Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3064 in DVD
• Released on: 2008-11-26
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 91 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Giving Steve Carell a long-overdue leading role in a mainstream Hollywood comedy, Evan Almighty is the sequel to the huge Jim Carrey hit Bruce Almighty. And while Carrey isn’t on the cast list this time round, director Tom Shadyac and Morgan Freeman are among the many returnees.

The focus of Evan Almighty switches to Carell’s Evan Baxter, last seen as a newsreader but now an elected official, who is chosen by God (Freeman) to build a new ark. And this ark needs, as you’d expect, to hold two of each species on the planet. Naturally, all the people around Evan think he’s gone mad, and this proves a healthy comedy mine that’s well exploited.

Evan Almighty isn’t without a few problems, though. The focus of the film isn’t always tight enough on generating the laughs, and Carell is surprisingly under-used. He’s on form when the material allows him to shine, but its often (admittedly impressive) special effects that end up taking centre stage, an odd road to choose for a comedy.

That said, Evan Almighty is still an enjoyable family comedy, and it’s not without rewatch value. It’s a fun little movie, and one that deserves extra credit for promoting Carell to top billing--that's a move long overdue. --Jon Foster

Synopsis
In this sequel to BRUCE ALMIGHTY, newscaster Evan Baxter (Steve Carrell, THE 40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN) has traded in the news desk for a post in Washington as a congressman. Though his campaign was based on the idea of changing the world, Evan drives a gas-guzzling SUV and spends more time trimming his nose hair than with his three sons. When he has a strange encounter with God (Oscar winner Morgan Freeman, reprising his role from the first film), God tells him to build an ark, just as Noah did thousands of years ago. Though Evan is sceptical, he finally accepts the task after being hounded by dozens of animals that follow him, two by two. By obeying God, Evan risks his family, career, and sanity--but will a flood actually come and prove him right? EVAN ALMIGHTY is a pure family affair, a squeaky clean film that kids and parents can enjoy equally. With hundreds of animals, poop jokes are inevitable, and they're worthy of a chuckle or two. With his roles in THE 40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN and THE OFFICE, Carrell has capitalised on playing awkward characters. The (over)confident Evan is quite a change, and it's interesting to see Carrell stretch his comedic muscle. Though EVAN ALMIGHTY also features the talents of Lauren Graham (GILMORE GIRLS) and Coen Brothers favorite John Goodman, the funniest lines and delivery come from Wanda Sykes (THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE) and Jonah Hill (KNOCKED UP) as members of Evan's staff. Most of the film's jokes garner giggles, but the lines from this pair get guffaws.

Synopsis
Steve Carell (The 40-Year-Old Virgin), reprising his role as the polished, preening newscaster Evan Baxter of Bruce Almighty, is the next one anointed by God to accomplish a holy mission in the hilarious new comedy Evan Almighty. Blockbuster comedy director Tom Shadyac (The Nutty Professor, Liar Liar, Bruce Almighty) returns behind the camera for this next episode of divine intervention. This time, however, his cast grows two-by-two.

Newly elected to Congress, Evan leaves Buffalo behind and shepherds his family to suburban northern Virginia. Once there, his life gets turned upside-down when God (Morgan Freeman) appears and mysteriously commands him to build an ark. But his befuddled family just can't decide whether Evan is having an extraordinary mid-life crisis or is truly onto something of Biblical proportions...

Customer Reviews

An Almighty Family Comedy
News anchor Evan Baxter (Steve Carell) has just been elected to Congress. Packing up his wife Joan (Lauren Graham) and three kids, they move to a valley in Virginia. They've got a new car and a just built giant house. Life is good.

Things seem to be going well for the freshman Congressman at work, too. Evan has a nice, big office, and Congressman Long (John Goodman) is asking him to be a junior sponsor on a new bill. This could be just the ticket he needs to launch his political career and fulfill his campaign promise to change the world.

But then weird things start to happen. A box of building supplies appears on their doorstep. The next morning, lumber is delivered. And everywhere Evan goes the numbers 614 keep appearing.

Then God (Morgan Freeman) appears to Evan and tells him to build an ark. If anyone asks why, he's to tell them that a flood is coming. Never mind that the city is in the middle of a huge drought. Can God get Evan's attention? Will Evan obey?

It took me a while to give BRUCE ALMIGHTY a chance, and when I did, I discovered a comedy I really enjoyed. So I had to give this one a try. While the first is aimed at adults, this is more of a family comedy. The worse thing we get is some crude humor, but you may want to preview it before you show it to them. And kids would definitely love watching the animal antics.

The movie is funny. While not wall to wall laughs, I laughed plenty and had a smile on my face at the end. It worked because everything was believable, or as believable as it could be giving the situation. I identified with Evan's reactions to God's appearances. And of course a giant ark would create a media circus. Yet the movie is heartwarming. Some of the morals are rather blatant, but the action never slows down too long for the lessons.

I've heard people complain about the variety of animals that show up. Granted, they didn't need to be there. But if you view the story as a modern day Noah, their presence was appropriate. And they really added to the story. There are lots of cute moments with them and lots of laughs as well. I can't even imagine how much training went into this film.

And that's not to take away from the human stars. Everyone did a great job. Steve Carell gets bonus points in my book for a few of those scenes with the animals. I certainly would have been freaking out if I had had to shoot them. Special mention must be made of Wanda Sykes who plays one of Evan's Congressional aids. Her character could have been over the top, but she pulls it back and gets lots of laughs.

Those most familiar with the Biblical story of Noah will find a couple jokes here only they will get. Yet the majority of the Bible jokes are explained for a wider audience. There may be some points of concern for people who believe the Bible, but they are minor to the enjoyment of the film. It certainly didn't ruin it for me.

Yes, there were a few slow spots. But it is believably funny and an enjoyable hour and a half.

Loved it
The reviewer below obviously missed part of the film, or has gone to see it expecting it to be a diatribe on the nature of God.

The film has plenty of laughs for all ages, is very charming (especially Morgan Freeman), and the flood scene at the end is suitably dramatic and instantly makes one realise what the Great Flood of the Old Testament may have been like.

Ultimately, an enjoyable film.

Pointless .....
An attempt of a money making sequel to Jim Carrey's "Bruce Almighty"...The concept runs very thin. The Story line just isn't engaging and one wonders why they made the film at all....Waste of time