Evan Almighty A non-critics review

ELIZABETH MASSIE / News Virginian
Published: June 30, 2007

There was a negative review for "Evan Almighty" in Saturday's edition of The News Virginian, written by a Richmond Times Dispatch reviewer. I've also seen other reviews of the film that weren't very complimentary.

The movie was described as unfunny, slow, preachy, and/or fluffy.

Now, I realize that movie critics see a lot of movies, and it is their job to criticize. And certainly, there have been valid critiques of many films throughout the years.

However, I also think sometimes critics hop on a bandwagon to promote or to "un-promote" a film for some reason beyond the understanding of an ordinary moviegoer like me.

The most expensive comedy to date, "Evan Almighty" might have conjured in the minds of movie critics an edgy, "Star Wars"-like epic laced with non-stop guffaws.

I've seen "Evan Almighty." Twice already. It is not an edgy, "Star Wars"-like epic comedy.

The humor isn't cutting or "mature" like that of many other current comedies. "Evan Almighty" is a genuinely likeable, sweet and funny parable about love, kindness, trust and the human-divine connection.

Evan Baxter, played by Steve Carell, is challenged by God, played with comfortable understatement by Morgan Freeman, to look beyond his own life and take a chance on something that seems profound and absurd.

Baxter finds his world turned upside down when God, good-naturedly, pushes him to build an ark on vacant lots next to his house in a sprawling Virginia suburb. It is an uncomplicated story, one that is equally accessible to kids and adults.

Director Tom Shadyac has taken a huge gamble. He has created a big-budget film that repeats a simple message - that we should care for each other and for the earth with acts of random kindness. In a word, I loved the film.

Not just as someone from Waynesboro who was just as excited as everyone else that Hollywood had "come to town" but as someone who loves films of all kinds and has watched her share with a critical eye.

Sure, there are some things I would change.

I wanted it to be longer (it runs 90 minutes). There were some animal and crowd scenes that didn't make the cut.

I would have liked there to have been more shown of Evan Baxter's home life in Buffalo prior to moving to Virginia so as to give the viewer a bit more contrast between the two.

But still, I thought it was a wonderful movie. I felt uplifted when it was over.

You can't ask a whole lot more for your ticket dollar, in my opinion.

I hope that word of mouth will get behind the movie like a flood behind an ark, and leave the naysayers behind.