(:)(:)(:)(: for Evan Almighty directed by Tom Shadyac, starring Steve Carell playing in theaters now. I loved this movie, yet I give it only 3 1/2 snouts out of a possible five. Why? Because I can tell that not everyone is the target demographic: people who used to live in Buffalo and DC and focus on politics who now focus on God–in other words, me.
Other critics have panned it as being too expensive to make, not funny enough and too didactic. I found it charming, disarming, thought-provoking, hilarious and fun and I don’t know or care how much it cost to make. It cost me $6.50 to see at a matinee.
I think it helps if you go to the film thinking you’re seeing a spiritual film, rather than a comedy. For a spiritual film it is side-splittingly funny. For a comedy, it’s disturbingly spiritual. This is also a perfect family film–kids will enjoy the animals, Steve Carell’s weird beard and the wild boat ride. My kids will like the environmental message.
And everyone’s got to like Morgan Freeman as God–as far as I’m concerned, Morgan Freeman is God.