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List Price: $19.98 | | Label: Universal Studios
Salesrank: 6288
Released: October 9, 2007 |
| Our Price: $7.48 |
| Used Price: $1.99 |
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MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Evan Almighty is a comedy for all ages that "you don't want to miss" (Kim Griffis NBC-TV)!Everyone's favorite funnyman Steve Carell is at his hilarious best as junior congressman Evan Baxter whose wish to "change the world" is heard by none other than God (Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman). When God appears with the perplexing request to build an ark Evan is sure he is losing it. But soon mysterious deliveries of wood and tools are being dropped on his doorstep animals of every shape and size are flocking to him two by two and his self-absorbed life goes from overnight success to almighty mess! It's a great time for everyone!System Requirements:Running Time: 96 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY/ANIMALS Rating: PG UPC: 025192867521 Manufacturer No: 60128675
Description of Evan Almighty (Full Screen Edition):
Steve Carell rides the wave of 40-Year-Old Virgin stardom (and a biblical flood) in this bizarre, effects-heavy comedy about a modern-day Noah's ark. The film is nominally a sequel to Bruce Almighty, although it bears little relation to the 2003 Jim Carrey hit--except for the divine intervention of Morgan Freeman, who returns in his role as God. Even Carell's character is much altered from his supporting part in the first film; here, Evan Baxter says goodbye to the news-anchoring business in favor of his job as a naive freshman congressman. When God orders him to build an ark and prepare for an impending inundation, Evan sheepishly takes on the task (it's hard to turn down the job when your hair and beard grow to Old Testament lengths and God wants you to walk around in sackcloth).
Carell gets to do silly dances and mix it up with a variety of animals (real and computer-generated), all of which reminds us of the film's family-friendly tone and the PG rating. The kid stuff works just fine, although the religio-environmental message-mongering makes this a most curious kind of Hollywood blockbuster. When the flood comes, the film shifts into a mammoth-sized CGI extravaganza, recalling the era of overstuffed techno-comedies such as 1941 and Howard the Duck (and not to be nit-picky, but the tsunami-like disaster that overtakes Washington, D.C., looks as though it would snuff out the lives of quite a few citizens). Capable comic support comes from John Michael Higgins, Wanda Sykes, and Jonah Hill, with John Goodman and Lauren Graham filling out stock roles of fatcat politico and loyal wife, respectively. Carell is even better at being sincere than being funny, a talent that comes in handy here and bodes well for his future versatility. --Robert Horton
Evan Almighty (Full Screen Edition) Reviews:
As unwatchable as a film can get 
2008-09-14 - I love both Lauren Graham (memo to Hollywood: put her in SOMETHING, please!) and Steve Carrell so I figured this movie couldn't be that bad. But it was. I can honestly say that this is a movie completely devoid of wit or intelligence. My friend and I are both fans of Carrell and especially Graham, but just over the halfway point we were in misery. We finally skipped to the final two chapters on the DVD just to see how it ended, but all in all it was a pretty tortorous experience.
I'm becoming increasingly concerned about Steve Carrell's movie career. I've been a fan of his for a long time. In fact, I saw him on stage years before he ever appeared on TV or in movies, as part of Second City in Chicago, where he did an incredibly memorable impersonation of Fabio (in the previous scene he'd been wearing a suit, so he merely took off jacket and shirt, put on a long wig, and stood in front of a fan that would blow his hair back). I followed him with joy on The Daily Show, liked him in his various supporting film roles leading up to THE OFFICE and THE FORTY YEAR OLD VIRGIN, and have seen most if not all of his movies. But let's face it: his movies of late have been absolutely miserable experiences. In fact, of the movies that I've seen in the last year, the two worst just might be EVAN ALMIGHTY and DAN IN REAL LIFE. The last movie that I can say that I genuinely enjoyed that he was in was LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE.
Lauren Graham, where are you? For most of this decade Lauren Graham was my favorite actress on TV. I honestly think she is the finest comic actress in the history of TV (yes, I like her more than Lucille Ball). Since the end of THE GILMORE GIRLS I've wanted in vain for her reemergence. And her movie roles have been far too few. I liked BAD SANTA and that was about it. Hollywood needs to find a new vehicle for her considerable talents. Unfortunately, based on EVAN ALMIGHTY you wouldn't think she had any.
Frankly, I'm really unhappy about the state of comedy in Hollywood right now. I personally don't care for the films of the Judd Apatow collective (too much sophomoric humor; not enough genuine wit; no romance to speak of, as was the case in the great screwball comedies of the past) and I think they've exerted an unhealthy influence on comedy as a whole. The only comedic film of the past year that I have enjoyed was JUNO (which I enjoyed very much indeed). My favorite film genre is the romantic comedy, but there simply have been no great romantic comedies in recent years. Broad, unfunny farces like EVAN ALMIGHTY seems to be all that we get. Hollywood needs to find the new Meg Ryan and get their comedic rear end back into gear.
