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*[http://video.aol.com/video/evan-almighty-behind-the-scenes-clip-no-1/1893537/url Behind-the-scenes of ''Evan Almighty''] (mild spoilers)
*[http://video.aol.com/video/evan-almighty-behind-the-scenes-clip-no-1/1893537/url Behind-the-scenes of ''Evan Almighty''] (mild spoilers)
*[http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117933923.html?categoryid=31&cs=1 ''Evan Almighty'' Review] at ''[[Variety.com]]''
*[http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117933923.html?categoryid=31&cs=1 ''Evan Almighty'' Review] at ''[[Variety.com]]''
*[http://www.hollywoodsnitch.com/GOTO.php?artnum=300 Evan Almighty Review] at Hollywood Snitch
*[http://www.hollywoodsnitch.com/GOTO.php?artnum=300 Evan Almighty Review] at [http://www.hollywoodsnitch.com Hollywood Snitch]
[[Category:2007 films]]
[[Category:2007 films]]
[[Category:American films]]
[[Category:American films]]

Revision as of 07:59, 27 June 2007

Evan Almighty
Promotional movie poster for the film
Directed byTom Shadyac
Written bySteve Oedekerk
Produced byGary Barber
Roger Birnbaum
Michael Bostick
Neal H. Moritz
Tom Shadyac
StarringSteve Carell
Morgan Freeman
Lauren Graham
John Goodman
Wanda Sykes
Molly Shannon
CinematographyIan Baker
Edited byScott Hill
Music byJohn Debney
Distributed byUniversal Studios
Release dates
June 22, 2007
Running time
90 minutes
CountryU.S.A.
LanguageEnglish
Budget$175 million

Evan Almighty is a 2007 comedy film, and spin-off sequel to the 2003 film Bruce Almighty. It was directed by Tom Shadyac and stars Steve Carell of the earlier film, and Lauren Graham, with Morgan Freeman reprising his role as God. Evan Almighty was released in theaters on June 22, 2007. Only 9% of major media critics gave the film a positive review.[1][2] However, fan response was slightly more positive, with a 6.6 rating on IMDb. [3]

Plot

File:Evanark.jpg
Evan and God sitting in the Half-Built Ark

Newly elected to Congress, Evan (Steve Carell) leaves Buffalo behind and shepherds his family to suburban northern Virginia. His campaign was that he would change the world, never saying how. Once there, his life gets turned upside-down when God (Morgan Freeman) appears and mysteriously commands him to build an ark because a flood is coming. 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. God tells Evan the flood will come September 22nd mid-day. Animals start following Evan to Congress causing him to eventually be suspended from work after he tells everyone that God told him to build an ark. His wife Joan and his three sons leave to her mother's house after seeing it on a news report, leaving him to build the ark himself. Evan's ark building gets international notice. Weeks after Joan leaves Evan, God appeared to her as a waiter at a diner. He tells her that God doesn't give things, he gives the opportunity to get things. For example, God doesn't give a family togetherness, he gives the opportunity for families to be together. Seeing his meaning, Joan returns to Evan to finish the ark together. Evan's old colleagues tell him that Congressman Long (who got Evan suspended) built a dam over a nearby lake and cut corners everywhere. September 22nd comes with clear skies, and Evan loads the hundreds of animals onto the newly finished ark in front of live news crews. Minutes pass with still clear skies, so spectators start leaving. Dark clouds appear and rain starts pouring down. Evan tells everyone to board the ark but no one listens. The rain suddenly stops and everyone starts laughing at Evan. Evan thinks it's over until the poorly built dam bursts. Panic overtakes everyone and they board the ark. The ark sails down the streets of Washington D.C. by the burst lake until it eventually lands at the Capitol. Evan tells Long of his poorly made dam, causing the other Congressmen present to turn on him. Evan and his family go on a hiking trip over the weekend and God tells Evan that the way to change the world is by doing Acts of Random Kindness ("ARK") one at a time.

Cast

Jim Carrey and Jennifer Aniston both declined to reprise their roles from Bruce Almighty. Though he did do a sequel to Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Carrey has said he is "not a big fan of doing the same character twice."[4] This marks the third time (following Son of the Mask and Dumb and Dumberer) that a sequel has been made to a Jim Carrey film where he declined to reprise his role.

Actor Role
Steve Carell Evan Baxter
Morgan Freeman God
Lauren Graham Joan Baxter
John Goodman Congressman Long
Wanda Sykes Rita
John Michael Higgins Marty
Jonah Hill Eugene Tenanbaum
Jimmy Bennett Ryan Baxter
Graham Phillips Jordan Baxter
Johnny Simmons Dylan Baxter
Rachael Harris Markie Parkington- reporter #2
Molly Shannon Real Estate Agent Eve Adams
Ed Helms Ed Carson
Maile Flanagan Mail-lady
Jon Stewart Himself

Template:Infobox movie certificates

Rating

This film is rated PG by the MPAA for mild rude humor and some peril.

Production

The ark for Evan Almighty in Crozet, Virginia.

The film's screenplay was originally titled The Passion of the Ark, and was written by Bobby Florsheim and Josh Stolberg. It became the subject of a seven-studio bidding war in April 2004.

