cosby: Himself…Riiight!

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Release date: 12:00 AM