What Do The Critics Say?

"Freeman's God is a mix of Old and New Testament, with a dash of both sexism and sitcom; Carell's Noah is a political fool, but that only proves he's honest and sincere. This is idiotic, but it's so good-natured I didn't mind." Jonathan Rosenbaum CHICAGO READER "Sticking Steve Carell in awkward situations is a guaranteed way to get laughs. it is a warm, funny, mostly harmless film you can take your kids to and enjoy right along with them. There’s little doubt that’s what director Tom Shadyac was going for with this one, and he succeeds." Joshua Tyler CINEMABLEND "a fun movie that doesn't make you think too hard, but has plenty of little jokes for those who pay attention" Willie Waffle WAFFLEMOVIES "Besides the animals and nifty effects, which deliver some splashy water episodes that rival those of "The Perfect Storm", Evan Almighty is also amply blessed by its supporting cast, with Higgins, Sykes and Goodman as standouts. Above all, "Evan Almighty", going a few steps beyond the Bible, is both fun and serious as it bestows its important messages about family, responsibility and the environment." Doris Toumarkine FILM JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

"A comedy that hits all the right notes, "Evan Almighty" is not only a great starring vehicle for Carell but a film chock full of funny people. As Evan's staff members, John Michael Higgins, Wanda Sykes and Jonah Hill form a trio to rival the Three Stooges in delivering laughs. Hill, who appeared earlier this year in "Knocked Up" and has a starring role in the upcoming "Superbad," is another comedy star in the making. Michael A. Smith NOLAN'S POP CULTURE REVIEW "As a crowd-pleasing, undemanding matinee diversion, Evan Almighty is a far more satisfying production than Bruce, and that, to me, is a great thing." Brian Orndorf eFILMCRITIC "Evan Almighty is proof that you can make a mainstream movie dealing with religion in a way that's meaningful without ever sacrificing entertainment value. Amen to that." Mike McGranaghan AISLE SEAT "This was the best family film I have seen this year. "Bruce Almighty" was an adult film and Evan Almighty is family friendly. It is safe to take your kids to this for a night out and leave the theatre with a warm feeling. .. plenty of humor, action and unexpectedly suspense." Vince Koehler ENTERTAINMENT SPECTRUM