The script was sold to Sony Pictures in a deal worth $2,500,000 plus a percentage of the profits, a record for a spec script from previously unproduced writers.[5] Universal Pictures immediately made a deal to co-produce the script with Sony and have Steve Oedekerk, who was an executive producer and co-wrote the screenplay with Steve Koren & Mark O'Keefe (who both wrote the story) for the first movie, rewrite it into the sequel to Bruce Almighty. The studio discarded the original "Passion of the Ark" script completely, and Oedekerk fashioned a new script from scratch (only he recieved final credit on the finished film as screenwriter).

At an initial budget of approximately $140 million, Evan Almighty is slated to be the most expensive comedy movie ever made. Added costs such as set construction, visual effects, and problems with filming multiple animals in a controlled location could bring the budget up to $160-175 million. Once marketing for the film is also included, the film's entire budget is estimated to be $250 million.[6] The ballooning budget caused Sony to drop the project and hand it over entirely to Universal Pictures.[7] Steve Carell will earn a reported $5 million for his role in the film.[4]

Scenes for the film were filmed in various locations in Virginia, including areas in and around Crozet, Waynesboro, Richmond, and Staunton though some filming did take place at Universal Studios in Hollywood, California.[8] The scenes involving the ark were shot in a Crozet subdivision, Old Trail. The ark was designed to meet the actual measurements of the biblical ark, measuring 450 feet long, 80 feet wide and 51 feet high.[4] While on the set for the film, Steve Carell hurt his ankle on May 13, 2006, while stepping out of a Hummer in downtown Richmond.[9]

Director Tom Shadyac felt the film reflected environmental themes of how humans are stewards of God's creation. In keeping with the themes, Shadyac had the crew plant trees to offset the production's carbon emissions, and bought bikes for all the cast and crew. In addition, rather than simply demolishing sets, Shadyac tried to donate houses built for the production and had the Ark set recycled. In addition, during the premiere of the film for cast and crew at Universal Citywalk, the attendees were encouraged to donate to a campaign to plant trees in forests around the world. The after party used recycled cups and plates to offset the use of resources.[10]

Animal welfare concerns

The American Humane Association oversaw the one hundred species of animals that were used in the film. In scenes including both predators and prey, the animals were digitally added instead to ensure their safety.[11]

Evan Almighty and Universal Pictures were accused by animal rights group PETA of using animals who had been previously abused in the production of this movie. Two chimpanzees who appear in the movie, Cody and Sable, were surrendered by their owner to settle a lawsuit that documented allegations of beatings and mistreatment.[12] In an online interview, Director Tom Shadyac said of PETA’s criticisms “They’re not wrong. There’s a certain amount of hypocrisy whenever you work with animals, even to show, which we hope we’re showing, that respect of all of God’s creation… I don’t know. I respect their criticism."[13] PETA was also critical of Birds & Animals Unlimited, the primary animal supplier to the film, for alleged serious and continuing violations of the US Animal Welfare Act, including failure to comply with veterinary care requirements and failure to provide shelter from heat and sunlight, which PETA details and claims it can document.[14]

Religious allusions

  • Within the movie, a movie theater is spotted and the marquee reads "The 40-Year-Old Virgin Mary," obviously a spoof of the movie "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" which also stars Steve Carrell.
  • When God (Freeman) talks to Joan Baxter (Graham) in the dinner, his name tag reads Al Mighty.
  • Joan's, Evan's wife, name may have reference to Joan of Arc.
  • The real estate woman's name is Eve Adams, having reference to Adam and Eve.
  • The tools that were sent to Evan were in a box with the title Alpha & Omega.
  • Evan frequently encounters the numbers 6 14, referencing the line from Genesis when God calls on Noah to build an ark.

References

  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ [2]
  3. ^ [3]
  4. ^ a b c "Carell, Freeman are cut-ups on the 'Evan Almighty' set". USA Today. 2006-06-22. Retrieved 2006-08-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  5. ^ "Dave Phillips - Corner of the Sky Entertainment".
  6. ^ Frey, Jonathan (October 10, 2006). "Almighty ballooning?". Los Angeles Times. JoBlo.com. Retrieved 2007-04-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ Muñoz, Lorenza (October 10, 2006). "Los Angeles Times". Budget Overruns of Biblical Proportions. Retrieved 2007-04-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ Owens, Michael L. (2006-04-25). "Welcome to Huntsville". The News Virginian. Retrieved 2006-06-26. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ "Carell Sprains Ankle While Filming 'Evan Almighty' Scene". Fox News. 2006-05-15. Retrieved 2006-05-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ "Going Green (video)". Official Site. Retrieved 2007-05-24.
  11. ^ "Personality Parade". Parade. 2007-06-17. Retrieved 2007-06-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16156735/
  13. ^ http://www.moviesonline.ca/movienews_12224.html
  14. ^ http://www.nomoremonkeybusiness.com/pdf/BIRDSA.pdf

When God(Freeman) appears to Evan(Carrell) in the back of his car, Evan screams and God replies "Let it out, son. It's the beginning of wisdom. This is a reference to Proverbs 1:7: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction."

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