What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this sequel to
Bruce Almighty is a broader, milder comedy than the
original, and it aims to appeal to the whole family (and given
the frequent TV ads, chances are even young kids have heard of
it). The good news is that even though it's not particularly
good, it
is pretty safe -- there's no violence, drinking, or sex,
and virtually no bad language ("pissed" and "jackass" are as
strong as it gets). It's worth noting that the plot revolves
around Evan talking directly to God and then obeying his
command; there are several biblical references, but no
proselytizing.
Families can talk about how this movie is being marketed. Is it aimed at Steve Carell's fans, people who liked Bruce Almighty, or both? How do the ads make it seem appealing? Also, how is it different from Bruce? Why do you think the filmmakers decided to make the comedy milder this time around? And who's funnier -- Carell or Jim Carrey? Families can also discuss the message about committing acts of random kindness. What would you have done in Evan's place?
Common Sense Media Review
Now that
Steve
Carell is a bona fide A-list star, it's only fitting that,
in EVAN ALMIGHTY, he should pick up where
Jim
Carrey left off in the 2003 man-meets-God comedy
Bruce Almighty
.
Carell also had a supporting role in the original as scene-stealing, self-centered newscaster Evan Baxter. But somehow, as a main character, Evan -- now newly elected to Congress and living in a suburban McMansion -- doesn't seem as obvious an instrument for God (again played by Morgan Freeman) and his all-knowing lessons as Bruce, who had plenty of complaints to shoot in the Almighty's direction.
While Evan's networking on Capitol Hill with his staff ( Wanda Sykes, who gets the best lines, and character funnymen John Michael Higgins and Jonah Hill), his long-suffering wife ( Gilmore Girls mom Lauren Graham) and three sons feel neglected. God feels her pain, and proving that The Heavenly Father Knows Best, he steps in and commands Evan to build an ark with his boys, turn into an even hairier Barry Gibb doppelganger, and make good on his campaign promise to "change the world."
The laughs, of course, are what you'd expect: lots of species and feces jokes, an overlong montage of Evan hurting himself while playing This Old House with the ark, and endless digs at Evan's appearance, which goes from clean-cut to grizzly man to white-bearded prophet in just a few scenes. Even the cameos are predictable, like Carell pals Jon Stewart, Ed Helms, and Rachael Harris.
While the gags are cartoonish, the message seems straight out of an environmentally conscious Sunday School. John Goodman, playing a senior congressman, is -- to nobody's surprise -- actually a greedy villain whose allies include shady land developers who hate it when natural resources get in the way of profit. Not exactly the most groundbreaking political problem for God's instrument to solve.
Despite the movie's disappointingly lackluster story, kids will get a kick out of the animal antics and old-fashioned ark-building lessons. Llamas spitting green bile on greedy politicos? Now that's inspiring.
For more silly, kid-friendly animal humor, try Dr. Dolittle and the live-action 101 Dalmatians. Or go old school and listen to Bill Cosby's still laugh-out-loud funny "Noah" routine (included on the album Bill Cosby Is a Very Funny Fellow Right!).
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
0 |