The Inside Story "Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch." Genesis 6:14. Four years after the release of "Bruce Almighty", Tom Shadyac remained intrigued by the spiritual. Though having declined offers to sequels before, he very much wanted to return to familiar territory with this next installment in the Almighty series. "We always thought it would be fun to make different chapters in a God series rather than just make a straight sequel to Bruce Almighty," director Shadyac said. "It always felt more fruitful, creatively, to spin off different characters." Whereas "Bruce Almighty" debated the question of where true power comes from, this episode of divine intervention delves into what can be forsaken in the pursuit of happiness, and the humor that lies in that conundrum. The search for an actor with the comic versatility to step into the lead role proved a bit easier than any of the filmmakers expected. A 40-year-old virgin who just so happened to be an alum of Bruce Almighty answered their prayers. Steve Carell’s small but standout performance as Bruce Nolan’s nemesis, the preening, über-confident newscaster who is reduced to a babbling on-air mess, was the perfect segue for the next chapter. "Steve did such an amazing job in "Bruce Almighty"; everybody remembers his scenes. He delivered some of the funniest stuff in the movie," Shadyac recalls. "We thought, 'Why not take that character and spin him off into a different film?' We already had the basic idea where God would come to someone and say, Build an ark." It was a premise that Shadyac and the producers realized could fit seamlessly with the character of Evan Baxter from Bruce. "There was something about the characters that Steve created that we thought would be great fun for God to come into Evan’s life. And it just so happened that not only did it work for story purposes, but it was a blessing that Steve’s star was on the rise as we were developing this movie," Producer Michael Bostick ("Liar Liar" & "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry") notes. "I think this story is more of Evan’s journey to find out who he really is, as opposed to who he’s been posturing to be. His campaign promises were about changing the world, but they’re empty. And along the way, he finds that a platitude is one thing, but an actual effort and a self-awareness is something that is only gained through pain, suffering or introspection," Carell says. With the title character cast, it was time to check in with the Academy Award® winning actor who could be the only one to bring God back to the big screen: Morgan Freeman. The director and producers agreed that Freeman, complete with his elegant dignity and infamously wicked sense of humor, was the only option. "There’s only one God, and there’s only one Morgan. He absolutely has that awesome, commanding presence," Bostick states. For Freeman, coming back to his role had everything to do with working with the director. "Tom so enjoys what he does, and people who enjoy their work primarily do things well. He is one of those people that I have an easy rapport with." And Freeman is the first to admit that his niche is not always comedy. "Me, I’m not a comedian. Write it down, and I’ll say it," he said with a chuckle. So what's his philosophy? "Learn the lines and be as honest as you can. If the material is funny and the timing is right, it will be funny." Contrary to what he says Freeman proved to be quite the joker on the set." "Morgan just wanted to be accepted like everyone else, and not with any sort of greater reverence. There’s such a calm to him and a confidence without arrogance," says Carell. Armed with the triple threat of Carell, Freeman and another script written by Steve Oedekerk, Shadyac and the producers were on track to recreate the magic that made "Bruce Almighty" a worldwide box-office hit. Now, they just needed an arkload of animals. Now everyone knows that God commanded Noah to gather all the animals, two by two into the Ark. Obviously that's a heck of a lot of animals. So who do you turn to for help? None other than veteran animal coordinator Mark Forbes ("102 Dalmatians", "Dr Dolittle 2" and "Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties"). Forbes would oversee the selection, care and training for well over one hundred and seventy seven different species brought in from all over the U.S.A; a veritable zoo that included lions, tigers, pelicans, leopards, giraffes, elephants, Kodiak bears, baboons, zebras, reindeer, camels, raccoons, cats, porcupines, dogs, buffalos and snakes, to name but a few." "Mark Forbes is a miracle worker, and we could not have done this movie without him," says the director. "He had to work with each animal individually, since each animal specifically responds to different things. It’s very precise." How precise? "We have the most animals ever shot practically in a movie in show business history. And every animal you’ll see in Evan looks seamless and very integrated, as each animal was placed into each shot individually," Shadyac