Evan Almighty

Reviewed by:
Pete Hammond

Despite looking like it might be a retread of Eddie Murphy's Doctor Dolittle flicks, which suffered from a severe case of the creature cutes, this bright family comedy is really a great time at the movies for everyone, thanks in large part to the brilliant Steve Carell (The 40-Year-Old Virgin and TV's The Office), whose comic timing, bewildered looks, and pure animal magnetism wins the day here. More of a cousin than a sequel to Jim Carrey's 2003 hit, Bruce Almighty, this version has Carell's conceited anchorman from that film taking center stage when God (Morgan Freeman reprising his role) decides the newly elected congressman should turn into a modern-day Noah and build an ark in order to battle a flood he says is coming. As he starts attracting various pairings of animals and begins to physically look like the real thing, his family, friends, and colleagues of course all begin to think he's nuts. With John Goodman along as an oily politician out to wash away environmental safeguards for his own greedy good, the film also has a great pro-Green message that is rare for cautious mainstream studio "products" like this (it has a reported $175 million budget). Watching Carell deal with the cards the Almighty has handed him, plus huge laughs, and spectacular special effects make this the rare summer movie comedy event that proves to be every bit as much fun as it's meant to be—times two.