When I first heard about
Evan Almighty I admit I wasn't enthused to watch it because all I could think of was that this would be just like
Bruce Almighty (starring
Jim Carrey) --- slap stick with an incidental heartwarming story. How could I not help but think that when they choose to star another comedian known for facial humor in the role? To my surprise the slapstick in this film is actually kept at a minimum. It still is funny, mind you, but not "over the top" as it was with Jim Carrey.
Evan Almighty is more reminiscent of
Oh God! and it's sequels, starring
George Burns as God. It is a story that teaches us of family values and the power of prayer. Whereas Bruce in Bruce Almighty challenged God that he could do the job better and played around with the power with selfish intent and later won his girl back, Evan asked God in a prayer for one thing and one thing only, and it was not ultimate power, etc. --- He asked God to help him (Evan) change the world. Incidentally, this was his campaign slogan that helped him win his congressional seat.
The role of God is reprised by
Morgan Freeman while Evan is played by
Steve Carrell. You may remember Steve Carrell from the blockbuster movie
40 Year Old Virgin and the tv series
The Office.
In this film God asks Evan (a new Congressman) to build him an ark
(refer to Genesis 6:14). As is to be expected, Evan resisted and refused to believe what God was asking him to do or that it was really God who talked to him. But as time passed animals started appearing and following him around in pairs --- they follow him to work, block the streets, sit in his car, appear at his house, etc. He eventually capitulates and with the help of his sons he starts to build the ark.
I recommend this movie as something you should watch with your kids, except for one thing. As with most "sentimental films" this film does not have the fast action and heart thumping music kids today look for in movies they watch so I don't know if they will be able to sit through the whole thing. Now that I think of it, maybe I should recommend this film to Catholic schools instead, to show to their students.
If you believe in family values and the power of prayer and that God has a plan for us all, whether it makes sense or not, then you really should watch
Evan Almighty.
How do you change the world? The answer is simple. One
Act of
Random
Kindness
at a time.