explained. "People will be amazed at how much the animals really could do. They’re incredibly trained. You can say specific things to the elephants and they understand. "Rosie, move your right foot. Dixie, back up to the ark." You just strangely get used to being close to these incredible animals and interacting with them," actress Lauren Graham remembers. Working with so many different species meant that exact safety precautions were taken during filming. "I couldn’t put a wolf next to a sheep and have a nice, calm set," Forbes stated. "Some of these animals are food to the others. So, we would film them separately to ensure it’s safe for the animals and safe for the crew. We would film the owls, and then we would put up a blue screen behind them. And then we would film the pigeons flying in, and then we’d shoot the doves, and then the eagles flying in." But hang on, what about the Rhinoceroses? In this case two horses were used. The Rhinoceroses were shot in front of a blue-screen and mapped in by the visual effects team. When it came to being involved with the animal co-stars, Steve Carell was at the front-line. "What a trooper. The very first day that we’re shooting with animals, we have him covered in pigeons and doves and blue jays. And he’s got bird poop all over him, and he’s got all these birds fluttering around, landing on his head. Steve’s been wonderful with them," says Forbes. The next project was building the Ark. The Herculean task of designing and building a practical ark, both exterior and interior sets, rested with production designer Linda DeScenna, a close member of Shadyac’s team. Alongside art director Jim Nedza and a construction department of several hundred people (headed by veteran builder Dennis DeWaay whose body of work includes "Crimson Tide" and "The Hunt for Red October"), DeScenna’s art department rose to the challenge. A luxury housing development (in the midst of construction) nestled at the base of the stunning Shenandoah National Park would serve as home to the ark, as well as several other houses comprising the Baxters’ new suburban neighborhood in the fictitious town of Huntsville. "It was a huge endeavor," DeWaay notes. "I’m happy that we are able to build something of this scale. With all the advancements in CGI, it’s almost unheard of today." The next task was to find the right supporting cast. "Gilmore Girls" star Lauren Graham was cast as Joan Baxter, Evan's wife. The filmmakers were thrilled when the actress, whom Shadyac considers "one of the most gifted comediennes on television today", agreed to be the better half of the Baxter couple. "I’m the straight man to Steve’s imagination, and that’s been fun," she says. "He’s smart and spontaneous, which keeps you engaged and on your game." John Michael Higgins was cast as Marty, Evan’s harried congressional chief of staff. "The biblical telling of Noah’s story is a fantastic one. It’s got everything you want: it’s human, it’s epic and it has a moral. We’re only using a tiny piece of it and have obviously contemporized it. But it retains the heart of it all," Higgins notes. Though optimistic about the project, native Virginian Wanda Sykes knew that summers in her home state would be hot and humid. No matter how much she cared for the character of Rita (Evan’s no-nonsense assistant), she needed further convincing. Sykes met with the director and was immediately taken by his enthusiasm for the project. "He’s just a cool dude," she says. "You can just see it in his eyes, that crazy passion for what he does. He was so excited about the film." Sykes remembers walking out of the meeting thinking, "Yeah! Let’s get on the ark; this is going to be fun." Adding Sykes to the mix of gifted actors provided a backdrop ripe for good comedy. "I love these moments of creativity and spontaneity. I’ve watched Wanda get into her head for a second, and then come back with this gem," says Shadyac. I know I'm not the only Sykes fan out there, so if you haven't seen this talented comedienne in action before, head down to your local DVD store and get a hold of "Monster-In-Law" and "Clerks II". Her cameo role in the wickedly funny "Clerks II" is a gem. Someone else we don't get enough of on the big-screen is Academy Award® nominee and two time American Comedy Award winner John Goodman who plays veteran Congressman Long. Come on! Who could ever forget Goodman's superb performances in "Dirty Deeds" and "O Brother, Where Art Thou?". Goodman says, keeping his stoic demeanor in place during filming was a lesson in self-control. "It’s hard to keep from laughing all the time; Steve’s so damn funny. It has been a lot of fun to see him in action." Jonah Hill, who is currently wowing audiences as Seth in the extremely funny "Superbad", reunites with Carell, this time as the eager to please intern Eugene. Like the rest of the cast, Hill was overwhelmed when he saw the ark, noting, "It’s the biggest thing I’ve ever seen, complete with elephants and giraffes and so many animals. I’ve never seen anything that massive before. It’s crazy big." Synopsis

