Evan Almighty (2007)

Evan Almighty (Universal Studios, 2007)
Steve Carrell, Morgan Freeman
Tom Shadyac

"Let me ask you something. If someone prays for patience, you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient? If he prayed for courage, does God give him courage, or does he give him opportunities to be courageous? If someone prayed for the family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm fuzzy feelings, or does he give them opportunities to love each other? "

Those are the memorable lines from the film Evan Almighty, in my opinion. Sounds great, right? Such powerful words lalung-lalo na sa mga taong pinaghihinayaan ng loob. They really do make sense if you think about it. Sometimes, when it seems that He doesn't answer your prayers, you'd just realized that He has given you the answer already, or a solution has been made already and you are yet to discover it.

Those are such almighty words. Unfortunately, Evan Almighty is an almighty flop in the US. It is probably because the film's tone is more of a religious nature/environmental commentary that do not sit well with the American audience rather than an all-out comedy flick ala Bruce Almighty.

Evan had really big shoes to fill being a follow-up to Bruce. The problem with it is that it isn't funny at all. Yes, there are funny moments and they are all seen in the trailer! I guess the biggest obstacle in the film is the concept itself, the story of Noah's Ark. It seems hilarious when you think about it but it's difficult to stretch. For a movie, kulang na kulang siya especially if it be pitted against the original movie. Kung naging sort-of disaster movie siya, it might've work. Sayang 'cause Steve Carrell is really an intelligent comedian. Most of his jokes are cerebral at medyo naging mababaw siya with this one. It felt that it focused more on what it has to say re the environment rather than be funny. It may have tried to downplay the whole scenario but it still surfaced out. There is nothing wrong with it, only if the film was not marketed as a comedy.

Overall though, Evan Almighty is still a passable flick minus one's greatest expectations. Napaiyak nga ako with the lines above. It has strike some chord in me. Aside from that, the cast did their best with the rather hallow script. Wanda Sykes is hilarious! I crack everytime she opens her mouth. It'd be best to see this on video than spend your time and money on cinema.