The best scenes in "Evan Almighty" made it into the theatrical release, but the DVD bonus features are still highly entertaining.
Self-absorbed, immaculately groomed, and living in his new dream home in Prestige Crest, former newscaster Evan Baxter (Steve Carell) begins work as a member of Congress.
Change the World
In Evan Almighty, the new congressman takes his campaign promise to “change the world” a little too seriously in this sweet family comedy. Busy maintaining his professional image and catering to the whims of a veteran congressman (John Goodman), Evan prays to God to help him change the world through his new position. His prayers get answered, but not in the way that he originally intended.
God (Morgan Freeman) provides Evan with the tools and instructions to build an ark, but without an explanation why. After initial reluctance, Evan finally takes on the monumental project for which he is particularly ill-equipped. His wife (Lauren Graham), children, and co-workers (Jonah Hill, Wanda Sykes, John Michael Higgins) all think he’s crazy when he starts looking like a disheveled Noah and predicting a deadly flood.
Most actors fear working with children and animals because they steal the limelight from the adults. Despite working with three children and a menagerie of real animals, Carell probably never worried much about losing laughs to the other players. His comic delivery and physical comedy come through whether his character is at home with the family, on the job wheeling and dealing, or fleeing from/working with the animals. Fish swim to him, sheep hide in his car, and well-fed birds land on his head and shoulders to relieve themselves. Although the film has many tender moments, it’s these outrageous scenes with Evan and the animals that provide the best water cooler talk.
DVD Bonus Features
The DVD box boasts that the product is “flooded with bonus features” and that’s actually true. There’s an entire story behind the story that you can only learn by watching the DVD bonus features. These extras include funny outtakes and deleted scenes (most of which accentuate Evan’s less-desirable qualities and the pitfalls of training/working with animals), some educational featurettes (hair and makeup in “Becoming Noah”), and a trivia game for the children ("Animal Roundup Game").
In addition, the bonus features highlight the greener aspects of this production. In keeping with the ecological themes of the film (financial greed versus stewardship of the earth), director Tom Shadyac made great efforts to go green. He provided bicycles for cast and crew, donated the wood from the ark to Habitat for Humanity, and planted trees in order to leave the land without a footprint. Fun, fascinating, and educational bonus features enhance the film, and provide stand-alone entertainment.
- Evan Almighty
- Director: Tom Shadyac
- Run Time: 96 minutes
- Rating: PG
- DVD Bonus Features Include: Deleted Scenes, Outtakes, Animals on Set Two by Two, Training the Animals, Becoming Noah, The Almighty Green Set, The Building of Noah’s Ark, Animal Roundup Game, Steve Carell Unscripted, and The Ark-itects of Noah’s Ark.
For more comedy DVD reviews, read Wild Hogs on DVD.