Newly elected to Congress, Evan has left Buffalo and moved his wife, Joan, and three sons to the suburban town of Huntsville, Virginia, to begin the next chapter of their lives. As the Baxters become ensconced in their enormous home nestled within the pristine hills of northern Virginia, Evan prepares for his first day on the job as the freshman congressman from New York. The casually spiritual politico offers a prayer to God to 'change the world'. Little does he know that The Man upstairs already has big plans for him. Invited to co-sponsor a high-profile bill by one of the House’s most powerful members, Congressman Long, Evan is sure that his prayers have been answered. Almost immediately, odd things begin occurring as his life becomes officially turned upside down. From mysterious deliveries of ancient tools and large parcels of wood to curious stalkings by birds of every feather, Evan is certain he’s losing it. His certain descent into comic confusion culminates with a visit from a tall stranger claiming to be God who has one simple, albeit ludicrous, command: Evan must build an ark to prepare his friends and family for a mighty flood.

The Verdict "If you're looking for a film filled with side-slapping belly laughs, forget it, because there's nothing outrageously funny about "Evan Almighty", Steve Carell's latest film. What you do get is a warm-hearted, generous, family film with a good storyline, lots of pretty humorous moments, bound together by that age old story of Noah and yes, lots and lots of cute animals. Carell is excellent as Evan Baxter, former anchorman and now Congressman who has been elected on a platform of "Change The World". What he hasn't planned for is God getting in on the act. Morgan Freeman reprises his role from "Bruce Almighty" playing the all-knowing, all-wise and remarkabley patient God. After an earnest prayer from Evan, God, steps in to provide the catalyst for change in Baxter's life. While it may not be what Evan has envisaged, it is an answer to his prayer. In one particular scene God suddenly appears as a waiter, complete with a clever name badge. Besides being 'blessed' with first class special effects and a neat environmental message, "Evan Almighty" has another standout: the talent in its supporting cast. Wanda Sykes ("Clerks II") , John Michael Higgins ("A Mighty Wind"), Jonah Hill ("Superbad") and John Goodman ("Dirty Deeds") all make noteworthy contributions, especially Sykes, who sadly we don't see enough of. All in all, most cinemagoers (especially families), should get their monies worth with "Evan Almighty". Mums and Dads can rest assured that there isn't anything offensive in the film. Recommended. 3 STARS." Cast & Crew Bytes "EVAN ALMIGHTY" stars .......
Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman ["Bruce Almighty", "Million Dollar Baby", "Batman Begins" and "The Wrong Man"]; Steve Carell ["Bruce Almighty", "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy", "Melinda and Melinda" and "The 40 Year Old Virgin"]; 2005 & 2006 Teen Choice Award winner Lauren Graham ["Bad Santa", "The Pacifier" and "Because I Said So"]; John Goodman ["O Brother, Where Art Thou?", "Dirty Deeds", "Beyond the Sea" and "Cars"]; 2003 Seattle Film Critics Award winner John Michael Higgins ["A Mighty Wind", "Blade: Trinity", "Fun with Dick and Jane" and "For Your Consideration"]; Jonah Hill ["Accepted", "Knocked Up" and "Superbad"]; Molly Shannon ["Serendipity", "Good Boy!" and "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby"] and 2001 American Comedy Award winner Wanda Sykes ["Nutty Professor II", "Monster-In-Law", "Clerks II" and "My Super Ex-Girlfriend"] as Rita Daniels.
"EVAN ALMIGHTY" was .......
directed by Tom Shadyac ["Patch Adams", "Bruce Almighty", "Accepted" and "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry"]; screenplay by Steve Oedekerk ["The Nutty Professor I & II", "Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius", "Bruce Almighty" and "Barnyard"]; set decoration by Ric McElvin ["Liar Liar", "Patch Adams", "Galaxy Quest" and "Bruce Almighty"]; costume design by Judy Ruskin Howell ["The Horse Whisperer", "Remember the Titans", "Bruce Almighty" and "Melinda and Melinda"]; production design by Linda DeScenna ["Liar Liar", "Mousehunt", "Bringing Down the House" and "Yours, Mine and Ours"]; edited by Scott Hill ["Bruce Almighty", "Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!", "Monster-In-Law" and "Accepted"]; cinematography by 1976 & 2003 AFI Award winner Ian Baker ["The Devil's Playground", "Six Degrees of Separation" and "Japanese Story"]; original music by nine time ASCAP Award winner John Debney ["The Princess Diaries I & II", "Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius", "Zathura: A Space Adventure", "Barnyard" and "Georgia Rule"]. Who's Who?

Morgan Freeman Steve Carell Lauren Graham Johnny Simmons Graham Phillips Jimmy Bennett John Goodman Wanda Sykes John Michael Higgins Jonah Hill Molly Shannon Harve Presnell

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God Evan Baxter Joan Baxter Dylan Baxter Jordan Baxter Ryan Baxter Congressman Chuck Long Rita Daniels Marty Stringer Eugene Eve Adams Congressman Burrows

Run Time 95 minutes Rated G [AUST] Copyright ©2007 - UPI - All Rights Reserved ©2007 All Rights Reserved - The Movie Pages & Impact Internet Services - Protected by Australian & International Copyright. Trademark Laws Apply.