I know this is getting some good reviews here, but I can't imagine any serious movie buff finding this to be anything but awful. The film critics universally blasted this. If you have seen a very large number of movies (the kind of person who has watched a couple of hundred a year for several years), it is just impossible to enjoy this movie. If you are a more casual watcher of movies, averaging only a few dozen a year, the film might dupe you. Be warned.
An Almighty Sequel!!! 
2008-09-09 - This is a really good sequel. You don't need Jim Carrey this time, you get Steve Carrell who was also in the original. Morgan Freeman is back, who does an awesome job of playing God. God asks Evan Baxter to build an Ark because a flood is coming. No one believes Evan, not even his family. This has a really good stoyline and sets a good message for kids. I'm ready for an Almighty trilogy. If you loved the original, and Steve Carell, you'll love EVAN ALMIGHTY!!!
Just Not Funny
2008-08-17 - Tom Shadyac, the director of this movie has brought us some excellent comedy movies in the past both as producer and director. Ace Ventura Pet Detective, Nutty Professor 1 & 2, Liar Liar plus others are all great movies, even the prequel to this Bruce Almighty was a mildly amusing and heart breaking movie. Evan Almighty was on the other end of the comedy spectrum when compared to his other triumphs. Steve Carell of The Office fame has fast become one of the most recognisable names in comic acting yet this is a black mark on his career also. This movie being the most expensive comedy film in history had a lot behind it in terms of money and publicity, the only thing it didn't have behind it was good comedy.
The story revolves around Evan Baxter who we may remember from Bruce Almighty, he's quit local TV news and was elected to congress. He's now upped stakes and moved him and his family to suburban north Virginia, and his congressional campaign I here you ask? He plans to change the world, I just don't think he imagined it in the way it would actually turn out. After a series of strange events from being followed by animals to growing a beard that just wont be shaved, he becomes convinced that he's going insane, along with the people around him. One day he's approach by a black man in a white suit who calls himself God, he tells Evan he must build an Ark and carry two of every animal as there's soon going to be a flood to wipe away all the evil in the world.
I have to be honest, I can see another one of these movies being made to tell of another biblical tale and then us simply being even more disappointed with the results. I also can't help but think there's a bit of a religious propaganda undertone in there somewhere. Well, Christianity could do with a few more members of the church and if this is the way to bring them in, then so be it. I have to admit there were a few parts of this movie that I enjoyed, especially when Evan was going through the "Noah" transformation but I think at $200 Million being spent on this movie, I think many would agree that the money could have been spent more wisely elsewhere.
Get it if you like Carell, but expect to be disappointed.
cosmic clown
2008-07-28 - Not funny. Saw it on TV and was inspired to say this is worse than you might even suspect. If there were a god that reaveled himself to the world like this I wouldn't like him. Well, I guess in the Bible god does do stuff like this and that's why I didn't like him. What a jerk.
"not to be nit-picky, but the tsunami-like disaster that overtakes Washington, D.C., looks as though it would snuff out the lives of quite a few citizens" --From the Amazon review. LOL. That part was funny.
It only takes one Act of Random Kindness. 
2008-05-31 - I'm not one for blasphemy, but if someone is going to play the creator of the heavens and earth Morgan Freeman is the best choice. In the sequel to the 2003 hit Bruce Almighty we are reunited with local newsman Evan Baxter (Steve Carell) in his new role as congressman. In his political campaign he promises to change the world and the rest of the movie is set in motion. Starting with the strange appearance of the number 614. Of course this is to reference the Book of Genesis 6:14 in which God instructs Noah to make an ark of gopher wood; you shall make the ark with rooms, and shall cover it inside and out with pitch.
Of course, Morgan Freeman must reveal himself several times before ole Evan gets the message. This in turn leads his family and friends to believe he his going through a mid-life crisis ... especially so when his appearance is altered to reflect his calling. All the while, the true nature of the flood is beginning to reveal itself. Congressman Long (John Goodman) intends to use Evan to secure a dubious land bill which would strip away the national parks. Evan later discovers that Congressman Long has already played this hand in developing the land in which Evan currently resides.
Evan Al mighty can't quite live up to its predecessor, but what sequel can? Steve Carell does an adequate job playing the role as "Noah" Morgan Freeman is, of course, brilliant in his role. Wanda Sykes plays her role well enough ... it can't be easy following Jim Carrey in the comedy department, can it? We get Lauren Graham playing the role of Joan Baxter. A few less noteworthy performances by others. All of which produce a not so bad rendition of the 6th book in Genesis. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, but I like the family humor so often missed in modern films.
