Soul Food Cinema   
Christian Movie Reviews and Discussion
  Antwone Fisher   Stand by Me   Jesus of Nazareth The Passion of The Christ Rabbit-proof Fence   Amazing Grace   Il Postino  
Homepage Suggest a film for the database 
spacer
spacer
Getting Started

About SFC

Chat Forum
spacer
spacer
spacer
spacer
Top 100 Films

Other Film Lists

Top 100 Family Films
spacer
spacer
spacer
spacer
Contact & Feedback

Questions

Resouces & Links
spacer
spacer
Search Soul Food Cinema:
spacer
spacer
spacer

 

Evan Almighty (2007)
 
© Universal Pictures (2007)
SFC Reviewer's Opinion:
Recommended

Genre
Comedy / Fantasy
   
Synopsis

Newly elected to Congress, Evan leaves Buffalo behind and shepherds his family to suburban northern Virginia. Once there, his life gets turned upside-down when God (Morgan Freeman) appears and mysteriously commands him to build an ark. But his befuddled family just can't decide whether Evan is having an extraordinary mid-life crisis or is truly onto something of Biblical proportions.

   
Directed by  
Tom Shadyac
   
Written by  
Steve Oedekerk (screenplay); Steve Oedekerk (story); Joel Cohen (story); Alec Sokolow (story); Steve Koren (characters); Mark O'Keefe (characters).
   
Starring  
Steve Carell (Evan Baxter); Morgan Freeman (God); Lauren Graham (Joan Baxter); Johnny Simmons (Dylan Baxter); Graham Phillips (Jordan Baxter); Jimmy Bennett (Ryan Baxter); John Goodman (Congressman Long); Wanda Sykes (Rita); John Michael Higgins (Marty); Jonah Hill (Eugene); Molly Shannon (Eve Adams); Harve Presnell (Congressman Burrows); P.J. Byrne (Evan's Staffer); Ralph Louis Harris (Evan's Staffer (as Ralph Harris)); Arden Myrin (Evan's Staffer). Please contact SFC to add other cast members and characters.
 

Length (mins):
95
Ratings:
PG (PG)
Language:
ENG

Big 5 Oscar Wins:
0
Big 5 Oscar Noms:
0
IMDB page:
Link

-
Important: the following essays and comments are authored by Soul Food Cinema readers. Whilst the Editor prays for the spiritual integrity of all content of this site, it should be noted that these represent personal opinions and carry no official endorsement. If you consider any content to be a misrepresentation of Catholic teaching, please contact SFC. May God bless you and enlighten you in your reading.
-
Articles, Essays and Reviews
-
Please contact SFC if you are interested in submitting an essay on this film.
-
Readers' Comments and Opinions
-
Click the link to comment on this film. You may like to copy the film title and year (as given above) to your clipboard now for pasting into the following form.
-
  A good film that kids will enjoy and take heart from  
  Mark Banks (United Kingdom)  
  Opinion: Recommended  

Evan Almighty is billed as a comedy, but truth be told isn't actually that funny. However - and it's a big however - there is a good-hearted story as its core, the production effects are very well done, and it's both pro-family and pro-God. What's more, whilst it may not go down as a family classic, it is a film that children will watch, and I would hope enjoy. And for a production that puts faith and God square on in the middle of the frame that, I believe, is a good thing. There are a couple of questionable pieces of dialogue in the script - we are told for instance that God doesn't give us courage, patience etc per se, but rather the opportunities to be courageous, patient etc, which is a bit flimsy, and by default discounts the need for prayer in a challenging situation one is already presented with. And there is a also a repeated reminder that all that's needed to change the world is one small random act of kindness at a time, which also is flaky and not in accordance with Christ's true teachings. It's also not consistent with the character of Evan who gives up his whole life to follow God's instructions. And putting the commendable environmental sub-plot aside, the message to follow God's prompting in your life, no matter the cost to your ego, career or human relationships is indeed the central message of this film. For its potential to encourage and engage children with subjects faith-related, I recommend this film widely.


 

spacerRecent Articles & Essays
spacer
spacer
spacer
spacerRecent Interviews
spacer
spacer
spacer
spacer
spacer
"Let us discern for ourselves what is
right; let us learn together what is good" (Job 34:4)
spacer
   

 

   
 
© Copyright Soul Food Cinema 2010. Terms of quotations and reproductions.
 
Soul Food Cinema - Movie/Film Reviews and Discussion from the World's Catholic-Christian Community
Images in the header are from: Antwone Fisher (© Fox Searchlight, 2002); Stand by Me (© Columbia Pictures, 1986); Jesus of Nazareth (© ITV (1977); The Passion of The Christ (© Newmarket Films, 2004); Rabbit-proof Fence (© Buena Vista, 2002); Amazing Grace (© Bristol Bay Productions, 2006) and Il Postino (© Cecchi Gori Group, 1994).