Evan Almighty
2007 · Directed by Tom Shadyac
Original language: English
- fantasy
- comedy
- family
The story
God contacts Junior Congressman Evan Baxter and tells him to build an ark in preparation for a great flood.
What it’s like
Bright, saturated suburban daylight and wide, clean compositions give this one the glossy, big-studio polish of a mid-2000s family comedy: sunny cul-de-sacs, pale-blue Washington offices, and a steady parade of gags staged for the widest possible frame. Camera work is conventional and forward-moving, with plenty of medium two-shots and reaction close-ups, and the score is bouncy and upbeat, with warm orchestral swells for the sentimental beats. The overall vibe is cheerful, slapstick-leaning and easygoing, the kind of thing that suits a lazy weekend afternoon, a family movie night, or a comfort watch with the sound up. Pacing is brisk and episodic, the tone light and affectionate, and the emotional arc follows a driven man who learns to put his family first while his marriage and fatherhood come back into focus. Violence is absent beyond cartoonish mishaps and a flood that is depicted without real harm; there is no gore, no sexual content, and little real fear. Gentle, low-stakes and sweet, it is for people who want an uncomplicated, good-natured comedy with a faith-tinged message about kindness and family.
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