| Movie Review
- Evan Almighty |
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Evan Almighty – movie
review
review by Tom Gilbert
Official movie website – www.evanalmighty.com
 Funny
movies today often employ crude humor and it is not easy to get across
a strong spiritual message in today’s marketplace. However, director
Tom Shadyac has made an attempt utilizing a formula that works for him.
Of course, it helps that he has been immensely successful with some of
his previous films like Ace Ventura and Bruce
Almighty. In Hollywood box
office success translates to more creative freedom for movie directors.
Evan Almighty is a laugh-out-loud comedy starring Steve
Carell, currently a very hot acting commodity for his work in the hit television
show, The Office, plus his movie breakthrough in The
40-Year Old Virgin (by the way there’s a very funny play on that title with the Virgin
Mary in this new film). Some may recall that Carell was also in Bruce Almighty
as the arrogant TV anchor, Evan Baxter. Jim Carrey’s character in
that film used his “God” powers to a very funny effect at Baxter’s
expense.
In this film sequel Evan Baxter has just been elected
a U.S. Congressman and leaves his post as television
newscaster in Buffalo, New York and moves his family
to Washington. Baxter campaigned on a slogan of changing
the world and he is idealistic. He’s also self-obsessed
and smitten by political power. All that changes when
God shows up (the role is reprised by the Morgan Freeman
in his frank and down-to-earth style). God wants Evan
to build an ark. Yes, just like the call on Noah in the
Old Testament. Evan doesn’t get it for a while,
but God is not too subtle. Animals flock to Evan and
follow him around, sometimes to his great embarrassment.
And there is the physical transformation he goes through.
His hair and beard grow wild and fast and no amount of
grooming will keep it under control. He looks like a
Biblical prophet and people naturally think he’s
off his rocker. Even his wife and three sons are concerned
and later distressed, although the sons do eventually
help their dad out with building the ark.
There are plenty of funny moments and some good spiritual “drop-in” messages.
The crudest the movie gets is with animals answering “nature’s
call” – when they gotta go they really go!
The movie is a bit goofy and it doesn’t try to
directly convert anyone. It does pit some good versus
evil (environmentalists against greedy politicians).
The movie has received mix reviews and I wouldn’t
call it a classic. But it is funny and it is refreshing
to have a comedy with a decent message that you can feel
safe taking your family to.
Director Shadyac is a Christian (Roman Catholic) and
this comedy comes packaged with a positive, and environmental,
message that is timely for us all. The main message I
got from the movie is just how, why and to what purpose
does God call us. For Evan Baxter, it was not only to
be faithful, but to wake up to the real meaning of caring
for others, especially his family, and to learn to trust.
Trusting God is one of the hardest things for any of
us to do, but especially if God’s call on our heart
seems to run counter to common sense. The lessons of
the ages are that God uses people for great things, but
only with each person’s consent. And when we answer
God’s call we often don’t know what the outcome
will be. That’s part of trusting.
This is a fun movie. Go and
enjoy it and bring the family. Good acting (including
John Goodman in the role of the unethical congressman
and Lauren Graham of Gilmour Girls as Evan’s wife)
and some wild special effects (the cost of making the
film was reportedly $175 million and most of that was
probably spent on those effects). More on the film at
www.evanalmighty.com including some suggested ways to
help make a difference in and with our world (i.e. “Acts
of Random Kindness” – ARK).
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Scripture taken from the Holy
Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.Copyright ©
1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights
reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International
Bible Society.
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered
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trademark for the offering of goods or services requires
the prior written consent of International Bible Society.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy
Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996. Used
by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton,
IL 60189, USA. All rights reserved.
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