Amaldo.Com Film Review: “Evan Almighty” Reads More Like Evan Alrighty

I really adore Steve Carell. As egomaniac boss of a small paper company Michael Scott in NBC’s “The Office” or the shy, affable 40-year-old virgin in Judd Apatow’s delightful comedy, Carell always manages to bring a bit of humanity, class, and humor to his roles. His understated pithy witticisms and his intuitive sense of timing make him inarguably one of the best comedic talents out there today. And I’m sorry to say, well above Will Ferrell in my opinion, although I’m also fond of Ferrell’s shtick.

However, when it comes to the Summer box office and discerning what will become the next Blockbuster hit, it’s usually over-the-top that wins out over adjectives like unassuming and understated. Carell has a pretty wide and diverse range, but over-the-top in a Jim Carrey “Bruce Almighty” way he ain’t which is why when I read Reuters earlier today that Carell’s latest film, “Evan Almighty” only grossed half of what “Bruce Almighty” grossed in its opening weekend and under the amount studio execs (who coincidentally dumped $175 M into this flick) had realistically hoped for, I wasn’t too surprised. The critics haven’t been too kind to the film and if the theater in which I saw the film Friday night (its opening night) was any further indication, let’s just say we didn’t need to reserve our tickets on Fandango or for that matter, worry about getting good seats.

So why the adverse reaction to an innocuous Summer flick that means no harm?

As with business, when a company fails to convey their identity or brand through a cohesive, consistent marketing message, “Evan Almighty” fails to execute itself properly because it never really knows what it is. It’s a family movie (kids, animals, boats, do-gooder family-friendly wholesome themes) but stars Steve Carell (huh?) as a lead character that was  hilarious as a sidebar in “Bruce Almighty” but given any forethought, probably wouldn’t do as well a lead in a major production.

The second of the “Almighty” series, the film works so hard to stay true to its Old Testament faith-based roots that there’s even a character, G-d, played by Morgan Freeman. As in the literal G-d who walks around in white linen kurtas and talks about Acts of Random Kindness (ARK) saving the world and our environment. John Goodman is indecent enough as the ruthless congressman trying to pass a Land Use bill that would destroy our most precious resources (Suburban Virginia?) and Wanda Sykes and Justin Cera (“40-Year-Old Virgin, “Knocked Up”) add some much-needed relief to this film as Evan Baxter’s comedic sidekicks. In other words, they make the movie bearable.

Lauren Graham plays Evan’s photogenic wife who also happens to be pretty tolerant as a wife and a mother considering her husband is experiencing what looks to be a mid-life crisis. As the film progresses, the Baxters’ faith and devotion to one another is tested, but in the end they find their way back to the ARK and one another. In other words, this is a feel-good movie with moments of humor interspersed, but a huge let-down as far as funny goes. It’s like a vanilla ice-cream cone with little or no sprinkles or jimmies that leaves you constantly seeking for the buried sprinkle and ultimately leaving you less hungry, but not really satiated either.

For a film of this production level with its special effects and ridiculous plot to succeed, it needed an equally absurd lead to carry it off. I’m sorry for Steve. This role wasn’t him, but either way this film never got the lift-off it so desperately needed to make a bureaucrat living in Metro DC believable as a modern-day Noah building an ark set to save the world.

Get real. We all know what politicians are about. There are no Jimmy Stewarts going to Washington these days. And it’s a damn shame.