"Bruce Almighty" (2003) had Jim Carrey imbued with godly powers of miracles. In "Evan Almighty," the filmmakers wield devilish forces of agony.
Its poster bills "Evan Almighty" as "A Comedy of Biblical Proportions," and you can definitely see where the ad wizards were coming from. Steve Oedekerk's script has as many knee-slapping jokes as the Book of Revelation, director Tom Shadyac's tone is as dry as Leviticus, and you need the patience of Job to endure Steve Carell's desperate mugging.
Carell plays the title character, a newly elected congressman tabbed by God (Morgan Freeman) to build a Noah-like ark. Evan grudgingly agrees, neglecting his public service and family for the higher purpose, and sets to work constructing a ship big enough to house not only all the world's animals, but the entire history of animal comedy clichés.
When a bird appears, you know it's sure to drop something on someone's face. When you see a dog, you know it's about to chomp on Evan's groin. Even the monkeys seem bored by the material.
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The animals, a combination of real and digitally created beasts, follow Evan wherever he goes. Much as the stink from starring in this film may stalk Carell in his career. After breaking into superstardom with "The 40 Year-Old Virgin" and TV's "The Office," Carell proves he's willing to sell out his hipster cred for a dopey family comedy.
A succession of scenes show Evan gradually becoming Noah-esque, growing a long beard and opting for fashion accessories such as flowing robes and a staff. If Carell isn't careful, he could transform into the next Tim Allen, whose standards have plummeted so low that no one would bat an eye if he wore a chicken suit in his next movie.
To be fair, Carell doesn't have a whole lot of support onscreen. John Goodman, as a veteran congressman who bullies Evan into aiding him with anti-environmentalism legislation, appears as bored as though he's watching a C-SPAN marathon. Insult comic Wanda Sykes checks in with her usual crass/sass routine, restrained for PG level. The movie does the work for her, though.
When the end credits finally arrived, signaling salvation, the film somehow managed to get even worse. Along came a montage of characters throughout the film dancing — a device like this hasn't worked since "There's Something About Mary" — set to the C+C Music Factory's "Gonna Make You Sweat." The idea to show characters dancing to a song with lyrics that go "Everybody Dance Now!" is indicative of the movie's creativity level.
This ark is lost.
Evan Almighty
*
• Rated: PG for mild rude humor and some peril.
• Cast: Steve Carell, Morgan Freeman, Lauren Graham, Johnny Simmons.
• Director: Tom Shadyac.
• Family call: Pretty inoffensive.
• Running time: 96 minutes.
