November 10, 2007

Evan Almighty - $0

Plausibility is a major factor in the enjoyment of any movie, this is one of many reasons that I didn't enjoy a single moment of the completely implausible Evan Almighty.


When I say Evan Almighty was implausible I don't mean the supernatural parts of its plot line. Anytime a movie has supernatural elements in its premise I'm willing to suspend my normal life expectations for the sake of the story. The impossible to believe part of Evan Almighty was every single character's reaction to Evan during the story.

Here's the premise, Evan Baxter (the news anchor from the mildly enjoyable Bruce Almighty) is a US congressman who is visited by God and asked to build an ark just like the one Noah built in the bible. Evan is convinced he has to do this and over the course of several days he miraculously grows a ZZ Top length beard and suddenly is followed everywhere by two of all kinds of wild animals. There's a little more to it but not much, and I don't want to give away the ending.

Think about what would happen if a person suddenly grew a foot long white beard, built an ark by hand and had birds, lions, monkeys etc... following them around. Honestly think about it, they would be a supernatural phenomenon that people would clamour to meet. I would venture a guess that they would be worshipped.

What happens here? Every single person in Evan Baxter's life thinks he has gone crazy, they betray him and completely discredit him. This includes his own family who sees the miracles first hand and knows them to be real but takes until the half way point of the story to rally around him. I realize that this movie is not meant to be a dramatic study of real people and their reactions to unexplainable events but I don't think it's too much to ask that the humans in a movie act like humans.

Besides Evan Almighty's MASSIVE plot holes it also brings you terrible writing and some truly awful CGI for many of the animals. Not even the brilliant Steve Carrell could save this one.

Please don't ever see Evan Almighty, you'll never get that time back. I put it on my 'Don't Watch It' list and give it a well deserved value of $0.

8 comments:

Unknown said...

Oddly, I rather enjoyed this movie and thought it was rather funny. Although implausible it was enjoyable. Maybe it was watching it with my seven year old and listening to him laugh hysterically but I thought it was rather good. I wouldn't give it a 10 but maybe a 7.

Tony Tanti said...

I wondered after watching it if kids might like it but come on, YOU liked it? I don't think I laughed once and I'm a Carrell fan.

Sheamus the... said...

walk out of this ish...My boy Shadyack...come now.

Anonymous said...

this is the kind of movie that just seeing the trailer makes aggitated and depressed. I would have to be forced or payed to watch it. too far? perhaps, but i'm guessing that this one ranks right up there with miss congeniality.

Tony Tanti said...

Just to clarify, I saw this movie on a plane and only kept watching it because the alternative is to sit there. I nearly chose that alternative a couple of times.

Jon Coutts said...

the comments on this post might be worth more than the movie, i suppose. i have no idea what sheamus is saying, i'm loving mcg's miss congeniality slam, and i am laughing out loud imagining tanti weighing the options between watching the movie and staring at a headrest.

PIPER said...

I have no intention of seeing this movie. Carell should be careful. I've heard that Dan In Real Life is not good and that would be two movies that have been duds for him. He may be a better supporting actor when he's able to be a little less every-guy and a little more interesting.

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