When is a Sequel Not a Sequel?
a movie buff
| Pros |
|
FEB
17
2008
Evan Almighty —
I like everyone else that saw Bruce Almighty awaited this "Sequel" to arrive and when it did I like many others expected to see the same off color humor that follows Jim Carrey. Now I enjoy his humor and have liked every movie he has done, but the so called "Sequel" Evan Almighty was far from off color or racy! In fact is was a movie the whole family could enjoy and take lessons from.The only real connection between the two were Evan Baxter(Steve Carell) as the newscaster who beat out his rival Bruce Nolan (Jim Carrey) and Morgan Freeman's return as the "Almighty" Evan has now run for congress and his campaign is to change the world but how does he accomplish such a daunting task. He moves his family to suburban Virgina and the mayhem begins. His clock starts waking him at 6:14 no matter how he sets it to go off, his beard grows out of control no matter how often he shaves. Animals follow him around and a strange man tells him he is "God" and wants him to build an Ark!
He finds out he now owns 8 lots around his home and a delivery of Gopherwood appears at his home. How would you feel if this happened to you? Would you believe or feel as if you were dreaming but couldn't wake up? Evan is followed by animals to his job in Congress and he eventually loses his job, he tells them "God" told him to build and Ark and his wife takes the children to live with relatives. He decides to take on this Heavenly Task and begins building his Ark. His hair and beard go from dark brown to white and he begins to resemble the Biblical Moses as he labors to build the Ark.
John Goodman is a Senior Congressman and plays the part well as a thorn in the side of anything good. A Congressman that would rather make a buck than to do what is right for the people. Evans wife (Lauren Graham) gets a visit from "God" posing as a waiter and goes back to her husband and together with the children build the ark. She is still thinking he is a little off but does so to bring the family together. A lesson many of us could take heed in and gives children the true meaning of family.
With animals of every size surrounding him Evan and his family finish the Ark and he loads them on the Ark on that fateful day. It begins to rain and he urges the crowd to board the Ark but the rain stops and they start laughing at him. He remembers that the Congressman (Goodman) had built the dam using shoddy materials and figures the dam is going to break.
As the waters approach from the now burst dam the crown clambers to get on the Ark and get on in the nick of time. The Ark races through the countryside and lands on the steps of the Capitol and Evan is praised for his work and afterwords he and his family go hiking and "God" appears to Evan and tells him that the way to change the world is through one Act of Random Human Kindness (ARK)
From the beginning you just know it's not a sequel in the normal sense of things and too me that was refreshing. The humor is clean and delivered in a very enjoyable way. The lessons of family sticking together is refreshing in this age of "Sex Sells Tickets" or "Raunchy" is the only way to make money on a movie.
The animals (most created by CGI) are a big part of the feeling of the movie, the acting was great and the family values portrayed were fantastic. I enjoyed seeing Bruce Almighty and found it very funny and all but not something for younger (under 15) to watch as it was at times racy and a little crude. However I found Evan Almighty a refreshing and thought provoking movie that was also by chance a comedy, but one the entire family could enjoy.
You can call it a "Sequel" all you want but I cannot call it one. Same concept but arrived at in a very different and wonderful family way! Was it predictable? In a way yes, but how many actually knew that the wood used for the Ark (in the Bible) was Gopherwood? Did you know the dam was going to break or did you think it would rain and destroy the earth as it did in the Bible? Sure you could figure on the animals and a flood but admit it, you never knew everything that was going to happen.
This was a very well acted, directed and a success in actually being funny and enjoyable without being sexy or raunchy. I can only give this 5 stars as the ratings don't go any higher. I think it was a complete movie on it's own merit and doesn't fit into the "Sequel" category it was placed in.
Evan Almighty is recommended by kid-kansas
 |
Search Amazon.com for Evan Almighty prices |
Comments about kid-kansas’s Review
More reviews by kid-kansas
VTech - 5.8ghz. 2 Handset Cordless Phone System- Model CS5111-2 Review - ...Lasko Cyclonic Ceramic Heater -Model 758000 Review - "It's that time of...
Clorox Green Works Review - "I became green in cleaning my kitchen....."Campbell's Oyster Stew Review - "Whenever I don't feel like cooking I...
Comedies
Gladiator - Extended Edition (Three-Disc Extended Edition)
5.00 overall from 10 reviews
5.00 overall from 10 reviews
Finding Nemo
4.83 overall from 790 reviews
from $10 at 9 merchants
4.83 overall from 790 reviews
from $10 at 9 merchants
